Jain Journal 1988 07

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

Page 17

JAIN JOURNAL
observe (c) concentration on self (sānia yika) thrice a day. Other stages are (d) observing weekly fast (poşadha), (e) avoiding the use of animate articles (sacittatyāga), (f) abstaining from eating at night (rātribhuktityāga), (g) observing complete celibacy (brahmacarya), (h) renouncing all worldly occupations and engagements (ārambhatyāga), (i) renouncing all worldly concerns (parigrahatyāga), (j) renouncing approval of activities connected with household (anumatityāga) and (k) renouncing specially prepared food or lodging (uddistatyāga). The spiritual aspirant who reaches the eleventh stage is called Ksullaka (junior) having three long pieces of clothes and a loin cover (langotā) and Elaka having only a water pot and a broom and also a loin cover in Digambara tradition while in Svetambara tradition he is called Sramanabhūta possessing a begging bowl and whisk broom. Thus he prepares to observe the total ascetic practices.
(iii) Sadhaka Srāvaka :
This is the third stage of a householder where the subjugation of senses is conducive to the removal of passions. In case his senses cease to work and cooperate, the aspirant thinks to die voluntarily. In Jaina tradition this type of death is called Panditamaraņa. This is an important and interesting feature of the Jaina householder and spiritual aspirant's vows. It is a passionless voluntary death which he embraces at the end of this life. It is very controversial and is debated even on the international level today. It is argued that it is a sort of suicide. But, as a matter of fact, this is not so as there is no passion in it. A person who kills himself by means of weapon etc. is swayed by attachment/aversion or infatuation. It is suicide. But he who courts death is free from desire, anger and delusion. Hence it is not suicide. This is called sallekhanā in Jaina terminology which means to make the body and the passion thin.
In modern terminology it is called 'Euthanasia' or one's 'Right to die'. This has come into limelight all the world over and became a subject of debate because of the revolutionary changes in medical knowledge and life-supporting systems which could prolong human life even after the brain stops functioning. The practice has been accepted in countries like the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. Even the Vatican has accepted it in one case. The Karnataka AdvocateGeneral Santosh Hegde from India has supported the view by referring to all these instances and said Acarya Vinoba Bhave had reportedly been allowed to refuse food and medicines during the last few days of his life so that he could die a quick death. Hegde is of the opinion that there was nothing immoral or unethical for a person to prefer euthanasia