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JAINISM
243 implies an effort of the will. So the making of these choices implies these three factors, (1) actual selection, (2) exercise of the judging faculty in distinguishing right from wrong courses, and (3) the effort of the. will. This procedure is called a vrata, approximately translated by the English word vow. The idea of the vrata as thus described is peculiarly Jain: there is no promising on oath to a deity or superior person: it is not a command or decree issued by a deity to his subjects or creatures. Of these special rules there are twelve; the first five are lesser vows, lesser in comparison with the strict vows of the monk; the layman undertakes to avoid only the gross forms of killing, lying, stealing, immorality, and greed, while the monk avoids them absolutely. Of the remaining seven special rules, three help the first five, and four prepare the person for the monk life.
To end this article we may say that there are in it three main divisions; one gives something about the whole universe ; the second, taking men as we know him, tells us what he may become (omniscient, blissful, and immortal), and the third part tells us how the theory and practice form a consistent system which may be summed up by saying " Do these things and you will reach that state", and the teaching is by one who has done it.
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The Hindi Jain Encyclopaedia Vol. 1.
BY B. L. Jain Chaitanya.' C. T. Contains full explanation of Jaina Philosophical, Metaphysical and Ethical terms and gives all available information on eminent Jains such as the Great Acharyas, Kings, Ministers, Warriors and on the Jaina Sacred places. This is an important and useful publication which every Jain and student of Jainism ought to possess. Only a few copies available.
Price Rs. 3-4-0 only. For Copies write to :—THE MANAGER,
The Jaina Gazette, G. T. Madras. Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
