Jain Journal 2000 04

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

Page 23

SEKHAR : "GIVE AWAY VIOLENCE, PRESERVE LIFE"
179 keep a check on oneself mainly in the way one acquires wealth and other possessions. Firstly, the Jaina householder chooses a profession that involves least violence to sub-human beings89 and he does least violence to his partners in business, his servants, the customers, etc. 90 Secondly, he takes to Dig vrata, literally meaning control of directions. This vow restricts one's movements minimizing greed and violence. It limits one's freedom of movement by climbing, ascending mountains, descending into the well or underground, storehouse etc., entering a cave, etc.91 Desavakaikavrata limits the extent of territory for movements and objects of senses. 92
Thirdly, the Jaina householder takes to Bhogopabhogaparimāna vrata, which puts a limit to the use of objects in order to minimize attachment to them. They include meat and honey, intoxicants, ginger, faddish, carrot, butter, unsuitable means of conveyance or unsuitable ornaments, the use of bizarre dresses.93 The householder should avoid the use of five udumbara fruits 94 and abandon the use of non-sentient but life-substances like roots, fruits, seeds, etc. without boiling them.95 Finally a Jain householder is expected to fast on aştami, caturdasī and purimā.96 Āsādhara, Vasunandin, Amstacandra and others have prescribed the procedure for fasting97, meditation, study of scriptures, worship of Jina, saluting and feeding the sādhus, vigilance in conduct and thinking of anuprekşās or themes of contemplation, etc. 98 Such a
89. Fifteen forbidden trades are listed in Sāgaradharmāmrta of Āsādhara,
see R. Williams, Jaina Yoga, London, 1963, p. 117-121. 90.
There is a general impression that the Jains, being a business community, have an objective of accumulating wealth by any means. There are several ideas and values in Jaina ethics to show that they are consistent with the spirit of capitalism (Arvind K. Agarwal, Jaina Ethics and Spirit of Capitalism-A Critical Reappraisal of Weber' in Ideal, Ideology and Practice, Studies in Jainism, ed. N.K. Singhi, Printwell Publishers, Jaipur, 1987, p. 199-202; also see another article in the same book 'Jainism and its perversion in actual practice' by Tarachand
Gangwal, p. 124-136). 91. Tattvārthasūtra, ibid. 7.25. 92. Kartikeyānupreksā, 367 by Swāmi Kārikeya, Comm. by śubhacandra,
ed. A.N. Upadhye, Agas, 1960. 93. Sāgaradharmāmrta, ibid., 5.15-17. 94. Puruşārthasiddhyupāya, ibid. 61. 95. Kartikeyānuprekşā, ibid. 379. 96. Siddhasena on Tattvārthasūtra, 7.16, Surat, 1930. 97. Sagaradharmāmrta, ibid. 5.36-38. 98. Ibid. 5.36-38.