Jain Digest 2004 11 Vol 23 No 4

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 19

enable him to be prepared to face such eventuality. He can thus 1 ) Päyachchhittam or Präyashchit: This means atonement or stay without being perturbed when he does not get enough food. repentance. During our life, we happen to indulge in wrong and This austerity has a hygienic consideration too. A recent research undesirable physical activities and evil tendencies. This may be has shown that eating less than the appetite is conducive to health due to addiction, weakness of mind, pitfalls or shortsightedness. A and can even increase the longevity.
spiritual aspirant has to stay constantly aware of such indulgences. 3) Vitrisankhevanam or Vrittisankshep: This means curtailing
Whenever he notices any thing wrong on his part, he should repent the tendency to expand one's requirements. Human beings have
and atone for the same. His sense of remorse should be strong the tendency to acquire as many things as possible, so that they
enough to avert the recurrence of such indulgence. If this is
undertaken with sincerity, one can surely reach the state of can be used to satisfy the current or future needs. Gaining too many things, however, does not necessarily make one happy. perte
perfection sooner or later. Happiness is a function of mind and can be attained by 2 ) Vinay: This means modesty on one's own part and respect contentment. By observing this austerity, one can learn to stay for others. Respect has to be appropriate and may even take the contented with the minimum requirements.
form of worship for the deserving entities. This would help the 4) Rasachchäo or Rastyäg. This means giving up attachment aspirant to proceed towards spiritual development. For instance, if for tastes. The tongue always looks for tastes. Our attention one has regard for his preceptor, he would not undertake any activity therefore stays towards different types of tasty foods and drinks, without seeking the guidance from him. That would automatically This turns out to be more or less an insatiable craze. Such hankering
keep him away from indulging in wrong or undesirable activity. for tastes does not allow the peace of mind. Some brake has to be He would also feel inclined to develop the attributes of the deserving applied to it. This austerity is laid down with that end in view entities and that can lead him towards the state of perfection. Äyambil Vrat is specially devised for that purpose.
3) Veyävachcham or Vaiyavrutya: This means selfless service. 5) Käyakileso or Käyäklesh: This literally means bearing A spiritual aspirant should realize that all the living beings have physical affliction. In practice, it amounts to courting physical the same type of soul. He should therefore feel a sense of amity hardships. During spiritual pursuit, one comes across many and fraternity for everyone. He would then be willing to serve hardships. If he is not accustomed to bear the same, he cannot others without expecting anything in return. This sense of selfless maintain peace and no spiritual benefit can come forth in absence service would not arise, unless one has developed a sense of of the peace of mind. It is therefore necessary that the aspirant is dedication to the cause of serving. Such servicing can result in used to bearing reasonable level of hardships and physical elimination of arrogance and lead towards modesty. The utter discomforts.
degree of such modesty can bring forth the faultlessness. 6) Sanlinayä or Sanlinatä: This is also referred to as 4) Sajzäo or Swadhyay: Literally, this means study of oneself. Viviktashayyäsan. It means staying in a forlorn place and occupying It takes two forms. One is to get conscious of one's own faults and the minimum space. Normal human tendency is to gain more and limitations with a view to avoid the same. The other is to understand more space to lead a comfortable life. The purpose of this austerity the nature of true Self. The aspirant learns that the soul is inherently is to curtail that tendency and to feel comfortable within a restricted pure, enlightened, flawless and is imbibed with infinite knowledge, area. The term can also mean staying tuned. Maintaining alertness perception and bliss. He would therefore strive to manifest those can thus come within the purview of this restraint.
attributes and the total manifestation amounts to the liberation. It would be evident that the purpose of external austerities is 5) Jhänam or Dhyan: This normally means meditation. Jain to equip the aspirants to face hardships that they may come across tradition, however, treats it as attentiveness and specifies four types during spiritual pursuit. That can enable them to observe peace of Dhyan known as Ärtadhyän, Raudradhyan, Dharmadhyan and and tranquillity of mind even in adverse circumstances. Now let Shukladhyän. The first two categories are unwholesome and do us turn to the internal austerities, each of which is devised to lead not form part of this austerity. The remaining two are wholesome to liberation.
and are akin to meditation. Dharmadhyän means contemplating B: Internal or Abyantar Tap
about the spiritual aspects so as to get rid of the defilement.
Shukladhyån denotes absorption within the nature of soul. When Panchächär Sutra lays down internal austerities as under.
one attains that state, he is not far away from liberation. Päyachchhittam Vinao Veyavachcham Tahev Sajzão
6) Ussaggo or Käyotsarga: Literally this means giving up the Jhanam Ussaggo Vi A Abbhintarao Tavo Hoi
body. It actually denotes giving up all the physical as well as mental It means that repentance, modesty, selfless service, study of Self, activities and staying absorbed in the true nature of soul. When meditation and staying beyond the physical aspects are the internal such absorption is complete and remains uninterrupted, it is called austerities. Let us consider them one by one.
liberation.
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