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JAIN JOURNAL: Vol-XXXVI, No. 3 January, 2002
etc.), himsādāna (supplying others with means of violence, weapons, etc.). In addition to these, one is asked to desist from duhśruti (writing exciting literature, including propagandist that defile the mind, e.g. stories of indulgence, crimes, hatred, possessiveness, irrationalism, aversion, attachment, lust, obscene words and gestures, etc.) This abstension is indeed of extreme relevance and importance in modern times. Moreover, one should also abstain from pramadacharya (needless negligent acts, involving digging of earth, spilling water, lighting fires, disturbing the atmosphere and chopping and damaging plants and trees, thereby committing violence and harm to plant life and environment). Anarthdanḍavrata is thus most essential for the conservation of natural resources (water, earth, and plants), environmental protection, maintenance of universal ecological harmony and balance and peaceful coexistence of man, animal and nature, including plant life.
Śikṣāvratas
Of the sikṣävratas or self-disciplinary practices or educational vows, bhogopabhoga parimāņa and atithisamvibhaga are essential for individual welfare, social harmony, and world peace. The former consists in a willing practice on the part of a nation or an individual to limit its enjoyment of world's goods and lessen their extent progressively, thereby avoiding insatiable craving for gratification of senses leading to runaway consumerism which is having serious harmful consequences for the health, well-being and peace of individual and society. Constant craving for the venom (of sensual enjoyment), dwelling upon pleasurable experiences of the past, abandoning oneself to the sensations of pleasure at the time of indulgence, cherishing instatiable craving for gratification of senses in the future and going through sensuous experiences in the imagination, - these are called the five transgressions of the bhogopabhoga parimana vrata. (Śloka 90 of Ratnakranda Shravakachara by Acharya Samantbhadra).
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The virtue of atithisamvibhaga is more positive and requires that one-instead of gaining by the fact that others are needy to whom a supply of things they want would be profitable (thereby indulging in exploitation, profiteering, black marketing, etc.)- should gladly divide the things one has along with others, especially with those who are deserving and needy.
The other two sikṣāvratas and samayika and prosadhopavāsa vows. Samayika entails refraining from the commission of the five kinds of sin (injury to others, falsehood, theft, unchastity and insatiable craving
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