ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 03

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

Page 220

(like prostitution, gambling, eating meat, drinking, hunting, stealing, casting an evil eye on other women). To accrue auspicious karmas, Jains talk of six essential duties (āvaśyakas) to be performed daily. These essential duties are; worship the true deity, veneration of the holy teacher, self study of the holy texts, charity, self restraint and penance.
2. Eat non violent and pure food. Food is the primary external input we take to sustain our
body. Food directly affects our mind, body and speech. In Jainism highest importance is placed to food (type, quantity, and timing). Practice eight primary virtues (i.e. consume ahimsaka or non violent food or give up consuming meat, alcohol, honey along with fruits and vegetables which are infested with insect).
3. Practice the five minor vows (aņuvratas) namely non violence, non-stealing, speaking
the truth, limited celibacy and limited possession. These are the causes to stop accrual of inauspicious karmas as well as earn auspicious karmas.
The above are all preventive measures to stop the practitioner from getting sick. These have to be followed even when inflicted with sickness.
To cure the sickness, Jainism talks of the regimen of penance (tapa) which is almost synonymous with nature cure for the practitioner. The penance in Jainism is classified as external (which can be observed by others) and internal (experienced by the practitioner). The first four sub types of external penance namely fasting (anaśana), eating less than the full stomach (uņodari), conditional acceptance of food (bhikṣācari) and giving up a specific taste (bitter, salt, sweet, acidic and spicy i.e. (rasa-parityāga) regularly are essential for curing as well as being healthy. In the internal type, the sub types humility and meditation are extremely important to cure the inflicted diseases.
For the others i.e. family, friends and society in general, Jains propagate the concepts of living beings help each other as well as live and let live (both derivatives of its principle of ahiṁsā) and the four characteristics of right belief or samyag-darśana namely; Not to hate a meritorious being inflicted with disease or looks (Nirvicikitsā); develop positive condition of loving others (Vātsalya); to re-establish the fallen on the right path (Sthitikarana), to propagate ethical-spiritual values (Prabhāvanā). To promote the concept of patient care /
STUDY NOTES version 5.0
Page 207 of 273