________________ JainDigest Importance of Ethics on the Spiritual Path By Reena Shah Reena is one of the Jain Digest editors. She is a USC graduate and currently teaches English and US History in middle school and high school. Her industry experience includes Market Research, Non-Profit and educational institutions. She practices deeper aspects of spirituality and is a follower of Shrimad Rajchandra Atma Tatva Research Centre, Mumbai. Neeti or ethical code of conduct is a set of moral as, "to remain fully and absolutely just and fair while principles used to govern the conduct of an individual earning one's livelihood" (Patrank 496). And a person or a group in accordance with primary values and ethical following the code of conduct will be able to understand standards. It is not a burden to bear, but a prudent and the strength, importance, and secret of sadguru's effective guide which furthers life and success. Ethics teachings and words. Krupaludev's use of the word are important not only in business and worldly life but "Saangopaang" encompasses all body parts (including also in spiritual life because it is an essential part of nail and hair), and one of the four veds. In other words, the foundation on which a civilized society is built. The one must not engage in unethical behavior (aneeti) even principles of ethics that help us solve ethical dilemmas slightly through any body part from toe to hair to one's or guide our value, behavior and even decision making thoughts (bhaav). in everyday life are the same principles that provide guidance in business. One is reminded of Shrenik Maharaja's story who embraced death to follow neeti in totality in one of his Reading Shrimad Rajchandra's (Krupalu Dev) Patrank 496 births where he was the tribal king. In that birth once a inspired me to reflect on my own life to see if I adhered muni visited him and told him not to eat meat anymore. to ethical code of conduct (neeti) prescribed by him. The tribal king showed his inability to follow and said, Code of conduct not only helps run one's life smoothly, "if you give me such an aagna, how will I follow it as a but also guides in following sadguru's teachings (aagna). tribal king?" The muni said, "in that case, at least avoid Krupalu Dev wrote Patrank 496 to the successful Morbi eating crow meat." The tribal king agreed to it thinking magistrate, Dharsibhai, emphasizing the importance and he would never need to eat that kind of meat. However, greatness of ethics. The Patrank talks about establishing it so happened that he fell sick after this and the only ethics/morality in a householder's life in totality. Failure way his life could be saved was if he ate crow meat. to stick to ethical code could lead to ineffectiveness of The tribal king refused to eat crow meat as that would Guru's teachings. A life observing all ethical codes will be break his aagna and the word that he had given to that one of truthfulness, honesty, fearlessness, compassion, muni. The tribal king passes away with the strong bhaav love, patience, etc. These are all qualities required to of not breaking aagna. This same tribal king, who was surrender and follow Sadguru's teachings. Shrenik Raja will become tirthankar in the future. The story explains the importance of following aagna which It also reminded me of Patrank 194 where Krupalu Dev resulted from leading a life geared towards neeti. It is states that the entire path of spiritual awareness starts such an inspiring example of a person's determination to with obeying the order of a Sadguru, and obedience follow aagna even when his life was at stake. to the master's teachings leads the disciple to selfknowledge and Moksha. Krupalu Dev defines neeti Nevertheless, if one is faced with a life-threatening situation where one has to break the moral code, it should be done with immense amount of remorse, to attain the state of freedom from worldly pleasures (vairagya). Neeti THERE IS in fact is the first step in the spiritual journey. In other words, neeti has the ability to help us experience true NO RIGHT WAY faith through right conduct. The way we behave and conduct ourselves, our disposition, our stage of progress TO DO in this path, our tactfulness, our solution, what we attain, what we donate, our support or where we take refuge, or A WRONG THING. even our relationships is all neeti. There are times when I personally find it difficult to follow ethical code in all situations especially in current times
