Jain Journal 1993 10

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

Page 42

98
types of profession which have least violence in them like trade, art, sculpture, teaching ete. In household obligations such as preparation of food, use of water in bathing and worship, clothes, keeping of cattle, maintenance of gardens, cutting fraits and vegetables, construction of houses etc. the violence involved is permissible.
JAIN JOURNAL
Injury to living organisms through activities of body, speech and mind is construed to be the main cause of all types of bondage13. It is the source of all evil. No other scriptures have explicitely dealt with the classes of living beings14 as the Jaina scriptures with specific indication to the least of all creatures, namely the one-sensed being (sense of touch alone). The whole atmosphere is covered with living organism like the earth-bodied, water-bodied, fire-bodied, air-bodied etc. that one cannot escape from violence caused to them. The seer or the knower is the one who knows and comprehends15 this fundamental truth about Jiva and restrains himself or herself from any form of injury to life. Positively it exhorts everyone to protect life in its minuteness and variety.
While 'protection of life'-a genuine Ecological option is the sum and substance of Jaina Ethics and Religion, all that virtually go against this basic vision is considered as Act of Violence. Hence it is violence to cherish thoughts on destroying life or to involve in activities that would cause death to vitality18. The Jain monks pay attention to this course of life and the careful in their movements while walking, sitting, laying things down etc1". Their profession of
13 Acaranga, I. 1.2.4a, I.3.1.4b; Sutrakrtānga 1.10.9a etc.
14 Utt. sutra. Ch 36, the system of the both, the animate and the inanimate world The third Uvang namely Jivabhigama classifies the animate and inanimate objects. Daśavaikalika Ch 4, the 6-forms of living beings and their non-violation. Sutrakrtänga, 1.11.7-8
16 The extensive treatment of knowing the truth and renouncing activities, injury particularly to life':
Acarang 1.1.2.6, 1.3.8, 1.4.7, 1.5.7, 1.6.6, 1.7.5, 2.1.5,
2.2.3a, 2.3.48, 2.4.2a, 2.5.5a. 2.6.2b, 2.6.5, 3.1.1b, 3.1.3a, 3 1.4b, 3.3.1a, 3.3.2a, 5.2.2a. 5.2,4b, 5.3.3b, 5.6.3b, 6.1.4b, 6.2.2a, 6.3.2b, 6.4.4b, 7.1.5, 7.2.5b, 7.4.1b, 7.5.1b, 7.6.1b,2b, 7.7.1b. 7.7.4b, 7.8 2, 8.1.5,11,19 Sutrakitanga I.1.1.5, 2.2.11
16 Sarvärthasiddhi defines violenes as the severance of vitalities out of passion, VII 13. 'pramattayogātprānavyaparopanam himsa'. The 10 vitalities or lifeprinciples are the five senses, energy, respiration, life-duration, the organ of speech and the mind (S.A. Jain, pp 196).
17 Acaranga, I Lesson, 7, II Lesson 1-7