Book Title: ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 03
Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies
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Social: Mahāvīra talked of Social Ahims23as compassion, equanimity, forgiveness, tolerance, love, service, friendship, kindness, security, fearlessness, non-killer etc by sixty different synonyms.
Self restraint implies being aware of and restrainingour acts of mind body and speech in not harming ourselves and others. The five attitudes of carefulness (Samiti) in walking, sitting, lying, keeping or picking articles and intake of food; and three restraints (Gupti)24of mind, body and speech are detailed in Jain literature. Twelve types of austerities relate to practice of certain acts to remove the existing ills (like taking medicine or surgery). Jains also talk of five co-factors which will come in to play to explain any event /occurrence; namely: One's own efforts, proper time, ability of one's own soul, destiny and association of a catalyst.
Based on the above, Jain texts prescribe a set of rules to lead a healthy-happy life as grouped below
i. Preventive a. Indulgence with caution for earning auspicious karmas. Jains talk of performing
religious rituals, like abstaining from seven vices, acquiring eight basic virtues, six
daily essential duties. b. Abstinencefor stopping influx or bondage of new ills, Jains talk of observing self
restraint and the five minor vows and seven enhancing vows. Even for a pious death,
Jains have the vow of pious death called Sallekhana5. ii. Curative: For getting rid of accumulated ills, Jains talk of twelve types of austerities, along with practicing endurance of 22 afflictions26. Exceptions do exist in Jain literature where a person become frustrated (due to rise of past karmas) and is not able to practice austerities due to a
23 Praśnavyākaraṇa Sūtra, seventh limb of Jain canonspp 234-238 24 /ryyā bhāsaisanādananiksepotsargasanjňakah Sadbhiḥ samitayaḥ pañnca nirdiştāḥ sanytātmabhiḥ|| Jňānārņava 18.3 Vakkāyacittajānekasāvadyapratisedhakaml Triyogarodhanam vä syadattadguptitrayam matamll Jńānārņava 18.4 25 Navapadaprakaraņa 129-35 26 Ksutpipāsā sitosnadanšamasakanägnyaratistricaryänişadyāśayyal Krodhavadhayācana'läbharogatrasparśamalasatkarapuraskärprinājnanädarsanāni 117.S. IX.9 Types of afflictions are: feelings of hunger/ thirst/ cold/ hot/ mosquito bite/ nudity/ disinterest/ female company/ walking on foot/bed/ anger/ seeking alms/ non gaining the intellect/ diseasel touch of thorn/ dirt/ non respect/
etc.,
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