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TATTVÄRTHA SUTRA
Sutras 18 to 20 deal with the causes of gaining human and heavenly life. Activities with a low level of violence, limited accumulations, mildness, forthrightness etc. lead to the human life. The observance of restraints with a low degree of attachment, partial observance of restraints, involuntary expiration of Karmas and ritual observance of austerities lead to the heavenly life. On the other hand, loss of conduct and non-observance of restraint can lead to any type of life depending upon the degree of loss and shortfall.
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Sutras 21 and 22 deal with Näm (physique-determining) Karma. These sutras state that wrong or evil exercising of mental, verbal and physical faculties and raising quarrels or disputes lead to unwholesome Näm Karma that provides poor physique. On the other hand, activities contrary to that lead to wholesome Näm Karma that leads to good physique. It means that appropriately exercising of those faculties and promoting unity and harmony among others would lead to a healthy body
etc.
Tirthankar Näm Karma, which is a sub-category of Näm Karma, is of the most wholesome type. Sutra 23 stipulates following 16 aspects that lead to that Karma, viz. i) purity of perception, ii) utmost modesty, iii) faultless observance of spiritual code and restraints, iv) maintaining pure awareness, v) acute desire for liberation, vi) charity, vii) austerities to the extent possible, viii) extending peace and security to the religious order, particularly to the monks and nuns, ix) selfless servicing, x to xiii) dedication to the cause of omniscient Lords, heads of order, learned people and sacred books, xiv) observance of six essentials, xv) promoting the right path and xvi) affection towards the fellow religionists. By pursuing these
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