Mahavira Life and Philosophy

Author(s): Sumeruchand Diwakar Shastri
Publisher: Jain Mitra Mandal

Page 49

Code of Conduct
In this context it is to be noted that although a mere contact with internal objects will not make a person guilty of violence Himasa); but for the purification of mental dispositions it is advisable to abjure the external objects, which are instrumental causes of violence. The house-boider is ordained to renounce wine,' flesh, honey, such fruits which possess small' insects in them. Impure diet produces impure thoughts. A deer, which lives on vegetarian diet like blades of grass, is more peaceful than a cat that eats mice. Therefore one must be careful about his diet for mental purity. Pride, fear, disgust, ridicule, ennui, grief, sex inpulse, anger, greed, deceit, and other ignoble dispositions are forms of mental violence. Householder's daty
A house-holder should at the outset renounce injury to mobile beings. Perfect renunciation is avoidance of injury by body, speech, mind by oneself, through agent, or approval. A house-holder is not in a position to practise highest type of Ahimsa. He should avoid intentional injury at any cost. He should be mirejful as far as the circumstances permit him.
Animal sacrifice is an act of highest cruelty because it contains the element of imens rea'evil intention.
For the attainment of spiritual advancement a saint performs a special type of Atma yagya spiritual sacrifice. In the fire of anger be offers for