Traverses on Less Trodden Path of Indian Philosophy and Religion

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

Page 187

178
Traverses on less trodden path...
injury in thought, word and deed to any being and showing reverence to all without any limitation, It teaches equality of all life. Truth fulness (satya) consists in ever abandoning all forms of falsehood. In its wider sense, trutbfulness is not only a negation of lie but a negation of all sorts of talk which is injurious. An ascetic should refrain himself from any type of stealing (asteya). Non-stealing really means that the monk should not acquire any objects which are not necessary for his use. The monks should not accept anything without permission of the owner. Celibacy (brahmacarya) consists in controlling sexual desires. He should disassociate himself from association with women. Aparigraha means non-attachment to one's own possession. Acquisition is main cause of greed and attachment. 10 Attachment is cause of bondage. Thus monks should renounce all personal property. Monks can only possess those things which are necessary for performing religious duties and sustaining life.11 Samiri means cautious bebaviour. Vigilance is considered as one of the important virtues, because negligence is the root of all sids. The monks should be careful while walking, speaking, taking food, keeping and receiving things and evacuating bowels etc. 19 These five samitis are prescribed to avoid all sorts of unpleasantariness to the living beings without any exception, and to keep the monks away from committing sins.
Guptis means control of psychophysical activities of mind, speech and body (manogupti, vāggupti and kāyagupti) which are the root cause of inflow of karmic matter to the soul. 18
Parişaha jaya14 is endurance of hardships which monks should face on the path of liberation. Monks must endure physical as mental hardships. The hardships that monks should overcome are roughly twenty-two in number. 1 B Victory over these bardships is part of austerity. The monks by facing these hardships, acquire a resolute will that no difficulty could bend them.
Dharmakathas or religious stories : Jainism, like any other religion, propogates certain ethical and religious doctrines through religious stories.
10. Ibid 178. 11. Ibid-138, 12. Ibid-116-117. 13. Ibid-241. 14. Ibid-114. 15. Following are the 22 Parisahas :
Hunger, thirst, cold, beat, insect bites, nakedness, distaste, woman, fatigue from walkjog, sitting on hard seat, sleeping on hard earth, abuse, beating, begging, failure to get alms, etc., disease, discomfort from grass, etc., dirt, respectful or disrespectful treatment, pride of intellect, ignorance, failures in religious practices. -T.S.-IX-8-9.
the 22 Parişahas, tres nakedness, distaste. Weating, begging, fai