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Appendix V
Bhagavāna Mahāvīra's Teachings*
Following are the summarised points made by Shri Dulichand Jain, Secretary, Research Foundation for Jainology, Madras - 600 001, in the course of a study-circle discussion held recently.
(1) Bhagavāna Mahāvīra's teachings are simple and explained in Ardhamāgadhi language (Buddha used the Pāli language: both are similar but not the same). Jaina literature is in Ardhamāgadhi, most popular with the common people during that period.
1d
(2) Bhagavāna Mahāvīra taught simple truths, universal in content and character. The stress was on moral and iritual upliftment, continually so.
(3) Jaina monks have no family: nor do they have any property. They practise severe austerities and utilise all their time in meditation, studying Holy Scriptures and giving discourses. They do not involve themselves in worldly ceremonies nor do they enthuse themselves in theological or metaphysical speculations.
(4) The Jaina monks observe, scrupulously and zealously, the Panca Mahāvratas, the five great vows - (a) non-injury to any being, (b) truthfulness, (c) non-stealing, (d) non-possession and (e) non-indulgence in sex (total abstinence).
(5) ‘Non-violence (Ahimsā) is of course, the central concept of Jaina ethics. Everybody like pleasures and abhor
* The Indian Express, 24 April 1995
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