Views on Ahimsa Compassion and Samyaktva in Jainism

Author(s): Kristi L Wiley
Publisher: Z_Lessons_of_Ahimsa_and_Anekanta_for_Contemporary_Life_014006.pdf

Page 6

Kristi Wiley, "Ahimsă, Compassion and Samyaktva"
under control.”:12 In the Digambara Armanusasana, unlimited compassion (karunāpara) is listed among the fruits of practicing severe austerities." Here, one is urged to follow the path of compassion, self-control, renunciation, and equanimity.!4 “When the shore of the ocean of the cycle of existence is close by, the fortunate man has aversion to sense-gratifications, has renounced all possessions, subjugates the passions, has tranquility, vows, self-control, practice of self-contemplation, pursuit of austerities, duly ordained mental activity, devotion to the Jinas, and compassion (dayaluta).":15 And in discussing religious virtues in the Praśamaratiprakarana, Umāsvāti states, “Compassion is the root of sacred doctrine (dharma). A person who is devoid of patience (akşamavan) does not show compassion. Therefore, one who is devoted to patience attains the highest dharma.")6
In some of the Sravakācāra texts, which detail appropriate conduct for laity, compassion is listed as one of the qualities of an observant layperson (śråvaka-guna), specifically in the context of samyaktva and in observing various lay vows. For example, Samantabhadra defines abstention from eating after dark (rātribhojana) as abandoning food by night out of compassion for
12 Herman Jacobi (trans.), Jaina Sutras, part 2: Translation of the Uttaradhyana-sutra and Sūtrakrtânga Sutra (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1895; reprint Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1989), p. 109. 13 Jacobi (trans.), Acaranga-sūtra, op.cit., p. 68.
** Jacobi (trans.). Acaranga-sálra,op. cit., p. 107.
"S Jacobi (trans.), Acaranga-sūtra.op. cit. p. 224.
16 Yajneshwar S. Shastri (trans.), Umāsvāti's Prasamaratiprakarana. L.D. Scries, 107 (Ahmedabad: L. D. Institute of Indology, 1969), p. 168.
"This guna ... is of the very essence of Jainism and needs no comment." See R. Williams. Jaina Yoga: A Survey of Mediaeval Sråvukācāras (London: Oxford University Press, 1963), p. 269,
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