ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04

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

Page 527

In the pursuit of truth, Anek ntav da is the foremost important theory of Jainism, which pacifies the internal clashes of individual and society at national and international level. Truth is not any man's monopoly. It is universal and objective. The Jain philosophers and the seers from times immemorial have striven to reach the highest truth through the means of reason and intuition. It is not the only philosophical conception but it is an instrument to protect the human rites of personal liberty and social justice. Anek ntav da pacifies the gulf of conceptual conflicts and strives to establish the peaceful atmosphere at even global level.
Jain Social Ethics There have been a number of conflicts across the world due to this or that reason. Human beings have known terror since the time immemorial. Lightening, floods, earthquakes, social injustice, poverty, inhuman treatment, religious mania and so on caused terror. If one follows the way of humanity and spirituality, the terrorism will never arise. The man discovered on one hand the true nature of the elements and he evolved arrangements on the other hand to protect himself against such terror. The observation of true nature of religion and spirituality is one of the non-violent ways and means, which may solve the basic social problems. Jainism did it through its social observations. The ik vratas of Jain tradition keeps one to observe the social responsibility.
Sa yama or self-restraint is the basis of Jain ethics. It is seen in the various vows, disciplines, codes of conduct and other doctrines propounded by Jain c ryas. Modesty, discipline, compassion, charity and other such good qualities are essence of Jainism and Jainism is to have a Right faith (Samyagdar ana) as its foundation. Right faith means right vision. Self-confidence, faith, trust and fidelity are its ingredients. Without realizing the self, it is aimless wandering in the undiscovered caves of fallacious reasoning.
The Fundamental Human Rights and Jainism Jainism observed the fundamental human rites by observing the vows of householder's life. This aspect may be divided into three stages. The first is the commencement stage termed as P kika
r vaka and the second one is the superior stage termed as Nai thika rvaka. The third is the S dhakar vaka who observes the Sallekhan at the time of death.
The Householder (r vaka or ramanop saka) is one who listens the Dharma with full faith from
c ryas and Parame this. He is one whose sins flow away from him (ravanti yasya p p ni) on hearing these sermons. He is also called g ri or Sg ri because he stays in the house. He prepares himself gradually and steadily to renounce the world with right faith by observing the rules prescribed and then fulfils the responsibilities for the welfare of the family, ascetics, society, nation and mankind. The Up sakadaga, Sr vakapraj apti, Ratnakara dar vak c ra, Vasunandi
r vak c ra, Sg radharm mrita, and so many other Jain Texts explain these characteristics of laity.
Some of the important attributes of the householder may be mentioned as follows:- observation of non-violence, compassion, legitimate earning, hospitality, refraining from unnecessary criticism of Government, keeping good accompany, paying respect to parents, service of people, observing religious preaching, firm in conduct, right character, gratefulness, generosity, being afraid of sin, meditation, celibacy, no food at night, refusal of food with life, giving up possessions, honesty, appreciating conduct, life and activities of spiritually advanced people, avoiding expenditures exceeding income and so on. Such rules make life pleasant. These attributes consider the ecology and indispensable part of spirituality and life as well. Possessed of such qualities the votary will reform not only himself but also his society. The spiritual status of the Householder is decided on his performance as jaghanya (lower), madhyama (middle), and utkra a (best) or P kika, Nai thika and S dhaka. These are the different categories of religious observation, which protect the human rites of the individual liberty and social responsibilities. Of these the observance of the duties of P kika r vaka keeps more importance in terms of Human Rights.
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STUDY NOTES version 4.0