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10
THE UNIQUE JAINA DOCTRINE OF KARMA AND
ITS CONTRIBUTION
Y. Krisban
The Jainas, as a rule, are extremely ascetic and puritanical in their life and conduct. In fact practice of asceticism and penances are the distinguishing features of the Jaina way of life when compared to that of the followers of Hinduism and Buddhism.
This is somewhat intriguing inasmuch as the code of ethics enjoined by all these religious sects is the same.
Jainism enjoins the practice of right conduct. This consists in observance of five mahāvratas by the monks and five aņu. vratas by the laymen. The mahāvratas are-(1) ahimsā (nonviolence); (ii) satya ( truthfulness ); (iii) asteya ( not to take what is not given or non-stealing): (iv) brahmacarya ( sexual continence); and (v) aparigrah (non-possession or renunciation).
The lay Jainas observe the same vows but their obliga. tions are less rigorous and intense. For instance, in their case, brahmacarya is modified to prohibition against unlawful sexual inter-course (adultery).
Thus the ethical discipline of the monks and laymen is virtually the same except in the extent and degree to which it is expected to be practised. In the case of the monks, these vows are to be practised to the highest degree of perfection subject to the limitations of human body such as the need of the body for food. But in the case of the laymen, practice of these vratas is necessarily modified further by social limitations, the obligation to rear and maintain a family, make a living etc. The laymen seek to make up, at least partially, SP-19
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