Jain Life Way of Living

Jain Life Way of Living

Samani Nidesika Bhavit Pragya while addressing audience at Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh on 13/9/2009 said that the aim of Ayurveda is not only showing the way of curing the disease but also finding the means to destroy diseases, to avoid recurrence. Ayurveda has given more attention to the immune system’s power of a person. There are many methods for treatment. Although there are many different branches for curing disease, the number of diseases is constantly increasing. After analyzing disease states, the conclusion that has been determined is that disease is due to an improper style of living. Hastiness, competition, impatience, intolerance and non-abstinence are the prominent elements of present living style. These factors deregulate the hormones of the endocrine glands, therefore inviting disease. Cardiologists say, “the present lifestyle should be changed.” Mental imbalance, caring, fickleness and negative perspective have increased manifold. As a result, mental illness have increased. Psychiatrists say it is very essential to change the lifestyle for mental fitness. Therefore, the present living style should be changed. By analyzing different fields of health care, all have come to the same conclusion people’s lifestyles must be changed.

After noticing the distinct and indistinct features of diseases, Acharya Tulsi has provided a thoughtful lifestyle of living to people. The main feature of this is that the lifestyle should be great pertaining to physical and mental health with awakening of religious consciousness and coordination of body and breath. The nine Principles of the lifestyle of a Jain has been described below:

1. Right reception
2. Non-Absolutism
3. Non-violence
4. Saman culture
5. Limitation or curtailment of desires
6. Right living
7. Right impressions
8. Good food and non-addiction

1. Right religious affection

1. Right Perception

The life of a householder is full of attachment. Attachment can’t be regarded as undesirable completely. In Jainism, Arhat is known as a non attached personality. He is absolute and regarded as god. The element which is propounded by Arhat is religion. To have faith, devotion, and trust towards deva. Guru and religion is right perception. The result of right faith is:

1. Development of right perspective
2. Development of positivism
3. Pacification of anger, pride, deceit and greed.

Wrong perspective is an obstacle for the construction of peaceful existence..

2. Non-absolutism

To lead a social life, it is essential to have relativism, coordination and a peaceful co-existence, because life is relative. Non-absolutism means that despite giving importance to our own thoughts and views, we should also give importance to the view of others. Only that person can lead a healthy and social life who uses relativism and abstinence in behavior or act. What others think is also a part of the truth. The basis of a peaceful co-existence is to develop perspective of relativism. The perspective becomes polite in the life style of non-absolutism by which arguments and debates automatically reduces. As a result, sweetness, happiness and joy develop in the family and social life. In the context of human relationships, improvement is being experienced, which is not possible without experiencing relativism or applying non-absolutism.

The outcome of the non-absolutism life style is:

1. Development of realistic perspective
2. Development of mental tendency of coordination
3. Development of mental coordination in debating matters
4. Development of non-abstinence and politeness.

3. Non-Violence

It is impossible to separate livelihood and violence. Yet, a person with the right perspective thinks of minimizing of violence. This thought is of great importance for the development of non-violence. The first aphorism of non-violence is to minimize unnecessary violence. Cruelty is the cause of unnecessary violence. Anger is the chief cause for suicide. A person who avoids unnecessary violence, does not utilize greenery, water, and vegetables unnecessarily. He keeps discrimination and limitation in using it.
The outcome of non-violence is:

1. Development of sensitiveness
2. Avoiding ecological pollution
3. Orderly development of friendliness towards all living beings  

4. Saman culture

The vital element of the Jain lifestyle is the Saman culture. The word Saman is defined from Prakrit: Saman, shaman and shraman. The word saman exists in three forms in Sanskrit.

1. Saman: one whose mind is pure, who regards all living beings alike and equal.
2. Shaman: one who subsides his excitations and anger.
3. Shraman: one who is involved in penance, hard work and who is self-independent.