Studies in Buddhist and Jaina Monachism

Author(s): Nand Kishor Prasad
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

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INTRODUCTORY (A) The Meaning and Scope of the words Vinaya and Acāra
It is a foregone conclusion that the term Vinaya stands for the complete set of rules and regulations laid down for the Buddhist Sangha. The antiquity of the term Vinaya can be ascribed to a date as early as the Rg-Veda.' For the Buddhists it is at least as old as their Faith itself. In spite of this striking similarity regarding the antiquity of the term, the Brahmapical sources are not in consonance with the Buddhist so far as the implication of the term is concerned. The former seems to have used it either in the sense of fremoving' or 'removal' which corresponds in meaning to the word 'vinayana' occuring in the Buddhist sources. The latter, besides emplying it for multiferious purposes appears to have used to denote a single rule on . the one hand, and the whole treatise on discipline, on the othar, Ultimately, all other uses and implications of the word fell into abeyance but the last, ie, it began to signify the complete set of rules and regulations intended for the Buddhist Order. Acārya Buddha. ghosa subscribes to the same meaning when he remarks—"Because it shows precepts and principles, and governs both deed and word, therefore men call this scripture vinaya, for so is vinaya interpreted".
Āyara or Sanskrit Acara, like Vinaya, is also an old term. It means good conduct, usage, custom and the like, 4 the most popular and original being the first, i.e., good conduct. The Jaina Order ought to have adopted the term without bringing any alteration to its original sense, because both an ascetic and a householder (sävaka and sāvika) were on the same footing so far as the membership of the Order was concerned. But despite the fact its scope was limited by bringing a change in the meaning. Thus according to the Jaina Monachism the word ācāra implies the way of life of a Jaina monk'. Accordingly the book containing the rules of conduct to be observed by the monks was named Acârānga or 'a trealise on (good) conduct'5. Though
1. Vide Macdonell, A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary, Sub voce. 2. Vide Rs. Davids, Pali English Dictionary, Sub voce. 3. vividh avisesanayattå vinayato ceva kāyavācānam/
vinayatthavidūhi ayam vinayo vinayo ti ak khăto till
Atthasālini, 1. 47, p. 17; cf Expositor. 4. Vide Macdonell, A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary, sub voce.
On the analogy of the term Vedānga meaning "a limb (for preserving the body) of the Veda' (Vide Monier Williame, Sanskrit-English Dictionary), the expression Acāränga may also be interpreted as 'a limb or an organ (for preserving the body) of (good) conduct'.
5.