________________
216: JAINS TODAY IN THE WORLD
•
The great vows (mahāvrata)
Jain ascetics take during their “dikşa” five great vows (mahāvrata) to purify their soul. They are the same as the small vows of the Jain laity but the difference is that monks and nuns ought to observe them totally, rigorously, without any exemption, save in very exceptional cases. These five great vows are:
1) the vow of absolute non-violence or non-harming (uttama ahimsā vrata) in thoughts, words and activities. At the same time, it is to practice permanent self-control and to avoid all that is at the origin of violence and suffering towards all that lives in the world, be it human, animal, plant, minute being in the air, water, fire or earth. This means not reciprocating attacks, insults and aggressions and also to never kill, hurt or neglect any living being. These have a soul in quest of liberation, like humans in the process of transmigration and they must not be hurt or killed, all lives been interdependent. In accordance with this vow, an ascetic must never light a fire, a lamp, a candle, etc. drink unfiltered water, crush the smallest insect even those invisible to naked eye. For this reason, an ascetic must sweep the ground in front of him with the broom when moving, sitting down, walking, laying and brush aside the little creatures, must too inspect regularly his clothes (if he wears some) on the morning when getting up and on the evening in going to bed to see if small animals are not hidden in them that might be hurt or killed. He also should never use any means of transport and always walk barefoot, never bear weapons or use them, not even to protect his life. A long stick is admitted for nuns and Śvetāmbara monks to move aside their way reptiles or to protect them of ill-disposed people. One might cite many other examples, because most of life is somewhat violence (hiṁsā) and an ascetic should never mentally, verbally, physically, directly or indirectly, knowingly or unknowingly, intentionally or unintentionally, in any shape or form, practise violence.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
