Jainism Some Essays

Author(s): A S Gopani
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 32

Fundamentals of the Jaina Code
of Conduct
To arrive at a correct understanding and estimate of the Jaina ethical principles it is necessary, first of all, to get an idea of the same in the Vedas and Buddhist works. It is difficult, otherwise, to assess the real role played by the Jaina Code of Conduct. A major part of the individual's conduct depends on the society. It does not appear that the Jaina society or Samgha has ever remained isolated. It has always maintained its existance in the midst of Vedic society and in the intervening period it has done so along with the Buddhist Sangha also. When the situation is like this, it it a key to properly evaluate the Jaina ethical principles lies not only in the Jaina Scriptures but in the comparative study of the Vedic and Budhistic codes also. It is, therefore, consistent and proper to discuss about the Jaina code of conduct after a brief reference to the Vedic code of conduct and also to the Budhistic.
The sources of the Vedic Code of Conduct
Vedas are the source of Vedic traditions; therefore the earliest source of the Vedic code of conduct is the Srutis or the Vedas. Now even if the Vedas are revealations, or composed by God, they are just in the form of commandments in which logic has no place. It is not necessary to go into details regarding why an individual should behave in a particular manner and why he should not. Merely that is sufficient that it is propounded by the Vedas. In addition to Vedas, the Smstis also are an authority in respect of code of conduct. The reason why it is so is to be found in the fact that the Vedas are the original source of the Smstis. In the case of the code of conduct the roots of which did not lie in the available Vedas, it was argued that they did lie in the Vedas but that part of the Vedas is at present extinct. Thus, it is believed that the Smstis have supported the code of conduct as formulated in the edas, though really speaking, there are so many rules of conduct in the Smstis which are not only not found in the Vedas but are opposed to those which are enunciated in the Vedas. The later codifiers have attempted to explain this contradiction but in vain. Really speaking, the Smstis have given the form and shape of the rules to