Sannyasa Dharma

Author(s): Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: Champat Rai Jain

Page 25

SANNYASA DHARMA.
Chapter 1. STAGES AND IDEALS.
There are four stages (āsramas) in the life of a Jaina. These are :
1. Brahmacharya, the period of study;
2. Grihastha, the period devoted to household life, civic duties, and the like ;
3. Pinaprastha, the stage of retirement from worldly activities ; and
4. Sannyāsn, the period dedicated to the attain. ment of the fourth ideal, i.e., moksha (salvation),
There are four ideals in life, namely,
(i) Dharma (religious merit); (ii) Ariha (wealth, position, worldly pro3.
perity, etc); (iii) Kāma (pleasure, ; and
(iv) Moksha (salvation).
Of these, the first three are meant for the householder, but the fourth, exclusively for the sūdhu (saint). The householder should live in the world, so as to be doing the greatest good to the greatest number of living beings, serving his community and country in all suitable ways, and advancing the progress of humanity as much