Jain Journal 1993 10

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

Page 41

OCTOBER, 1993
(both good and bad) through passions etc. which ultimately have to be got rid of to realize that perfection.
In the original sense, Jiva is full of consciousness with perfect vision, perfect knowledge, perfect strength and perfect bliss. These are only a way of describing for our practical understanding. The Jaina Acaryas describe jiva in 'real' sense as 'absorbed-in-itself' 10. This is true not merely of human beings, but of all living creatures, whether they are beings with one-sensed or fully grown up human personality. It is on this metaphysical foundation the Jaina ethical teaching is built, including the ethics of ahimsa. Ahimsa will not have any relevance in the context of ecology if we fail to understand the basic Jaina concept of living and non-living beings.
Implications of Ahimsa-This fundamental belief is very much reflected in the day-to-day life of both the Jaina ascetics and the lay persons. While the Jaina munis and sages observe the vow of nonviolence in its extremity (the vrata becomes maha), the laity undertake it in a milder form (the vrata becomes anu or small) owing to their conditions and responsibilities of social life11. Some of the earliest Śvetambara Jaina agamas like Acarängasūtra, and Uttaradhyayana abound in meticulous rules regarding the life style of a monk, the kinds and use of possessions, the internal and external penances etc. all leading to a life of ahimså.
The householder is cautioned against causing injury to living beings in respect of keeping them tied without allowing them certain freedom, beating them, mutilating them, overloading them, depriving them of food and drink etc. International violence is never allowed even though certain amount of violence to living beings is inherent is one's occupation. The householder is first of all restricted to only certain
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9 Liberation is a state beyond the conception of good and bad karma, Samayasara 147; Conception of a transcendental self, ibid, 141-44
10 Samayasara, 2-3
11 Sarvärthasiddhi. Comm. on Tat. sutra, of Pujyapada, Tr. by S. A. Jain,' Virasasana sangha, 1960, Ch VII 2.19-20
12 Almost the whole of Acaranga deals with monastic rules: Ch 1-6, 8 Ahimsa : the avoidance of weakness and relapsing, endurance in hardships
Ch 9-Mahavira's early career as an ascetic
Uttaradhyayana Ch
2, the 22 kinds of temptations
16, the 10 instructions of chastity
26, the 10 cases of right conduct, daily duties 30, the 6 external and the internal austerities etc. etc.