Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 4

Author(s): R P Poddar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 44

The Jaina Weltanschauung
35 the right means for the acquisition of possessions required by the lay citizen. Property earned by wrong and unfair means, even if it is within the self-imposed limits, is to be considered as sinful earning. 11
Acārya Samantabhadra mentions five types of aticāras (infractions) in the practice of aparigraha vrata, by the lay man. :-- (i) Ativāhana—Burdening an animal to the point of exhaustion and
for long. (ii) Atisamgraha-Hoarding of the possessions beyond the limits. (iii) Vismaya-Expressing painful surprise at the prosperity of
others. (iv) Lobha-excessive greed. (v) Atibbāravābana-overloading an animal or a cart out of
greed. 12
Observance of the Vrata of aparigraha can very well foster the ideals of socialism. Socialism, imposed by force and violence cannot bring lasting prace and happiness for men. Socialism brought by spontaneous practice of the virtue of limited possession, by love and compassion, will be far superior to forced socialism. Our decadent society can rise again if we can practise the anuvrata of aparigraha in the right spirit, as preached by the Jaina Acaryas.
IV. We may now consider, in brief, the Jaina conception of divinity. The Jainas were against the theistics conception of Creator God. They bave refuted the Naiyayika arguments for the existence of a creator God. However, we are to seek God not outside, but in ourselves. Each individual self is divine, is perfect and a god. In its pure and perfect state, which is the real state of the soul, the soul is divine. Therefore, we are not to seek favours or grace from God 'in the dark lonely temple with doors all shut. One is responsible for one's acts. One has to work for ones' own salvation. There is no place for divine grace in Jainism, nor has any one to depend on a superior deity for self realisation. The worship of the tirihankaras is for the sake of their being ideal human personality before us, which is human yet divine. The tirthnakaras have preached the truth and have led men like kindly light. Jainism considers all men eqnal. Mahāvīra was against caste system. No one is to be considered as inferior on the basis of birth or caste. Mabāvira exhorted us to believe that no
11. Tattvārthasūtra, VII, 22, and Comm. by Siddhasena 12. Rtnakarandaka śrāvakācära- 62-65.