Mokshamala

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 24

Maintaining vigilance in the form of five Samities (Observance of meticulous vigilance) is topmost. It is, of course, hard for the laymen to maintain it to the fullest extent, but in absence of vigilance they would fail to maintain it even to the extent it is possible. Where there is carelessness about the gross and subtle modes of compassion as explained by the omniscient Lords, the observance of vigilance is bound to remain faulty. The activities like fast and speedy walking, imperfect cleaning of water filters, using firewood and other fuels without examining the same, inappropriate cleaning and winnowing of grains, keeping the utensils without care or proper cleaning, filthy rooms, spilling water at random in the precincts, left-over food and laying warm plates on the floor without any support lead to loss of cleanliness, discomfort, loss of health etc. Moreover, they are the sources of very sinful activities.
What we intend to say is that one should maintain care and vigilance while walking, sitting, rising, eating and in every other activity. That is beneficial materially as well as modally. One should walk slowly and serenely, should keep the residence clean, should properly filter water, and use firewood and other fuels after properly examining the same. That is not hard and does not take much time. Once such routine is set, it can be maintained at ease. Thereby we can save the lives of innumerable innocent living beings. It is the duty of every discerning Jain to undertake every activity with proper care and vigilance.
Lesson 28: Eating after sunset
The Lord has stipulated the restraint of avoiding food after the sunset and that ranks at par with five major restraints. After sunset there arise subtle, dark-based insects having the same color as those of food articles It is therefore necessary to avoid all the four types of intake (regular food, refreshment, mouth-fresheners and liquids) after sunset.
There are also other faults in taking food after sunset. One has to make fire for cooking: that causes destruction of the innocent minute beings staying in adjacent areas. The insects attached to firewood and other fuels do not come to the notice at night and hence they get destroyed. Moreover, there is the risk of serpentine poison, spider saliva, mosquitoes and other minute beings falling into the food. That can cause dangerous diseases to the family-members and others.
Even Hindu Purans (Fables and tales) and other books forbid taking food at night as a part of wholesome conduct. Though traditionally it is not considered objectionable, the forbiddance is there. There are two lotuses in the body, which are closed at sunset. As such, taking food at night amounts to devouring the minute germs; Ayurved (Indian medical science) also specifies that it can lead to major diseases.
The saintly people take the dinner 48 minutes prior to the sunset and do not take anything till 48 minutes after sunrise. The significance of avoiding food after sunset should be learnt from the monks or from the sacred texts. It is necessary to learn about its subtle impacts. The omniscient Lords have said that avoiding food after sunset is very fruitful.
Lesson 29: Protecting all types of life, Part 1
There is no religion like compassion, compassion is the essence of religion. There are religious faiths, which state that it is not sinful to kill living beings; at the most they would urge to protect the human beings. Believers in such faiths are fanatic and infatuated; they do not know even the basic of compassion. If they consider with open mind, they can make out that killing even a micro-organism is very sinful. As I love my soul, so does it love its soul; I am killing innumerable beings without any hesitation due to my conditioning or for the sake of little advantage. How painful consequences thereof shall I have to bear?