Jainism and Democracy

Author(s): Indra Chandra Shastri
Publisher: I A S S Jain Conference New Delhi

Page 68

THE VOWS FOR A HOUSEHOLDER
58
enterprises. This vow serves two fold purpose. Firstly puts a check on unrestrained material ambitions which keep the man constantly in a state of unrest. Secondly it avoids mutual conflict in the uncontrolled desire for commercial exploitation and political subjugation which has led the world to the verge of total annihilation.
This vow has the following transgressions :To cross the self imposed limits (i) in the space above, (ii) in the space below, (iii) in other directions, (iv) to extend the limits of land possessions and (v) to forget the limit while engaged in expolita
tion. Cutting the daily requirements
The seventh vow puts a limit on the commodities of daily use. The householder fixes the number of commodities used in food, drink, bath, journey, furniture etc. In this vow the limitation is not on the posses. sions actually but on their real use for necessity or enjoyment. These commodities are divided into twenty-six categories covering the whole sphere of daily life. Behaviour and orderliness
The eighth vow puts a check on the useless efforts amounting to violence. The householder is warned against doing anything violent or causing any inconvenience to others without a passive interest. This purposeless violence is divided into four categories. (i) committed through depressive or violent thou
ght (i.e. anger),