Jain Journal 2001 01

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

Page 10

JAIN THE JAINA WAY OF LIFE
The other vows
All the other vows preached in Jainism are only an extension of the vow of non-violence. Truthfulness is essential to keep order and harmony in society. There are moments in life when one has to take hardships to keep up one's convictions. In business and in our dayto-day dealings our truthfulness is put to test. We have to practise it constantly to maintain our integrity. While observing the vow of nonstealing, one is required to earn his livelihood by honest means. We violate the vow of aprigraha by accepting and holding what is not needed by us. What we possess in surplus has to go to those who need it badly. The principle of continence is significant in maintaining the morals in society.
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Thus we see that these principles, preached by Lord Mahāvīra, are universal in character and are applicable to every individual in any society. These simple rules can be practised without the least philosophical speculation, even by ordinary people.
Integral View of Life
Jainism takes an integral view of life. Faith or only knowledge by itself cannot take us to the path of salvation. We should have a combination of right faith, right knowledge and right conduct to tread the path of salvation. These constitute the three jewels of Jainism. Without right faith, there is no right knowledge and without right knowledge there is no virtuous conduct. Lord Mahavira says, "By knowledge one understands the nature of substances; by faith one believes in them; by conduct one puts an end to the flow of karmas and by austerity one attains purity." (Uttaradhyayana Sutra, 28.35)
Concept of Karma
The significant achievement of Tirthankara Mahāvīra's revolution in spiritual field was the upholding of the concept of karma in place of God, the creator. He says that man is the architect of his own destiny and he can rise only by his own efforts and not by the grace of any external agency. God is devoid of attachment, hence there is no need for him to create this universe which is beginingless and endless.
Every inexplicable event in the life of an individual occurs due to the karmas accumulated in his previous birth. Karma is conceived as something essentially material which gets interlinked with soul which is conscious. As particles of dust get attached to the body smeared with oil, so does karma with the soul. Lord Mahāvīra says, "Attachment