________________
104
Lord Mahavira The third category is bandha or bondage of soul. Bondage is the subjection of soul to the laws of birth and death, old age and decay, pleasure and pain and other vicissitudes of life brought about by the effect of karma. The soul which is the fifth of the five astikayas represents the principle of intelligence. According to the Uttaradhyayana Sutra (XXVIII. 11), the characteristic of soul is knowledge, faith, conduct, austerities, energy and realisation of its developments. According to Mahâvîra, the soul which has no form is conscious. 21
The soul in combination with the body is the doer of all actions. One should abstain from killing beings, theft, falsehood, sensual pleasures and spirituous liquor. A person will suffer the consequences of whatever may preponderate as between an act and forbearance from it. The pious obtains purity and the pure stands firmly in the law. A person of pure faith always realises the truth.
A monk should cast aside all fetters and all hatred. Pious ascetics get over the impassable samsara. Stupid sinners go to hell through their superstitious beliefs. A true monk is one who does not care for his life, who abandons every delusion, who always practises austerities and avoids contact with wicked men and women. He who practises self-discipline, meditates on soul, wise, hardy, calm and does not hurt anybody is a true monk. A monk should be steadfast, righteous, content, restrained and attentive to his duties. He should be impartial towards all beings of the world and should be careful to speak truth. He should keep the severe vow of chastity. He should practise mental and bodily penances. He who possesses virtuous conduct and life, who has practised the best self-control, who keeps from sinful influences and who has destroyed karma will attain mukti. An ascetic will by means of his simplicity enter the path of Nirvana. According to Jains there are three ways of committing sins:-By one's own. activity, by commission and by approval of the deed. Each is distinct from the other.22 A sage should always .vanquish his passions. He should expound the law correctly. He should not neglect the smallest duty. The virtuous exert themselves for liberation. A monk should conform himself to the opinion expressed by the Jinas and wander about till he reaches final liberation.
Mahâvîra's great message to mankind is that birth is nothing,
