Traverses on Less Trodden Path of Indian Philosophy and Religion

Author(s): Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

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CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MONKS AND HOUSE-HOLDERS :
(With Special Reference to Prašamarati)
The aim of philosopbical investigations is not purely theoretical but predominantly practical according to the major schools of Indian philosophy. Philosophy is not merely intellectual gymnastic, but a way of life for Indian thinkers. That being so, it is quite natural that ethics plays an important role in philosophical enquires in India. Jainism, in fact, gives more importance to ethical aspects of life. It is predominantly ethical in its nature.'
Jainism, like other systems, believes that emancipation is the ultimate aim of life. The empirical self from the beginningless past is under the malignant influence of passions occurring from the association of karmic matter. Passions, alongwith psycho-physical activities, attract fresh material particles which get transformed automatically into karmic particles and engender empirical bondage of the soul. So long as the soul is imprisoned in the body, it is subject to the shackles of the organism and is enmeshed in sordid karmic matter. As long as it is in the bondage of karmic matter, it will never be free from the taipt of misery and pain.1 Complete freedom can be attained only by checking the continuous activity of mind, speech and body, which is the cause of fresh inflow of karmic matter to the soul and by the elimination of the accumulated deposit of karmic force from the soul. Thus liberation is deliverance of the soul from karmic bondage. To achieve this perfect state, the ethical disciplines are prescribed as the means.
Jaina thinkers firmly believe that the way to mokşa ( emancipation ) lies through ratnatraya, known as Right Faith, Right knowledge and Right Conduct,2 These three are said to be the ingredients of discipline that lead to freedom from karmic bondage. These three gems together constitute one path and are to be simultaneously pursued. If one is absent.
1. Karmodayāt bhavgatibhavagatimālā sariranirvștih Dehādindriya vişas ā vişayanimitte
ca sukbaduhkhe-Prasamaratiprakarana with Haribhabra's Commentary-V. 30;
Pub. D. L. Jaina Pustakoddbārasamstha, No. 88, Surat, 1940. 2. Tattvärthādhigamasutra, X-1, Part-I, Ed. H. R, Kapadia; Pub, J. S. Javeri, 1926.