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OCTOBER, 1981
Jainism as applied to the Society
It has been pointed out above that the right conduct is the most useful path from the point of view of its application. From this stand point, the society has been broadly classified as consisting of the two categories of persons viz. the laity or the common man who lives in a samsāra with his near relatives and has some worldly possessions and the ascetics who have renounced worldly life and pleasures and aspire after the attainment of mokşa. We may note briefly the principal duties assigned to the two categories.
First the laity or the common man.46 He is to abstain from :
(1) taking meat, fish etc., drinking wines and other liquors and eating
honey squeezed out of live honey combs (2) injury to any living being (3) falsehood (4) stealing (5) attachment to external possessions (6) adultery (7) useless talk and action (8) sinful thoughts and acts
And he is to observe the following :
(1) must worship at fixed times, morning, noon and evening (2) must fast on certain days (3) must give charity in the way of knowledge, money etc. everyday
Now, rules for an asceties.46 He is to follow strictly :
(1) the five great vows (mahāvratas), eg. ahimsă, satya (truthfulness),
asteya (taking nothing belonging to others, for own use, without permission of the owner), brahmacarya (chastity) and aparigraha (possessionlessness)
(2) the five precautionary rules or cares (samities), viz. taking due
and proper care in walking or moving about, in speaking, in eating and drinking, in lifting and putting down things, books etc. and in attending calls of nature
Taken from Zimmer, H., Op. cit., p. 196 (foot note). 4* Taken from Jain, J. P., Op. cit., p. 91.
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