Pristine Jainism

Author(s): S M Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 72

Code of Conduct : (69) loss of rationality and indulgence in violence of even extreme nature culminating in killing also. There are cases on record when mothers in anger lose control on senses and beat children so severely that they are harmed badly and even killed. Mother an epitome of love for her child can kill even its very object of affection under the impact of anger. Vanity generates hate. One may be proud of his wealth, knowledge, strength, beauty etc. It results in superiority or inferiority complexes and is the cause of tensions and conflicts in society. It harms the proud man and others also. Hypocrisy is dangerous for the hypocrite and others also. A hypocrite is not trusted and loses respect. He can indulge in the worst forms of crimes, cheating, adulteration and turn out even a fifth columnist for the country. Greed is the main cause of economic disparities, tension in society and environmental pollution. Mahatma Gandhi rightly said that there is enough in the world for every one's needs but not for even one man's greed. In modern psychiatry and personality evaluation in addition to earlier measure of IQ (intelligence quotient) the measure of EQ (emotion quotient) is also being adopted. A successful manager and executive must have good IQ and EQ. If one is unable to control severity of emotions and does not rationally react to emotions of others, he can not be successful. The emotional control as prescribed in the code of conduct for Jains is the key to success, peace and happiness to one and all.
Five Vows:
For every Jain whether laity (householder) or recluse (saint), observance of five basic vows is a must and a prerequisite. Five vows are (1) Non violence (2) Truth (3) Non-stealing (4) Non- hoarding and nonconsumerism (5) Celibacy. These vows are antidote to five main sins viz. (1) Violence (2) Falsehood (3) Theft (4) Hoarding and consumerism (5) sexual indulgence.
हिंसा नृतस्ते या ब्रह्म परिग्रहेभ्योविरतिव्रतम् ॥
Umāsvāmi's Tattvärtha Sutra, 7.1