Jaina Acara Siddhanta aur Svarupa

Author(s): Devendramuni
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 42

Jaina Acāra : Siddhānta aura Swarupa
'Sthulamrsāvadaviramana' means that no householder will blame or censure others huffishly. He will not reveal others' secrets nor get falsely calumnious articles published. He shall never give false evidence.He does not appropriate stolen property, nor will he incite others to pilfer things. His measurements are always accurate. In business he will not adopt dishonest means such as to show a beautiful sample and despatch an ugl. one. He shall be content with his own wife and never indulge in prostitution nor think of sinful, licentious deeds. He would possess what he strictly needs. He shall discriminate between necessity and luxury. He fasts on auspicious days. He keeps an effecive check on his longings. He scrupulously limits items of his food and prays daily for equanimity. It is non-injury in word and deed that sustains the eleven special types of vows (Pratimā). These vows sanctify not only the laity but also purify the atmosphere by which the whole country prospers. At the fag end of his life when the body is rendered useless, a householder gives up food and water. He meditates and thus meets his death. The founders of faith were liberated souls. So whatever they said became law and was not open to question or any logical quibbling. With the only aim of liberating people from bondage they instructed people selflessly. Theirs was an extra-sensory, intuitive perception. In keeping with their maxims, some later saints elucidated and explicated the texts. The first commentator of Jaina scriptures was Haribhadra who had an open mind. All rules, from whatever source, should be incorporated unhesitatingly, but only when they should uplift the morale of monks and laity. Their do's and don'ts must not go against the spirit of liberated souls.
Treat others as you would be treated by them. This attitude of not only sympathy but also empathy is the meaning of 'Sāmāyika' which is a daily prayer to rise above attachment and aversion. It aims at equality in spirit and tranquillity for all.It is essential for all Jains. Apparently it may not seem imposing but such daily prayer, if and when sincere, brings about the desired amity and peace all round. All this is not possible without the prop of non-injury. Along with this, negligence should be taken as grievous sin. There are one or more sensed beings everywhere in the world. The least negligence will prove fatal to them. Care and caution must be observed at every step.
The Jainas are naturally averse to violence in general. As they gradually rid themselves of passions, they cannot even think of violence, not to talk of actually committing it. They are so very detached that neither gold nor woman can tempt them. The height is attained only by liberated souls. Others have to be members of their religious organisation, but whatever they do does not bind them, since they persevere in pursuing their ideal of detachment.