Jain Journal 1972 01

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 50

128
JAIN JOURNAL
Him I call a Brāhmaṇa who speaketh not a lie in anger or in fun or out of lust or fear.
Him I call a Brahmaṇa who taketh not a thing unless given, be it sentient or not, small or big.
Depth of vehmence against caste can be measured from the following:
This jiva was born many times in high caste and many times in low. This has neither degraded him nor made him respectable.
It remained ever in bondage and its transmigration never ceased. Don't desire a life where there is no cessation of the cycle of life and death.
Knowing this who will fight for caste, proclaim it or glorify it. Don't be proud of your high caste nor be angry with one who is of low origin.
Think and realise this that every jiva desires pleasure. One who sees this should be restrained. He should not do anything which will hurt others.
Women also were initiated in great numbers in the Jaina Order. They are as free as Jaina monks to follow the path of spiritual progress. This had never been a problem in Jainism. In Buddhism, as we have in history, this became a problem and the Buddha himself was opposed to taking women in the spiritual order. But he yielded at the pressing request of one of his disciple Ananda.
Jaina order is divided into two categories: monks who have renounced the world and householders. While for the monks are five mahāvratas or total abstention from himsā, lie, theft, sex-relation and attachment, for the householders these are lesser vows, e.g., according to their ability and environment. Besides these lesser vows they are required to ovserve other seven vratas. In the first vrata which is sixth vow, one limits the sphere within which one is free to move for trade or other purposes. In the second varta which is seventh vow one has to limit the things to be used by one, like food, etc. (used only once) and clothes, etc. (used repeatedly). In the third vrata which is eighth vow one is required not to indulge in sinful acts not required for one's own