________________
To resolutely avoid gross himsā (harming, injuring, or killing any being) with mind, speech, and body, by doing, motivating and approving is the minor vow of ahimsā. A śrāvaka refrains from causing deliberate harm to mobile beings and avoids purposeless and unnecessary harm to immobile beings.
In order to observe this vow it is necessary to know -
1. Who is called a himsāka (one who commits violence)? 2. What is the object of himsā? 3. What is the form of himsā? 4. What are the fruits of hiṁsā? The answers to these questions are simple. A man under the influence of stupor and passions is called a himsāka. To destroy physical and mental vitalities (prāņas) is himsā. Physical and mental vitalities (prāņas) are objects of hisā. Acquiring various types of demerits and consequent sufferings are the fruits of hiinsa.
As a householder a śrāvaka may have to domesticate animals like horse and oxen for his farm and cow and buffalo for milk. He may have to employ workers as well. It is incumbent upon a śrāvaka to avoid any cruelty and provide them protection. He will neither tether, beat (with a stick or otherwise), or overburden (beyond capacity or established norms), a worker or an animal with ill feelings nor pierce or damage any part of their body or deprive them of food and water.
THE MINOR VOW OF TRUTH
Not to utter offending and foul words when the mind, speech, and body are in a state of stupor or under the influence of passions is called the minor vow of truth. A person resorts to uttering a lie due to one or more of these reasons - anger, greed, fear, frivolity, and foolishness. It is obligatory for a śrāvaka to be free of these. There are four kinds of false speech - 1. Asadudbhāvana or to express what does not exist. 2. Bhūta-nihnava or to conceal what exists. 3. Viparita or to express contrary to the fact. 4. Nindya or use of offending language. This includes words causing pain to beings, complaining, slandering, caustic satire, making fun, harsh words, or utterances inciting fear, animosity, grief, dispute etc. A śrāvaka desists from utterances that causes pain and any speech that can be called false. Even truth has its own limit. A truth that causes harm or destruction of some being should also be avoided.
118
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
