Outlines of Jainism

Author(s): J L Jaini, F W Thomas
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Page 94

46
OUTLINES OF JAINISM
We may consider lesyās as to their origin, as to their kinds, and as to their character.
As to their origin, leśyas arise from yoga or kashāya, i.e. (1) the vibrations due to activity of body, mind, or speech; or (2) the passions."
As to their kinds, they are meritorious or sinful. Sinful lesyas give rise to black, indigo, and grey colours. Meritorious lesyās to orange-red, lotus-pink, and white
ones.
A
Black. man affected with this leśya wishes entirely to destroy anything that has excited his anger, ete. In an illustration occurring in Jaina books he is compared to one who wants to eat mangoes. He comes to a mango-tree, and uproots the whole tree in order to eat a few fruits. Hatred of a man or woman, say at first sight from a distance, will be a good example.
Indigo or blue. This is a little better than the last. A man with this does not go to the root of the tree; still, he causes greater pain and loss than is necessary or just. It is like the man sparing the root, but cutting the trunk of the mango-tree. In practical life, e.g. because one foreigner behaves badly in his country, a man with this lesya might hate all foreigners.
Grey. This is slightly better than the last. A man wishes to cause pain or loss, in order to gain his end. "Achieve by any means, fair or foul," "the end justifies the means," will belong to this leśya. In the ease of the mango-tree it would be the man who spares the trunk and the root, but chops off all the big boughs of the tree.