________________
112
A Treatise on Jainism
3. Asteya. Refraining from theft. This is
the appropriation of what is not given. Is causes injury. and is. Himsa for property is dear as life and there is thought
less indulgence. 4. Brahmacharya. Sexual Purity, chastity.
In sexual intercourse there is obvious Himsa, due to the killing of mobile germs in the act. Sexual indulgence otherwise has root in desire, and hence is Himsa. If unable to live without a wife, let other females be abjured. Many a householder is not sufficiently advanced to give up sex-desire altogether. It is only the ascetics who do so. The house-holder also should, however, observe the vow of Brahmacharya to a limited extent by total abstinence from all sexual desires with reference to females other than his own
wife. 5. Aparigraha, Non-attachment. Attachment
of temporalities. Affectionate regard for external objects is due to illusion and is attachment-clinging to externals. Even if one has renounced all tangible property, the feeling of attachment itself is a
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org