Sambodhi 1972 Vol 01

Author(s): Dalsukh Malvania, H C Bhayani
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 14

KK Dixte
set of problems the basic text is the Vyayaharasītra, for the later the Kalpa. sūtra (plus the Parquşanakalpa of the Dašašrutaskandha), the Nišuhasūtra is a somewhat peculiar sort of compilation of both the sets of problems The problem of explation - to be incurred in the case of the ylolation of monastio rules - is also dealt with in the Vyavaharasūtra (while the peculiarity of the Nisithasūtra lies in its arranging its entire material in terms of the explations to be thus incurred) The problems of begging etc discussed in the Kalpasūtra etc are not arranged in a systematic fashion but a definite step in that direction is taken in the Acaranga II Śrutaskandha I and II Adhyayanas For in this text ne stand almost on the doorstep of the celebrated doctrine of 5 samitis The 5 samitls are the five items 10 connection with which a monk has to be well vigilant , they are (1) eşana (begging) (11) Trya (movement) (111) bhaşa (speech) (iv) adana-nıkşepa (receiving things and put. ting them at a proper place) and (v) ufcara prastāva (evacuation and urination) As can be seen, the first three items are of the utmost importance and they receive a considerable detailed and systematic treatment in the text in question, the fifth item too is here touched upon but the fourth is conspicuous by its absence) This proves that the text, though fairly late, was yet earlier than the dato of the formulation of this doctrine of samitis Lastly wo may take note of the popular-didactic texts devoted to these very problems which are the province of the texts like Kolpa, Vyavahara, Nisitha The most important text belongiog to this class 13 the Dasaugikatikasutra but certain chapters of the Uttaradhyayanasitra and many of the Daśasrutaskandha fall in the game category
In the end one more facet of the activity of the Jaina authors deserves consideration It pertains to their preoccupation with ontological problems In a text like Acaranga I Srutaskandha the one ontological tenet to be treated at length 18 the noteworthy Jalna doctrine of the six classes of living beings According to this doctrine, a living being might belong to one of tho following six classes : earth, water, fire, air, plant, mobile being Of co. urge, the text also throughout presupposes that a soul resides in a body which it leaves at the time of death in order to take up another one - unlegg it has caracd the right of moksa But the ontological queries connected with this whole doctrine are not raised here In fact, it is in the Bhagaoatisütra that most of the fundamental tenets of Jaina ontology aro mentioned at a greater or lesser length Considering the logic of the situation it appears probable that the following has been the order of these tenets engaging the attention of the theoreticlans
(1) the nature of soul (ii) the nature of body (ii) the nature of matter in geporal