Jain Journal 1972 04

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

Page 34

APRIL, 1972
(12) Religion is the only refuge in this of birth, decrepitude and death. meditation on the sustaining and
171
world for the triple agony This is dharma bhāvanā or saving power of religion.
By these meditations the monks have to turn their minds from evil thoughts. The nuns or sadhvis also observe the same strict vows and rules of conduct as the monks. It is these monks and nuns, who practise self-control and have given up all desires and earthly possessions, deserve to be ranked as gurus or spiritual teachers.
Sravakas (Lay Brothers) and Srāvikās Lay (Sisters):
Male householders following Jainism are called śrävakas and female householders śrāvikās. They do not adopt the life of a recluse by renouncing the world, but live in it, earning their livelihood by honest means and performing the householders' religious duties. They are expected to possess seriousness, a limpid serenity of nature, modesty, straightforwardness, kindness, impartiality, an admiring openness to the good qualities of others, humility, gratitude, benevolence, etc. There are twelve vratas or vows prescribed for them.
(1) Sthula-prāṇātipāta-viramana-vrata, is not to kill, injure or give trouble deliberately to any innocent trasa creature.
(2) Sthula-mṛṣāvāda-viramaṇa-vrata is not to speak such lies as may cause harm to others. This vow also demands that one must abstain from the gross forms of lying like denying a pledge or a trust, bearing false witness in a law court, representing somebody's property as one's own or as belonging to a third person, hiding other's defects and drawbacks, singing false praises of a bride or a bridegroom, etc.
(3) Sthula-adattādāna-viramaṇa-vrata is abstention from stealing. The theft of somebody's things or the evasion of due taxes, or such stealing as entails censure at the hands of one's society or punishment by the ruling power, must be eschewed.
(4) Sthula-maithuna-viramaṇa-vrata is to give up all kinds of sexual intercourse except with ones duly married wife. Even with one's own wife excessive sexual indulgence of all kinds need be avoided.