Book Title: Jainism by Vividus
Author(s): Ramnik V Shah
Publisher: Ramnik V Shah Canada

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Page 151
________________ non-sex with women, or any other living being, limitation of one's movements both in directions, as well as the period of time, nonimposition of one's self upon others without rhyme or reason, the prac.tice of meditation, periodic long or short fasting, limitation on and of sensual enjoyments and voluntary sharing of what one has with saints and sinners alike, uninvited or unexpected. There are twelve kinds of Austerities and an equal numbr of Reflections which could cover ceremonial worship and other rituals and rites into which it is not necessary to go. All have equal significance and though NonViolence is more equal among equals, it should not be overblown. It should always be remembered that the universe as manifested has innumerable planes of consciousness and on some of the planes, life without violence does not even manifest, let alone survive. Again I am not suggesting violence to be therefore encouraged. I am only advising violence to be looked at in appropriate perspective and either totally abjured, where possiblə or partially tolerated where necessary depending upon the level and quality of consciousness. Outright condemnation or abhorence will never be able to eliminate violence from the universe. To come back to Samyaktva, its perfection as an odjective is a state of being in and even beyond the manifest universe where only the Pure Consciousness in its innate quailties of inifinite perception, infinite knowledge, infinite power and infinite bliss prevails, for all eternity and that state is Moksha attained only by Siddha-s and jain Tirthankara-s. To attain therefore, to the state of all Jainas and while embodied it is only 'Arhanta' who, according to Jainas, achieves this goal. On leaving the body, he the 'Arhanta' attains 'Siddhahood' the final state beyond which no imagination or conception works. Knowing and beliving this, an attempt to be this, is the first requisite of a Jaina. To Jainas, knowing is good, doing is better, but being is the best. This is 'Siddha' as different from 'Buddha', which as the word signifies means only a state of enlightenment not attainment. Jainsm as a set of principles is little known to its followers and non-followers alike. The understanding of its principles require 35

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