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KARMA - THE MECHANISM
APPLICATION
The Intention to Grow
The fourth freedom is customarily interpreted as 'the restraining of sexual activity'. Yet this restrictive understanding does not agree with the dynamism with which the other four freedoms accelerate the expansion of human experience and development.
The Sanskrit-word 'brahma' denoting this freedom means 'growth', 'evolution', 'expansion'. It is not in any way connected to sexual sense-experiences.
None of the Jaina scriptures offer an explanation why the restriction of one particular sense-experience would cause inner growth. The few dogmatic statements about this subject do not conform to the precision of Jaina knowledge which usually presents quite exhaustive elucidation.
For all these reasons it is probable that between the time and teaching of Mahavir (557 to 527 BC) and the writing of the Tattvarthasutra 700 or 800 years later, the word brahma has changed its meaning - as it happened several times in the history of Sanskrit.
Returning to the original meaning of 'expansion' and 'growth' freedom from non-growth (a-brahma) certainly means 'the intention to grow'. - which is far more in step with the dynamic expansion that characterizes all Jaina knowledge, than its reduction to sexuality.
It certainly is everyone's own decision to interpret abrahma in the conventional way. In our modern world this would be 'freedom from the need to always search for (new) sexual partners'. However, it is recommended to observe whether practicing this interpretation really brings about a noticeable expansion of consciousness.
Yet - irrespective how this is assessed - our very own 'intention to grow' doubtlessly constitutes the core-element of any path to ultimate freedom.
9 The term 'brahmacharya' is also used. It translates 'the way of life directed
towards growth' and is not connected to sexuality either. Only habitual usage associates brahma and brahmacharya with a restriction of sexual experience.
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