ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 03

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 187

SCHOOL
TIONAL
OF
AN STUDIES
SELF STUDY IS THE SUPREME AUSTERITY,
स्वाध्याय परमं तपः
multiple viewpoints e.g. of the living being under question i.e. say the patient, doctors, family, society, government and impact of new developments in science and technology involved are essential.
The following verse in essence sums up his philosophy of life to achieve happiness:
'That which is non-violence, self-restraint and austerity is Dharma (spiritual values). It is by virtue of spiritual values that supreme spiritual beneficence results. To him whose mind is (absorbed) in spiritual values, even gods pay homage',15
Jain literature describes dharma as the nature of a being19 or as conduct or as tenfold spiritual virtue20 or as non violence against living beings. Nature of soul is to be in a state of happiness always. Non violence is the heart of Jainism. Two definitions of non violence i.e. metaphysical and social are:
Metaphysical: 'None of the living beings ought to be killed or deprived of life, ought to be ordered or ruled, ought to be enslaved or possessed, ought to be distressed or afflicted and ought to be put to unrest or disquiet.'21 He further classified living beings in six categories namely: with mobile body i.e. 2 to 5 sensed like insects, animals, birds and human beings and with immobile body with just body like plant/air/fire/earth and water bodiedbeings. Each living being has four life vitalities (prāņas)22 which can further expanded to ten depending on the number of sense organs a living beings has. Hurting or killing of even any one type of these vitalities is himsa which can be performed knowingly or unknowingly by activities of mind, speech or body by a person himself or asking others to do so or admiring those who perform violence.
19 Dhammo vatthu sahāvo khamadibhavo ya dasaviho dhammo
cărittam khalu dhammo jivānam rakhanam dhammoll Kartikeyanupreksā by Svāmi Kumāra, Verse 432 20 The ten spiritual virtues are: Forgiveness, Humility, Straight forwardness, Inner and outer cleanliness, Truthfulness, Self restraint, Penance, Renunciation, Limiting desires and Limiting pleasure of senses. (uttama khama-maddamajjavam...) Kundakunda Anuprekṣā, 70
21 Savve pāṇā, save bhūyā, savvejīvā, save sattā ņa hamtavvā, na ajjäveyavvā, ņa pariyaveyavvā, na, na uddveyavvā, Acārānga-sūtra, 1/4/2
22 Pañcaya indiyapāņā manavacakāya du tiņņi balapāṇāl Āṇappāṇappāṇāāugapāņeṇea honti dasapāṇall Mūlācāra- verse 1191
(i-v) five senses, (vi-viii) speech, mind and body, (ix) respiration, (xi) life-span i.e. the four are further expanded to ten depending on the sense organs a living being has.
Page 174 of 273
STUDY NOTES version 5.0