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जैन मोनाचिज्म
O2
greed, cowardice and jest and speaking blameless words. These and such other observances are helpful in strengthening the second great vow.
. To take anything which is not given is stealing. The vow of nonstealing (Adattadana-viramana-vrata) enjoins that nothing that belongs to others is to be appropriated. Not even a blade of grass is to be taken if it belongs to someone else Thus, the ascetic is forbidden to appropriate even trivial objects without asking permission. The connection of stealing with violence is established as follows : whoever takes the possessions of a man takes away his life, since they represent his external vital force giving him consolation. Hence, violence is a necessary concomitant of stealing. The following observances and the like strengthen the vow of non-stealing : Residence in a solitary place, residence in a deserted habitation, causing no hindrance to others, acceptance of clean food and not quarrelling with co ascetics.
Copulation comprises the activity of male and female prompted by sexual desire. The vow of non-copulation (Maithuna-Viramana-vrata) forbids the ascetic to embrace man or woman or any other creature out of sexual urge. Two reasons are generally advanced for the condemnation of carnal contact : In a moral sense, the peace of mind is disturbed by the increase of the passions of love and hate. In a physical sense, the sexual act is always accompanied by violence, as it is maintained that there are always present in the sexual organ of a woman numerous minute living beings of which many perish during every act of coition.
For the sake of strengthening the vow of non-copulation, continence, chastity or celibacy, the ascetic has to observe the following rules and the like : Renunciation of (1) listening to stories exciting attachment for women (or men) (2) looking at beautiful bodies of women (or men), (3) recalling former sexual pleasure, (4) delicacies stimulating amorous desire and (5) adornment of body.
Acquisition or possession is defined as attachment of worldly objects. It is related to the acquisition and protetion of propecrty, such as land, gold, silver, grain, livestock, furniture, jewels and the like. The vow of non-acquistion or non-possession (parigraha-viramana-vrata) enjoins the ascetic not to accumulate property, not to indulge in attachment. Renunciation of attachment and aversion in the presence of agreeable and disagreeable objects of the senses chracterised by touch, teste, smell, colour and sound is helpful in strengthening this vow.
The vow of abstinence from taking food at night (Ratribhojanaviramana-vrata) is also essential for the ascetic. It consists of the abandonment of the fourfold food at night out of compassion for living beings. The fourfold food is as under :
1. Asapa-all that is swallowed. Grains, pulses etc. come under this category.
2. Pana-all that is drunk. Water, milk etc. form this variety. ... 3. Khadima-all that is chewed or nibbled. Fruits, nuts etc. make this category.
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