Interpretation Of Jain Ethics

Author(s): Charlotte Krause
Publisher: Yashovijay Jain Granthmala

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au'akens low passions, as well as over-indulgence in sleep, or in any other thing whatsoever, whether it be joy or grief or attachment, is contrary to Jain Ethics. There should be soberness, measure, wakefulness in everything and in every action, even in austerities, which have to be per. formed exactly in the way and to the extension fixed before. Nothing is more contemptible to the striver after true perfection than drowsiness on one, and ecstasy on the other side.
Now it is time to consider the different prescriptions for Samvara themselves. They are as follows:
A. The Five Samitis. The five Samilis are prescriptions for the regulation of the movements of the body in accordance with the two principles, more particularly the principle of Non-injury: They are :
(1) The Irya Samiti, i. e. Regulation of Walking. It commands the individual, which, of course, must needs, with every movement, destroy some lower life, to walk in a way as to cause the least possible injury. Thus, a Jain monk will walk only on barren earth, avoiding the touch of plants and of water, and after having carefully examined the way before him. He will avoid going out at night or, if forced to go, he will slightly move a kind of soft broom before him, in order to sweep away whatever higher form of life there might happen to be ; he will never use any kind of vehicle, and will never walk over a carpet.
(2) By the Bhasha Samiti, i. e. Regulation of Spea. king, the speaker shall avoid not only hurting anybody's