Some Aspects of Jainism in Eastern India

Author(s): Pranabananda Jash
Publisher: Munshiram Manoharlal Publisher's Pvt Ltd New Delhi

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CHAPTER THREE
Jaina Canonical Texts
An outline of the disciplinary code of the Jaina monk which he has to practise for the perfection of his very mahāvrata will also be helpful to understand the real nature and the characteristic features of the Parivrājakas belonging to the Jaina order. Except a few unfit persons enlisted in the Jaina texts, every individual irrespective of caste, colour and creed are entitled to be a member of this heretical order by pursuing and following those five celebrated vows which Mahāvīra himself laid down as the only entrance through which man can pass to the ascetic state.
Jainism considers that the true road to deliverance lies in right knowledge (samyag-jñāna), right faith (samyag.darśana) and right conduct (samyag-caritra), i.e., the famous tri-ratna, 'the three jewels' of Jainism. It also stress much emphasis on renunciation.3 It maintains that renunciation is not physical merely, but is primarily mental. Hence the preparation to lead an ultimately spiritual life beings early in life. This is responsible for the two fold classification of duties--the Srāvaka-dharma (the householder's duties) and the Muni-dharma (the duties of the ascetic). Thus the pragmatism of Jainism consists in prescribing separate rules of conduct for a layman and an ascetic.
Our purpose is to indicate that the stage of Muni is considerid to be more advanced than that of the Srāvaka. It is to be noted that concession is allowed to the Srāvaka in the matter of observing the various virtues. In the case of the Muni, the five virtues of satya, ahiṁsā, asteya, brahmacarya and aparigraha are insisted to be followed very strictly. No laxity is permitted in the case of the Muni who played a vital role for the development of the faith in and outside the Jaina organisation.
After completing the practice of five aņuvratas, three guņa