Jainism

Author(s): Herbert Warren
Publisher: Divine Knowledge Society

Page 87

JAINISM
77 tions, passions, etc., is practised, then there is no question of degrees; but here, in this fifth stage of partial control, the question of degrees arises, and three degrees may be considered, namely, a low, a moderate, and a high degree.
The person, practising a low degree of self-control in the right attitude of mind, would give up meat eating and alcoholic drink. He would resolve, and carry out the resolution not to destroy intentionally and without any special necessary cause any innocent living being or thing which has locomotion. And he would every now and then try to meditate upon the five kinds of great personalities postulated by the Jain philosophy (see page 78).
The person practising a moderate degree of self-control with the right attitude of mind, would follow the path of rectitude, his conduct would be good. He may observe the thirty-five rules of conduct previously given. He observes twelve special rules, which may be called vows, in the absence of a more adequate word to translate the Sanskrit term “vrata;” and he performs six daily activities. These twelve vows and six activities are given in the following pages.
A person practising the highest degree of partial selfcontrol, would eat only once a day; he would give up all kinds of food, which is animate at the time of eating, such as raw fruit, lettuce, etc. He would practise absolute chastity. He would retire from business. He would have the desire to adopt the vows of the monk; he may not be able to adopt them, but still he has the desire to.