Jainism and Patanjali Yoga (Comparative Study)
by Deepak bagadia | 2016 | 109,819 words
This page relates ‘Spiritual Practices prescribed for Jain Householders—Sravaka and Sravika’ of the study dealing with the Spiritual Practices of Jainism and Patanjali Yoga in the context of ancient Indian Philosophy (in Sanskrit: Darshana), including extracts from the Yogasutra and the Tattvartha-Sutra. The system of Yoga offers techniques which are scientifically designed for the spiritual development of an individual. Jainism offers ethicical principles and meditation practices to assist with spiritual development.
Part 7 - Spiritual Practices prescribed for Jain Householders—Sravaka and Sravika
[Sravaka and Sravika—śrāvaka-ācāra]
For those householders, who remain in family life, a broad spectrum of spiritual practices is prescribed in “Avasyaksutra”. Avashyak means necessary, must be done practices. These practices are basically for all i.e. laymen and women, monks and nuns. It is Chhedasutra, 32nd agama in the list of Jain scriptures.
For householders, complete avoidance of the five principle vows or implementation of mahavratas is very difficult. For them, Jain ethics specifies the following twelve vows to be carried out by them to live a righteous life and to conquer desires. Apart from five Anuvratas (vows), they include three Silavratas and four Siksavratas (together, these two groups are “Saptasila” or seven conducts).
Thus, above mentioned five anuvratas, three limiting vows and four disciplinary vows make twelve vows for a household person in the society.
If one follows truly these twelve vows, on one hand, one gets debarred from doing any harm to himself, to his family, his country, or to humanity by reckless conduct; on the other hand, by giving up attachments he gradually prepares himself for the life of ascetics. Apart from these twelve vows, “Sthanamgavrtti” recommends eleven resolves (pratijna or sankalpa) for spiritual development. Another scripture, “Uttaradhyayana sutra” suggests six regular activities as under:
- Devpuja = Devotional act towards deity, God;
- Guruseva = Service to Guru;
- Svadhyaya = Self study;
- Samyama = Equanimity of mind, a state of equilibrium;
- Tapa = Austerity;
- Dana = charity;
Each individual by implementing all these values in turn make ideal society. With all these practices, the true aspirant gets completely detached from the worldly objects including his own body and gets all passions suppresses during final days of life leading towards peaceful death called Sanlekhana. Expecting to survive, desire to die, attachment for the friendly people, hope for the future happiness and bartering for a particular situation are the five transgressions of Salenkhana[1] according to Tattvarthsutra (Sutra7.32).
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
jīvitamaraṇāsaṃsamitrānurāga sukhānubandha nidānāni | Tattvartha-sutra 7.37