Spiritual Code and Restraints

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 31

Since males are considered more prone to pitfalls in this respect, the approach of the society has so far been to insulate them from female contact by segregating the two. Such insulation is supposed to give protection to the observers of celibacy as a fence provides protection to a growing plant. Those at the helm of the society have therefore devised a variety of segregating systems. In this respect Jainism lays down the following nine-fold code of conduct, which is supposed to act as so many fences for protection of celibacy.
1) To stay in a place bereft of women, animals or eunuchs, 2) Not to talk or think about females, 3) Not to occupy a seat for 48 minutes after it has been made use of by females, 4) Not to look at the limbs of females, 5) Not to occupy a place where there happens to be a couple behind the wall or partition, 6) Not to recall the sensual activities, that had been indulged earlier, 7) Not to take intoxicating food or beverages, 8) Not to eat too much and highly enriched food, 9) Not to adorn or otherwise beautify the body.
These or such other restrictions, if rigorously enforced, can be helpful in preventing the physical contacts of males with females. The restrictions, however, give rise to the following questions.
1) Can these restrictions help in overcoming the sexual instinct? 2) If the instinct is not overcome, would the code not lead to perversion by starving the body of its natural urge? 3) If perversion is repressed, would the sexual urge not come out with explosive force? 4) Would the starvation of sexual instinct not give rise to different psychosomatic and other diseases? 5) Is it not likely that an aspirant gets sick of repression and gives up the monastic life? 6) Total insulation would mean that a man should not touch a woman or vice versa even for the sake of nursing or for other type of service. How is it justifiable?
These questions relate to the pitfalls of the restrictive approach. We do come across cases of perversion and of giving up the renounced life particularly among the monks and of prevalence of psychosomatic diseases among the nuns. Moreover, the code of segregation results in untouchability of the worst type, in the sense that it forbids even touching of mother, sister or daughter by a male celibate and of father, brother or son by a female.
This can hardly be considered desirable. While commenting on the restrictive approach, Mahatma Gandhi had therefore said that the celibacy that forbids one from touching his mother or sister is totally worthless. As such, we need to consider whether there can be better, more sensible and more reliable ways of observing celibacy.
Indulgence in sex takes place mainly because of two factors, i) persons concerned have attachment for each other and ii) they experience pleasure with the sense of touch. While examining these two aspects in the following paragraphs, presentation has been made mostly from the male point of view. That is, however, more or less applicable to females as well and need to be interpreted as such.