Spiritual Code and Restraints

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 28

restraint, while bringing an illegal immigrant in the country is covered by the third. Similarly, over-invoicing or under-invoicing falls within the purview of second restraint, while short shipment would come in the purview of the third.
Legitimacy of gaining and using something has also a subtler aspect. Mahätma Gandhi had stipulated that one, who eats or consumes anything without putting in effort, is a stealer. He had therefore resorted to spinning, as soon as he terminated his fast even during his last days. Jainism puts this very aspect in a different perspective. From the spiritual point of view the main purpose of human life is to get rid of the bondage of Karma so as to achieve liberation. The major step in this direction is to get rid of the ignorance about the Self. Jain seers have therefore laid down that not to use one's energy for gaining self-realization also amounts to transgression of this restraint.
Chapter 9
BRAHMACHARYA, THE CELIBACY
Mulameyamahammassa Mahädosasamussayam Tamhä Mehunasansaggam Niggantha Vajjayanti Nam
Dashvaikälik Sutra
Sensuous contact is the root cause of sins and abode of major faults;
monks therefore stay away from that.
In the last three chapters, we have dealt with three restraints of nonviolence, truth and non-stealing. Now we are taking up the fourth one known as celibacy or Brahmacharya. That term has a spiritual as well as physical connotation. Spiritually, it is defined as Brahmani Charyate Iti Brahmacharyah. Brahman means consciousness or soul, Brahmani means within the soul and Charyate means staying. Brahmacharya therefore literally means staying or dwelling within the soul. As such, when one remains fully aware of his pure consciousness and stays aloof of the physical as well as the mental involvement, he can be said to be observing Brahmacharya. Equanimity being the principal property of consciousness, spiritual Brahmacharya also denotes maintaining equanimity and remaining free from attachment as well as from all sorts of craving and aversion.
In physical terms, Brahmacharya denotes averting the sensual activities. Its observance is essential for attaining the state of spiritual Brahmacharya. Physical Brahmacharya is thus a prerequisite for spiritual Brahmacharya. On the other hand, when one dwells within the soul, he stays away from attachment. Such a detached person cannot indulge in sensual activity. Physical celibacy thus happens to be the cause as well as the effect of spiritual Brahmacharya. No wonder, that celibacy has been accepted as an ideal and is considered highly virtuous in India and other spiritually oriented countries. The people observing celibacy are therefore held in high esteem in those societies.