ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04

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

Page 517

An arrogant disciple is no good for the society. The Uttar dhyayana S tra gives two similes to drive home the significance of humility and discipline. Just as a bitch with rotten ears is shunned from all places, an undisciplined arrogant soul suffers endlessly; and just as a pig shuns the rice grains and feeds itself on excreta, the foolish disciple gives up the teachings of the wise and is a lost case for himself, for the teacher and for society. The discipline of an ascetic who has renounced all mundane bondages is enumerated along with the fruit of the discipline. The spiritual message in Uttar dhyayana S tra is summarized in verse 15 and 16. It is said that it is better to conquer oneself rather than be conquered by others. One who does so will be happy in this world and in the next. One ought to conquer oneself by self-restraint and austere practices instead of being controlled by others.
Chapter Il gives the details of the 22 afflictions faced by an ascetic during the course of this spiritual journey
Chapter III teaches time management and describes the four difficult requisites:
O o o o
Human birth with humanitarian qualities like compassion etc. Opportunity to hear the true sermons Steadfast faith in truth Exertion in self-restraint
The commentary on the Uttar dhyayana S tra informs that due to the following reasons one is not able to have right knowledge: laziness, delusion, disobedience, pride, anger, ignorance, tension, pleasure, gambling, etc. It is said that rational faith is difficult to acquire and it abides in a straightforward soul [6]
Chapter IV inspires us to be awakened and alert in life. Life is ephemeral and the time that passes away can never be got again, hence do not be negligent even for a while reminds the 10th chapter. Money, riches, kith and kin none can save the soul from old age, disease and death. One who conquers his desires can be freed from all miseries.
Chapter V teaches the art of dying and discusses in detail the death of a wise man and that of a fool. Death is inevitable and the brave face it with calm and poise. Chapter VI informs that ignorance is bondage and the ignorant are subject to pain and suffering in the web of transmigration. The wise give up the ten types of external possessions and fourteen types of internal possessions. The purpose of human life is to practice self-restraint in order to annihilate the karmas and to purify oneself. A self-realized ascetic lives like a bird not possessing anything and not saying anything for the morrow. He searches for the truth all by himself and nurtures friendliness towards all creatures 17. This has been revealed by all knowing all-seeing Arhat, Jn taputra Lord Mah vra (8)
Chapter VII reveals the philosophy of Mah v ra through parables. Altogether four parables appear in this chapter and there are around 50 parables in the whole of Uttar dhyayana S tra that makes the reading interesting. The parable of the lamb informs us that as a lamb is fed with rice and green grass only to be slaughtered for a feast, so the deluded people feed themselves on worldly pleasures to suffer the pangs of hell. Gth 7.6 informs us the causes of hell as attachment, taking to nonvegetarian food intense violence and having immense possessions. Just as a fool loses a thousand gold coins for a penny so also the deluded souls lose this precious human birth for mundane pleasures. Just as a king eats the forbidden mango and loses his kingdom so also the ignorant souls fall prey to sense pleasures and lose this precious life. The fourth parable is of three traders who respectively lost, retained and increased their capital. The one who loses the capital of human life symbolizes the evil and sinful people, who land in hell. The one who retains it is the man who is virtuous but not spiritually inclined. Such a person retains his human form in the next birth. The third trader who multiplies his capital symbolizes the man who is noble and spiritual and rises to higher forms of existence. This illustration of three traders has a parallel in the biblical story of the talent and pound (book of Mathews 25, 14-30, Luke 19, 11-26)
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STUDY NOTES version 4.0