________________
Jaina Acāra : Siddhanta aura Svarīpa
167 Bhagavatī gives four kinds of beings static in self-nature by taking oneself away from distractions. They are : (1) Indriya—It is to inspire an aspirant to absorb himself in his own self
by turning sense-organs far away from their objects. Kasāya-It is passion that causes transmigration. It turns spiritual aspirants into rank hedonists. Kšamāsramana says, "Spiritual endeavours lasting for years are destroyed by passions in less than forty-eight minutes. The choicest food mixed with poison proves fatal. So also does the poison of passion to the human soul. Passions may pretend to befriend you, but they are the greatest enemies one can imagine. They are internal filth. Slightly awakened, they spread their net wide enough to entrap weak souls.
Yoga - It is of three kinds : mind, speech and body. It may be auspicious, inauspicious and sometimes mixed.
Patanjali says that Yoga is exercising control over mental tendencies. Buddhists say that auspicious inclinations are Yoga but the Jainas say that Yoga is the activity of mind, speech and body. All control over activities is 'Samvara', i.e. stoppage of karmic inflow.
As water flows downwards, the mind is attracted by what is inauspicious and evil. As birds take to trees, evil thoughts corrode the human mind. When the mind is in and of the world, karma ensnares man in an inextricable maze. As such purification of the mind is the first necessity. Dīghanikāya says that a pure, thoughtful mind can be easily concentrated and such mind alone is capable of attaining composure, equanimity and release from mundane entanglements.
Next comes the speech which should be measured and pure. A pure mind makes the speech blotless. Improper words must be checked; proper words should circulate and silence should be taken as gold. Jinādāsa rightly says that words which help build character are true speech. What spoils it is evil and falše. A spiritual aspirant cannot afford to use words lightly and irresponsibly. Physical fidgetiness symbolises mental unsteadiness and shallowness.
Some extremely beautiful ladies used to approach Lord Mahāvira, but he would not look at them. This is what should be known as perfect control over body for spiritual ends.
Viviktasayanäsana - i.e. separated, secluded bed and seat. There were separate houses for Vedic sages and very expensive places for the Buddhists. It is said that one such cost twenty-seven crore gold coins. Lord Mahāvīra stayed at Rajgsha for as many as fourteen rainy seasons but he never had any fixed habitation. It is because he knew that houses are constructed at the cost of numberless insects and worms and also that one
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
