ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04

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

Page 339

of all sins lies in our passions, which include anger, greed hypocrisy and pride. It is not that the Jaina monk gives up all activities; he gives up only violent activities. Of course, he practices his to the last degree and therefore, his activities become very much restricted. But his spiritual activities extend to the largest degree possible. When we look at non-violence from social point of view the Jaina concept of non-violence may appear to be incomplete. The Jaina monk, for example will not resort to violence even if he is attacked. The social being, on the other hand, would like to reserve the right of self-defence. We have to understand that since a monk has given himself to absolute spiritualism; even defence of his own body at the cost of spiritualism is not advisable for him. His vow of non-violence is unconditional. He will not only be kind to those who are kind to him, but also to those who are unkind to him also. He can do so because he is so much engrossed in the spiritual bliss of his inner self that physical miseries do not move him. He avoids violence mentally, physically and vocally. He also avoids inspiring others to commit violence and if somebody has committed violence he avoids approving of it.
3.2 The Vow of Truthfulness Satya The second vow is that of truthfulness. No false word is to be uttered out of attachment, aversion, fear or anger or greed. For this purpose, he has to avoid insulting, teasing and use of harsh words. He should not use speech, which excites others. He should not only be true, but modest and gentle in his speech. The example of wearing the outfit of a non-Jaina monk to get food and drink is also quoted as an example of falsehood.
3.3 The Vow of Non-Stealing Acaurya The vow of non-stealing is much more comprehensive than what we normally understand by the term. Even if something is lying in the house of a householder and monk finds that it is of no use for the owner of the house, he cannot take it without the express permission of the owner. He can neither show any attraction of benefit to a householder to get something from him nor use either fear for this purpose. He should have detachment even to whatever little he has. He cannot claim any ownership of the place in which he is staying. He should gladly share his possession with the fellow monks. He should not gather any requisite secretly. Thus the vow of non-stealing means perfect honesty in one's behavior.
3.4 The Vow of Celibacy B ahm c rya The fourth vow consists of celibacy or control of sexual desire. Under this vow he has not to decorate his body. He has to avoid exciting and excessive food, songs and dance, and exciting and passionate behavior. He has to avoid any contact, especially in private or on one to one basis with members of opposite sex. In case of any emergency, also the rule of the celibacy is to be observed in letter and spirit.
3.5 The Vow of Non-Possessiveness Aparigraha The last and fifth vow is that of non-possession. As even a monk has to possess such instrument of acquiring knowledge as books, it cannot be said that he should not possess anything. It only means that whatever he possesses, he should have no attachment to it. Moreover, he should not possess anything, which is not allowed by the scriptures. There is a difference of opinion regarding the list of possession that a monk can have. This becomes the one article of the main reasons of division between the Digambara and the vet mbara. It appears that the vet mbara scriptures allowed very few items of clothe and utensils for a monk but the list increased by the passage of time. The Digambara on the other hand did not allow even a cloth for a monk. The crga Sutra though mentions clothes, alms-bowl, blanket and broom for the monk. The Digambara tradition classifies the possession of the monk under three heads:
Means of attaining knowledge i.e. scriptures
Means of observance of vows i.e. a broom of peacock feather by which one can gently remove insects etc. so that they are not injured by the movement of monk
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STUDY NOTES version 4.0