Prakash Sancheti
Page 30+31
Text:
There are two broad divisions for the pilgrims to move on the royal road of Right Conduct: wholly or partly.
The first group is of male and female Saints and the second is Shravaks and Shravikas. These four are known as four centers of Jain religion. Saints have to follow a rigid code of conduct, while Shravaks and Shravikas may follow the path of Right Conduct to a limited extent as per their capacity. It takes us towards three media and three methods which deal with activities and control of such activities.
Medias (Madhyam) and Methods (Kama):
All living beings are engaged in some sort of activities by mind which acts by thinking, by speech which utters words and by body which performs actions. These are three media viz. mind, speech and body; in others words - thoughts, words and deeds. These are to be controlled by self. There are three methods (Kama) by which any act is performed, for example one person indulges in violence with his own hand or excites some one for the same by raising hand or approves of violence by clapping. These are known as methods done by body. In other words to commit violence by oneself or get it done by other or approve the same is the method of body. Same is applied for mind and speech. Saints must strictly follow three media and three methods as they have renounced the world. However there is leniency for the Shravaks.
Vows for Saints:Vows for Shravaks:Following are the vows for Saints:A. Unqualified or total Right Conduct for Saints (Angar Dharma):
- Obey five major vows (Mahavratas)
- Exercise three controls (Gupti)
- Exercise five types of vigilance (Samitis)
- Follow Ten Commandments (dharmas)
There are two aspects each of the five major vows: positive and negative. Let us describe each major vow in detail...Qualified or limited Right Conduct for Shravaks (Agar Dharma)
- Obey five minor vows (Anu Vrata)
- Obey three types of qualitative vows (Gun Varta)
- Obey four types of educational vows (Siksha Varta)
- Follow Ten Commandments
