Jainism

Author(s): Vallabh Smarak Nidhi
Publisher: Vallabh Smarak Nidhi

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weaknesses. They knew that the path of renunciation is not easy for all to follow. Hence they preached and propagated two sets of rules of conduct-one for monks and the other for householders. It is repeatedly stressed that both sets of rules are Dhrma, or the Virtuous Path. The path of the house holders does not lead to sin.
The Jain monks and nuns are required to practise the five great vows in their perfect and highest possible forms: Non-injury, Truthfulness, Nonstealing, Celibacy and Non-attachment to worldly objects. Their life is one of complete selfhelp. They are not to be a burden on socity in any way. They always travel on foot, wear the fewest possible clothes (some even discard clothing altogether), have no house or property of their own and are expected to know many languages for the purpose of propagating the message of peace among the people of different natians. They keep to a simple, purely vegetarien diet, just sufficient to keep body and soul together, beg their food from different houses and have neither attachment nor enmity towards any living being. The detailed rules
for their conduct are given in the Acharanga