Jaina Path of Ahimsa

Author(s): Vilas Sangve
Publisher: Bhagwan Mahavir Research Centre

Page 55

The Jaina Path Of Ahiṁsā
from all sexual desires with reference to females other than his own wife.
(iv) Ahimsa and Aparigraha:
Aparigraha, i.e, abstention from worldly attachments, is regarded as Ahiṁsā, because Parigraha, i.e, attachment is a form of Hinisā, i.e., injury. Broadly speaking Parigraha is of two kinds, viz.,
(a) Abhyantara Parigraha, i.e, internal attachment, and (b) Bāhya Parigraha, i.e, external attachment.
The internal attachments of possessions are recognized to be of fourteen kinds, namely, perverted belief, laughter, indulgence, ennui, sorrow, fear, disgust, anger, pride, deceit, greed and desire for sexual enjoyment with man, with woman and with both. The external attachments or possessions are of two kinds with reference to the living and the non-living objects.
Both the internal and external types of Parigraha can never preclude Himsā. Internal attachment, the desire for many things, prejudicially affects the purity of the soul, and this injury to the pure nature of the soul constitutes Hirnsā. Similarly, external attachment or the actual possession of living and non-living objects creates attraction and love for them, which defiles purity of the soul and therefore amounts to Himsā. As a consequence, in the interest of the practice of the principle of Ahiṁsā, persons are advised to give up both the internal and external kinds of attachments. But it is not possible for the householders to renounce all Parigraha completely. Hence it is enjoined upon the householders to limit the extent of their Parigraha to a predetermined amount of wealth, cattle, servants, buildings, etc. That is why the Anu-vrata, i.e, the small vow of. Aparigraha, i.e., non-attachment, is also termed as Parigraha-parimāna Anu-vrata, i.e., the small vow of limited attachments.
(v) Ahimsā and Sîla-vratas :
Along with the observance of five main vows, known as Asu-vratas, a householder is expected, according to Jaina scriptures, to follow seven Sila-vratas, i.e, supplementary vows, consisting of three Guna-vratas, i.e, multiplicative vows and four Siksha-vratas, i.e., disciplinary vows. In the Jaina scriptures sufficient emphasis has also been laid even on the practice of these Sila-vratas, i.e, the supplementary vows, since these vows perform the important work of giving protection to the first five Anu-vratas just as the encircling walls