Jain Spirit 2001 06 No 08

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 47

WORSHIP
45) Truth
Hlaups ons do
a) If talking is not required, then do not talk. If it is required then only use the minimum of words, and all must all be absolutely true. Talking disturbs the stillness of the mind. Consider the person who lies and lives in fear of being exposed. To support one lie he has to utter a hundred more. He becomes caught up in a tangled web of lies and is seen as untrustworthy and unreliable. Lying leads to an influx of paap karma. b) Satya comes from the word Sat, which means existence. Existence is a quality of the soul. Recognising the soul's true nature as it really exists and taking shelter in the soul is practising Nischay Satya Dharma.
6) Self-Restraint
a) i)Restraining from injury to life - Jains go to great lengths, compared to other world religions, to protect life. This encompasses all living beings, from one-sensed onwards. The purpose of not eating root vegetables is that they contain countless one-sensed beings termed "nigod". During Paryushan the Jains also do not eat green vegetables to reduce harm to the lower sensed beings.
ii) Self-restraint from desires or passions These lead to pain and are therefore to be avoided.
b) i) Restraining injury to the self- This has been elaborated upon in Nischay Kshma Dharma.
ii) Self restraint from desires or passions - Emotions, e.g. likes, dislikes or anger lead to misery and need to be eradicated. They are not part of the true nature of the soul and only arise when the soul is in a state of false belief. The only method to free oneself from these is to contemplate on the true nature of the soul and in the process commence the journey to liberation or
moksha.
7) Penance
a) This does not only mean fasting but also includes a reduced diet, restriction of certain types of foods, avoiding tasty foods, etc. The purpose of penance is to keep desires and passions in control. Over-indulgence inevitably leads to misery. Penance leads to an influx of punya karmas.
b) Meditation prevents the rise of desires and passions in the soul. In a deep state of meditation the desire to intake food does not arise. Our first Tirthankara, Adinath Bhagwan was in such a meditative state for six months, during which he observed Nischay Uttam Tap. The only food he consumed during these six months was the happiness from within.
9) Non-attachment
a) This assists us in detaching from external possessions. Historically ten possessions are listed in our scriptures: "land, house, silver, gold, wealth, grain, female servants, male servants, garments and utensils". Remaining unattached from these helps control our desires and leads to an influx of punya karmas.
b) This assists us in being unattached from our internal attachments: false belief, anger, pride, deceit, greed, laughter, liking, disliking,
"If talking is not lamentation, fear, disgust, male sexual
required, then do not talk.
desire, female sexual desire and hybrid sexual desire. Ridding the soul of these leads to its purification.
turd
8) Renunciation
a) Contrary to popular belief, renouncing worldly possessions leads to a life of contentment and assists in keeping desires in check. Controlling desires lead to an influx of punya karma.
46 Jain Spirit June - August 2001
A Festival Of Introspection
Renunciation is done at the highest level by our monks who renounce not only the household but also their clothes. A person's strength is measured not by the amount of wealth he accumulates but by the amount of wealth he renounces. By this measure our monks are the richest.
b) Renouncing the emotions, the root cause of misery, is Nischay Uttam Tyag, which is only possible by contemplating on the true nature of the soul.
SM
10) Supreme Celibacy
a) This means not only refraining from sexual intercourse but also includes all pleasures associated with the sense of touch, e.g. a cool breeze on a hot summers day or using a cushion for a hard surface. Again this dharma is practised to keep our desires in check. The monks practise this to the highest degree with all their body, speech and mind. The householder refrains from sexual intercourse with anyone except his or her spouse.
b) Brahmacharya is derived from the word Brahma - Soul and charya - to dwell. Nischay Brahmacharya means to dwell in your soul. Only by residing in the soul are you the master of the Universe. Residing outside your soul makes you a slave to desires.
vino Kshma Vani Parva
This is celebrated on the day following the Das Lakshan Parva and is also celebrated three times a year. With proper practice of the Das Lakshan Parva our hearts should be overflowing with forgiveness and hence the celebration of this festival on the following day.
Shitul Shah is a solicitor by profession, based in London. He is a keen student of Jain philosophy. The above is extracted from the Young Jains newsletter, October 2000.