Jain Journal 2002 04

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

Page 12

BRAHMESHANANDA: TAPAS IN JAINISM
To rise from one's seat on the arrival of an elder, to welcome him with folded hands, to offer him a seat, to serve him with devotionthese constitute humility. There are, according to Jain scriptures, five kinds of humility which encampass all the important aspects of monastic conduct such as the humble acceptance of the Jain tenets (darshana-vinaya), diligent acquisition of knowledge (jnana-vinaya), careful conduct (charitra-vinaya), practice of tapas (tapa-vinaya), and humble behaviour (aupacharika-vinaya). It is therefore said that one must not abandon humility at any cost. Even a person of less knowledge of scriptures can annihilate karma if he is humble.26
(3) Service (vaiyavritya). Service rendered to the acharya, the upadhyaya, an ascetic, an old monk, and other religious people is considered an important internal austerity' in Jainism. It consists in providing the served person with bed, residence, seat, arranging for his food, medicine, reading out scriptural texts to him, etc.27 It also includes offering protection to monks and taking care of one who is fatigued on the way; or threatened by thief, wild animals or king; or obstructed by a river; or afflicted by disease or famine.28
(4) Scriptural Study (svadhyaya). Scriptural study forms a very important part of the life of a monk. It is essential for intellectual excellence. It helps in the development of detachment, offers a healthy engagement for the mind, augments the quality of tapas, and leads to purification from the trangressions of the vows.29
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Scriptural study has five parts: (i) reading or listening, (ii) asking questions to dispel doubts, (iii) repetition and revision of what has been read, (iv) contemplating deeply on what has been read, and (v) giving religious discourses opening with auspicious chants.30 It must be done with devotion, without desire for praise or honour, and with the sole purpose of expiation of karmas.31 Scriptural study helps in the control of senses, body, mind, and speech, and increases
25. Ibid., 467.
26. Ibid., 472.
27. Ibid., 473.
28. Ibid., 474. The details can be found in my article The Ideal of Service in Jainism', The Vedanta Kesari, December 1992.
29. Pujyapada on Tattvartha Sutras, Solapur, S.S. 1839, 924; quoted by Dayananda Bhargava, op.cit., p. 192.
30. Samana Suttam, op.cit., p. 475.
31. Ibid., 476.