ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 03

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

Page 77

main vows, viz., Satya, i.e., the abstention from falsehood, Asteya, i.e., the abstention from stealing, Brahmacarya, i.e., the abstention from undesirable sexual activities; and Aparigraha, i.e., the abstention from worldly attachments are nothing but the details of the vow of Ahiṁsā.4 Ahiṁsā had been defined and explained verily by Mahāvīra and the successive Acāryas. Some of the explanations are given below:
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. Later on Ācārārga-sūtra conclusively pronounces that after understanding the importance of kindness to beings, the enlightened person should preach, disseminate and applaud it at all places in East-West and North-South directions. 6 He further said, 'That which you consider destroying or disciplining or harming or subjugating or killing is (like) yourself. The results of your actions have to be borne by you, so do not destroy anything.'
How should one behave in society? Or how should one live?
'Parasparopagraho jīvānāma? or living beings help each other and 'Live and Let Live' are derived from the principle of non violence as can be seen from the sermons of Mahāvīra as given in Praśnavyākarana Sūtra where sixty synonyms of non violence are given; e.g. kindness (dayā), compassion (anukampā), tolerance (sahişnutā), love (prema), security (raksā), salutariness (kalyāņa), fearlessness (abhaya), service (sevā), non-killing (sarvaanāghāta), equanimity (samatā), forgiveness (ksamā) and so on. These are the positive aspects of non violence as such acts result in either auspicious or meritorious results or even may lead to liberation (Moksa) eventually.
Ahimsä is disciplined behaviour towards every living being.
4 Purusārthasidhyupāya by Amratacandra, verse 42 5 save pāņā ņa hamtavā, na ajjāvetavva, na ajāvetavvā, na parighettavvā, na paritāveyavvā, na uddveyavvā Ayāro (JVB Ladnun) 1/4/2/23 6 dayam logassa jānitta pāiņam padiņam, dāhinań udiņam āikkhe vihae kit te vedavi, Ācāranga Sūtra, 196, Agama Prakashana Samiti, Beawer 7 Tattvārthasūtra by Umāsvāmi, Verse V.21 8 Praśnavyākarana Sūtra, 6.1.3, Pages 683-684, (Jaina Vishva Bharati, Ladnun, under the title "Angasuttāni" (3)). 9 Dasavaikālika Sūtra, 6/9
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