Jain Legend Vol 3

Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

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absolved by performing self criticism ( locan ) and ritualized confession (pratikrama a). The true nature of rama a's practice and conduct in Jainism had been succinctly and crisply given in the sixth chapter 'Mah c ra' of Da avaik lika S tra.
The progressive and difficult path of spiritual purification for those who are serious and very keen to continuously progress on the path of self purification had been given in Jainism and not traceable in any other religion now or will never be found elsewhere in future. The code of conduct for Jain monks includes the following eighteen steps;
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five major vows, namely, non violence, speaking the truth, non stealing, non possession and celibacy. Not eating or taking any food after sunset. protecting the lives of six types of living beings ( adj vanik ya) i.e. one sensed with air, water, fire, earth or vegetation as their bodies or mobile living beings with two to five senses. Not to accept any non essential things. Not to accept food or water in the utensils belonging to a householder. Not to sit on a seat belonging to a householder Not to sit or sleep on a bed. Not to take a bath Not to decorate his / her body in any manner.
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All the above steps had to be practiced fully and not partially or with any laxity by all monks, be they young, old, women or sick. No flaws or relaxations are permissible in the above steps. Those detached monks, who practice the above eighteen steps of the conduct of rama as alongwith full knowledge of non violence towards all types of living beings, practitioners of seventeen types of self restraint, devoid of elusion and totally detached, observe simplicity and twelve types of austerities annihilate the bonded karmas and do not bind new karmas thus destroying the impurities (karmas) associated with their souls completely. In the end, like the full moon in its full glory, they either attain liberation from the transmigration cycle or are born in the highest heavens if some impurities still stay with their souls.
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