Book Title: Jaina Ethics
Author(s): Dayanand Bhargav
Publisher: Motilal Banarasidas

Previous | Next

Page 170
________________ The Conduct of a Jaina Monk 153 in his ear by others to test him and was taken to be a worm by him.1 Nevertheless, there are references in the post-canonical literature to show that some concessions were made for the Jaina monk in this matter, as in others, in later periods. Great vow of truthfulness: The monk leaves all worldly activities and, therefore, for him truth carries a deeper meaning than mere statement of facts. Truth means a considerate mode of expression, a thoughtful speech which is beneficial for all. Truth and all other vows being subservient to cardinal virtue of non-violence, a speech that may cause pain should be avoided even though it may be objectively true. Truth, therefore, in its wider sense is not only a negation of lie but a negation of all which is injurious. This is clear from the following classification of non-truth.2 1. Lie (Alikavacana). 2. Insulting speech (Hilitavacana). 3. Teasing speech (Khimsitavacana). 4. Harsh speech (paruşavacana). 5. Speech used by householders, calling relatives by their relations as father, mother etc. (gṛhasthavacana). 6. Exciting speech (vyavasamitavacana). Mulācāra asks a monk to avoid all words under influence of attachment, aversion, jest, fear, anger and greed.3 Nisithas utra lays down that a monk should be modest, true and gentle in his speech and should not talk about worldly affairs or past quarrels.4 The study of Bṛhatkalpabhasya reveals some interesting facts regarding the observance of this vow by the monks. A Gitärtha, meaning an old monk, pretended to have used pure water (meaning water which has been rendered acitta) for I. Epigraphia Carnatica, Bengalore, 1923, Vol. II, 67(54), 1129 A.D. (pp. 23-30). 2. Sthänängas útra, 6.3.527. Also Pravacanasaroddhāra, 235.1133. 3. Müläcära, 5.141. Also Anāgāradharmamṛta, 4.45; Acarasara 5.41 and Bhagavati Aradhanā, 1207. 4. Nisitha, Agra, 1957, Vol. II, 2.18-19. 5. Bṛhatkalpabhäşya, Bhavanagar, 1936, Vol. III, 2882. Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314