Philosophy In Jain Agams: Cāritrācāra: (Conduct-qua-Abstinence)

The spiritual practice that eliminates karmic bondage is known as the right conduct.

eyaṃ cayarittakaraṃ, cārittaṃ hoi āhiyaṃ^[1]

Right conduct (practice) is that which provides salvation. Characteristic of right conduct is involvement in good conduct and refraining from bad conduct.^[2] There are five types of conduct. Actually it is one. The classification of five types of conduct has been done with a special purpose. The preliminary (sāmāyika) initiation consists of abstinence from all sinful activities. Confirmation by ordination (chedopasthāpanīya) etc. are extended forms of initiation.^[3] Caritrācāra (conduct qua abstinence) is of eight types. Observance of five types of comportments and three types of inhibition of activities is called caritrācāra (conduct qua abstinence).^[4]

Comportment means activity that is congenial to the right conduct. The criterion of right and wrong is related to non-violence. The activity which is guided by non-violence is comportment. There are five types of comportments -^[5]

An ascetic, who follows these five comportments, does not get bound to the sinful karmas, despite living in this world.^[6] Just as a warrior with a strong armour can not be pierced by an arrow even amid showering of arrows. Similarly a monk, who follows these five comportments, desoite his involvement in the various tasks of a monk's routine, does not get bound to the inauspicious karmas.^[7]

Gupti means inhibition of activities. They are of three types:^[8]

• Manogupti- inhibition from inauspicious thinking related to mind.
• Vacanagupti - inhibition from inauspicious speech related to speech.
• Kāyagupti- inhibition from inauspicious actions related to body.

Just as a fence is used for the protection of the field and a ditch is used for the protection of a city, so are the inhibitions for the protection of śramanatva i.e. asceticism and for stopping inauspicious activities.^[9]

The five comportments is predominantly a positive act in the achievement of emancipation and the three kinds of inhibitions are the abandonment of the inauspicious activities.^[10] For the journey of life, activity is required and to escape from the inauspicious activities, renunciation is required. The life of a monk remains balanced with the practice of samiti and gupti. In this way life goes on in the right manner.

Preliminary initiation, Confirmation by ordination (chedopasthāpanīya) etc. are the five kinds of conducts. Their practical form is samiti and gupti. The compliance of conduct takes place through these eight types of conduct. Though this conduct qua practice is concerned with monk hood, yet any body can follow this properly, as per one's capacity.