Jainism For Beginners Level 03

Author(s): Sayampurnashreeji
Publisher: Sayampurnashreeji

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austerities, which are the principal ways to achieve Nirjara. These are further categorized six external and six internal austerities.
of the six external Austerities. Ashan means eating and Anashan means noneating or fasting. Thus eating and non- eating are physical phenomena. As long as the body survives, it is going to need food. The body can survive for some time without food. One however tends to get conditioned to eating at regular intervals. In order to inhibit this conditioning, it is useful to fast from time to time. Thus fasting is also very important.
VTERNAL AUSTERITIES
Theterm 'Upavas'that wegenerally use for fasting is not synonymous with Anashan. 'Upa' means closer and Vas means abode. Thus Upavas really means abiding in proximity with or in tune with the soul. If a person sincerely tries to stay in accordance with the real nature of soul, he cannot indulge in any sense of craving or aversion. As such, he would stay away from all defilements and achieve a very high level of Nirjara. Thus Upavas in the true sense of the term amounts to right activity and is one of the important way to eradicate Karmas. We however hardly observe that kind of Upavas. It is wrong to believe that Upavas can be observed simply by abstaining from food. When someone observes the penance of Upavas, he should spend his day in meditation, prayers, and spiritual activities.
Anashan (Not eating for a set period of time) Unodari (Eating less than needed) Vrutti-sankshep (Eating within the limits of predetermined restrictions) i. Material - Eat only a certain
number of items ii. Area-Eat only within limits of a
certain area iii. Time-Eat only at certain time iv. Mode-Eat food obtained or
made only by certain means Ras-tyag (Eating non-tasty food -example, Ayambil Tap) kaya-klesha (Penance, tolerating physical pain voluntarily) Sanlinata (Staying in forlorn place and occupying minimum space)
Nav Tatva (Part-II)
TAPASYAS
TYPES OF EXTERNAL AUSTERITIES
As previously mentioned Jain scriptures define twelve ways to perform
Cxternal austerities are practiced
in various ways depending upon
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