Jaina Acara Siddhanta aur Svarupa

Author(s): Devendramuni
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 87

Jaina Acara : Siddhanta aura Swarūpa
53 (4) The risen soul—It goes a step forward. He is in a position to accept small vows, recurring exercises in self-discipline as also eleven special vows. This is the fifth stage of spiritual development in the life of a lay votary.
(5) Uplifted soul-It proceeds courageously against all odds and ends. This is the sixth and seventh stage of spiritual development.
The first of the thirty- five merits is to earn one's livelihood through legitimate means. The end cannot justify the means. Haribhadra, Hemchandra, and Ašādhara have whole-heartedly supported it. The Buddha has mentioned it as the fifth path. Just as a poisonous food proves fatal, money earned by questionable means can never give peace of mind. The Sanskrit word for well-earned money is 'Sampatti' If otherwise earned, it is “Vipatti',i.e, disastrous. The second quality is intense liking for good conduct. The meaning of the Sanskrit word 'Sista' is self- disciplined. A little bit of sugar mixed with milk makes it sweeter. So also good conduct brings a glow to life. The Gitā says that people imitate the conduct of selfdisciplined persons. Vinoba Bhave says, "Don't forget that people are thermometers that mark the character of a person more accurately than the person himself ever can." Municandra has given eighteen tips to judge good conduct. They are 1. Fear of public slander. 2. Helpful feeling for the poor and deprived class. 3. Gratefulness. 4. Renunciation. 5. Praise of the learned. 6. Patience during periods of stress and strain. 7. Humility even when rich and prosperous. 8. To speak little and only what is proper. 9. Not to oppose anybody by insisting on what is wrong. 10. To complete the assigned and accepted work. 11. To observe fauthfully all family traditions. 12. Not to waste money. 13. To try hard to do necessary work. 14. Always to do nothing but good. 15. Never to be accused of negligence. 16. To observe ethos. 17. To avoid what is wrong and bad as far as possible and do the right thing. 18. Never to be engaged in any mean work.
Such rules may be multiplied. Your discrimination alone will test the credibility of an ascetic.
The third quality is a salutary check on libido. No householder can lead a chaste life. Marriage has been ordained not only to satisfy sexual urge but to nourish companioship through life. The Sanskrit word 'Vivāha' means to carry on well. Both husband and wife are expected to strive for the goal eonjointly. Whom to marry is the question. The advice is that both parties should be of equal standard but of a different lineage. Hemachandra says that if the two families have nothing in common, the possiblity of conjugal felicity shall remain remote. It will make none happy. In Bhagavatī, Jnātadharmakathā and the like it has been laid down that the two should be properly matched in age, manners, behaviour and compatability. Mahabala and Meghakumara could adjust well because of hemogeneity. Children born of a