________________
Individual and Society in Jainism : 111
realization presupposes, on the part of the individual, the highest exertion of all bodily and mental powers, constant wakefulness, and an iron will, which precisely obeys the behests of intellect, bravely resisting all kinds of internal and external temptations. More practically speaking, it presupposes a reasonable kind of selfpreservation in the narrowest limits possible. There is a parable, according to which six hungry travellers came to a mango-tree, and consulted as to how best to obtain its fruit. The first suggested to uproot the whole tree, as the promptest expedient, the second said that it would just do to cut the crown, the third wanted to cut some taller, the fourth some smaller branches, the fifth suggested that they should merely pluck as many fruit as they required, and the last said that the ripe fruit that the wind had blown down into the grass, would be amply sufficient to appease their hunger. The six men symbolize, in the above succession, the six Leśya or "colours" of souls, representing types of increasing purity. It is quite characteristic of the spirit of Jainism that the representative of the white colour, or of the type of highest purity, advises to eat the fruit fallen into the grass, but not, as absolute and one-sided negation of life would suggests, to sit down in fullest renunciation and to die of hunger.
The postulate of Self-preservation within the reasonable limits of ethical decency is clearly and directly pronounced in the Jaina Scriptures, which recommend it, in critical cases, even at the cost of renunciation or Samyama (Oghaniryukti, Stanzas, 47-48):
savvattha samjamāo appāṇameva rakkhijjāl
muccai aivãyão puņo visohi na yā'viraïll
samjamahau deho dharijjai no kao o tatbhävell samjamaphainimittam dehaparipalanā itthāll
"Before all, one should guard the rules of renunciation, bet even at the cost of renunciation, one should guard one's self. For one
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
