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SOME JAINA CANONICAL SUTRAS
All men who are ignorant of truth are subject to pain. A wise man, who considers well the ways that lead to bondage and birth, should search for the truth. A man of pure faith should realize the truth that he will have to suffer for his own deeds. 1
Clever talking will not work salvation. Fools though sinking lower and lower through their sins believe themselves to be wise men. One should wander about carefully in this endless samsāra. One should never desire worldly objects but sustain one's body only to be able to annihilate one's karma. Recognizing the cause of karma one should wander about waiting for one's death. One should conduct one's self so as to commit no sin.
An ignorant man kills, tells lies, robs on the highway, steals goods, and deceives others.3 He is to go to the world of the asuras (demons) against his will. Those men, who through the exercise of various virtues become pious householders, will surely reap the fruit of their actions. A virtuous man cheerfully attains the state of gods. He who has not given up pleasures will not be able to reach the true end of his soul. He will go astray again and again though he has been taught the right way. A sinner will be born in hell and a virtuous man will be born in heaven.
The best of sages, who is free from delusion and possesses perfect knowledge and faith, seeks for the benefit and eternal welfare and for the final liberation of all beings.
Stupid sinners go to hell through their superstitious beliefs. One should not permit the killing of living beings. A careful man does not injure living beings. In thoughts, words, and acts he should not do anything injurious to worldly beings.
It is difficult to satisfy anybody. The more one gets the more one wants. A man's desire increases with his means. One should not desire women who continually change their minds, who entice men and then make a sport of them as of slaves.4
One who is ignorant of truth, egoistical, greedy, without self-discipline, and who talks loosely, is devoid of learning. Egoism, delusion, carelessness, illness, and idleness are the five causes which render good discipline impossible. Discipline is called virtue for eight causes: (1) not to be fond of mirth, (2) to control oneself, (3) not to speak evil of others, (4) not to be without discipline, (5) not to be of wrong dis
1 Uttaradhyayana, VI, 1-3; Cf. Sutrakṛtānga, I, 9, 5. 2 Ibid., VI, 10-14.
3 Ibid., VII, 5.
8B
Ibid., VIII, 17-18.
