Book Title: Jaina Mysticism and Other Essays
Author(s): Kamalchand Sogani
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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Page 45
________________ as anger, greed, conceit, deceit and the like. Falsehood is of four kinds. The first kind of falsehood refers to the affirmation of the existent as non-existent, the second refers to the declaration of the non-existent as existent, the third refers to the representation of the existing nature of things as different from what they are, and the fourth is indicative of speech which is disagreeable to others. The muni avoids all these four forms of falsehood, and therefore, he is said to observe satya-mahāvrata. But the householder has to speak harsh, unpleasant, violent words for defense, for running the household and doing professional management, therefore he observes satyāņuvrata. The observer, of satyāņuvrata does use words which are, soothing, gentle and ennobling. If any speech causes himsā, it should be withheld. Ultimately the criterion of satya and asatya is ahirnsā and hirsā respectively. Thus satya speech should lead to ahimsā. 3 (iii). Asteya (Aņuvrata-Mahāvrata) : Steya means the taking of things under the constraint of passion without their being given by the owner. It may be noted here that things constitute the external prāņas of a man and he who thieves and plunders them is said to deprive a man of his prānas. This, is not other than hiṁsā. The muni who observes mahāvrata does not take anything whatsoever without the permission of others, but the householder uses such things freely as are of common use without their being given, such as wellwater, and the like. Thus he is observing asteyāņuvrata. It may be noted, here that the muni does not use even the common things without their being given by others. The householder does neither take those things which are forgotten and dropped by others nor give them to any one else. Purchasing of costly things at reduced prices is stealing, which is probably due to the fact that one may sell a thing after getting it by improper methods. Adulteration, abetment of theft, receiving stolen property, use of false weights and measures, smuggling, and the like come under stealing. 3 (iv). Brahmacarya (Anuvrata-Mahāvrata) : Sex-passion is. abrahma. He who frees himself completely from sexual inclination is observing brahmacarya-mahāvrata. But the Jaina Mysticism and other essays Jain Education International For Personal & Private Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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