Spiritual Discipline and Practices in Jainism

Author(s): Bhagchandra Jain
Publisher: Z_Vijyanandsuri_Swargarohan_Shatabdi_Granth_012023.pdf

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three-fold, i.e. committed by himself (krta), ii) got committed by others (karita), iii) giving consent to violence done (anumodana). This violence should be avoided by all of the three agencies of mind, speech and body. In this way a layman starts his steps towards equality and equanimity. Others are intended in self guarding the vow of non-violence and humanity.
The aforesaid nine-fold violence becomes twenty-seven fold as it has three stages : 1) thinking of violent action or intentional (samarambha or sankalpaja), 2. making preparation for violence (samarambha), and 3. actual committal (arambha). This twenty-seven-fold (3x3x3=27) violence becomes one hundred and eight-fold as it could be inspired by either of the four passionis.49 Violence is further divided into three, i.e. 1. udyami (professional), 2. arambhi (domestic), and 3. virodhi (defending). These kinds of violence are mostly connected with the activities of householders, who are supposed to keep themselves away from the deliberate commission of violence of the two-sensed to five-sensed beings.
Jainism considers the violence to the last extent. Its well-known conception is to treat others as to treat himself. "The Dasavaikalika says :"Killing horrifies because all beings wish to live and not to be slain." Therefore non-violence should be observed strictly and it should not be broken at any cost. The Acaryas discussed as to how the 'bhangas' can be kept off.52 In this context the aticaras of the Ahimsavrata are given : The true house-holder should be kind to animals. He should not bind (bandha), beat (vadha), and mutilate their limbs (chaviccheda). He should not overload them (atibhararopana) withhold food and drink. (bhakta-panavyavaccheda).
The severance of vitalities out of passion is injury (himsa). Pujyapada explains it by quoting a phrase from the Agama "arising from passionate activity" which indicates that for mere severance of life one is not stained with the sin of injury. Again it has been said in the scriptures, "When a monk goes on foot with carefulnes, sometimes small insects get crushed under his feet and die. Still there is not the slightest bondage of sin in his case. From the spiritual stand-point, infatuation is called attachment. "Now, has it not been admitted that mere passionate attitude even without the severance of vitalities constitutes violence?" He who acts with negligence commits injury whether death is caused to organisms or not. And he who
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