Mahavira and his Philosophy of Life

Author(s): Kamalchand Sogani
Publisher: Jain Vidya Samsthan

Page 48

use of them for sitting, sleeping and standing. vi. Kayaklesa : In it the body is put to certain discomforts through uneasy and stern postures.
These external austerities do not aim at the flagellation of the body, but contribute towards the inner advancement of a Muni.
(ii) The internal austerities are also of six kinds. i. Prayascitta : When a Muni has committed certain transgressions, he resorts to repentance for the wrong done in order to purify himself. That is the real Prāyascitta wherein the commission of fault in spiritual life is not repeated, ii. Vinaya : It means the expression of humbleness towards the spiritually superior. A Muni is not conceited in his attainments, and behaves modestly with all those who have attained to spiritual heights. iii. Vaiyavrttya : It means the rendering of service to other Munis through suitable means when they are overwhelmed by disease, affliction and any disturbance whatsoever, iv. Vyutsarga : It implies the relinquishment of internal and external Parigraha. v. Svàdhyāya : The study of scriptures is Svādhyāya. Its purpose is to enrich the intellect, to refine moral and spiritual efforts, to infuse detachment and fear from mundane miseries, and to purify defects that may occur when one pursues the divine path. For those who are fickle-minded and intellectually unsteady, nothing is so potent to end such a state of mind as the pursuance of Svadhyāya. Without the acquisition of scriptual knowledge, there is always a danger of being led astray from the virtuous path, just as the tree full of flowers and leaves can not escape its deadening fate for want of the root. The man with Svādhyāya saves himself from being led astray, just as
Mahavira and his Philosophy of Life