Jainism Early Faith of Ashoka

Author(s): Edward Thomas
Publisher: Trubner and Company London

Page 54

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THE EARLY FAITH OF AŞOKA.
· Col. Tod's observations were not designed to extend to the question of the relative age of the Jaina and Buddhist creeds, but they serve to show the permanence and immutability of the former faith in a portion of the continent of India, where the people, beyond all other sectional nationalities, have preserved their individuality and reverence for local traditions. They explain, moreover, how the leading tenet of Jainism-which was shared in a subdued form by Buddhism came under its exaggerated aspect to leave their best kings at the mercy of less humane adversaries.
Col. Tod proceeds to speak of the Jainas in the following terms:
"The Vediaván (the man of secrets or knowledge, magician), or Magi of Rajası hán. The numbers and power of these sectarians are little known to Europeans, who take it for granted they
1 " The practical part of the Jain religion consists in the performance of five duties and the avoidance of five sins.
“The duties are-1. Mercy to all animated beings; 2. Almsgiving; 3. Venerating the sages while living, and worshipping their images when deceased ; 4, Confession of faults; 5. Religious fasting
“The sins ars--1. Killing; 2. Lying; 3. Stealing; 4. Adultery; 5. Worldlymindedness."-Kalpa Sútra, p. xxü.
The Jainas "believe that not to kill any sentient being is the greatest virtue." -The Chintamani, ed. Rev. H. Bower, Madras, 1868, p. xxi.
The leading contrast between the simple duties of the Jainas and the later developments introdnced by the various schools of Buddhists may be traced in the following extracts:
"1. From the meanest insect up to man, thou shalt kill no animal whatever ; 2. Thou shalt not steal; 3. Thou shalt not violate the wife or concubine of another."--Gützlaff, “China Opened,” London, 1838, p. 216.
“There are three sins of the body: 1. The taking of life, Murder (1 2. The taking that which is not given, Theft (2); 3. The holding of carnal intercourse with the female that helongs to another, Adultery (3).” - Spence Hardy, Manual of Buddhism, p. 461.
"The ten obligations" commence with “1. Not to kill; 2. Not to steal; 3. Not to marry; 4. Not to lie, etc."— The Rev. S. Beal, Fab-hian, p. 59. Mr. Beal goes on to expound the four principles involved in the existence of Buddhism, which are defined as these :-*1. That man may become superior to the Gods; 2. That Nirvana is the Supreme good; 3. That religion consists in a right preparation of heart (suppression of evil desire, practice of self-denial, active benevolence); 4. That men of all castes, and women, may enjoy the benefits of a religious life."--p.i.
? To this leading feature in their religion (the prohibition of the shedding of blood) they owe their political debasement: for Komarpal, the last King of Anhulwara, of the Jain faith, would not march his armies in the rains, from the unavoidable sacrifice of animal life that must have ensued. The strict Jain does not even maintain a lamp during that season, lest it should attract moths to their destruction.”-i. p. 519. The oil-mill and the potter's wheel are stopped for four months in the year, when insects most abound.”-i. p. 521. At p. 620 Col. Tod enlarges upon the mines of knowledge (of the Jaina) books hy the thousand, etc.