Page 116 - Courage Redifined

saints have an oath to refrain from the violence of one-sensed
living beings on their own, to not motivate others to exercise
such violence and to not consider the violence exercised by
others to be good. Hence, if they feel happy about acquiring
good and hot tea, it means that they consider the violence
of Agnikaya creatures that occurred in the preparation to be
good. This breaks their oath.

Accordingly, an ascetic needs to be alert all the time. The
mind is like a monkey. Since eternity, the mind is trained
to get delighted in temporary material comforts. Hence in
absence of alertness, the mind is bound to get carried away in
such thoughts. There are many such things which will sway
the mind and strong efforts and high alertness is necessary.
Hence, it is said that a pure ascetic life is like a sword’s
edge.

Q. : In Jainism is the violence of Ekindriya (one-sensed)
living beings permitted to householders ?

A. : Do not think that it is okay for householders to appreciate
the preparation of good food and hot tea because they
do not have the oath of refraining from the violence of
Ekindriya living creatures. This is a wrong understanding
even though there is no chance of breaking the oath,
because there is a chance of breaking the soft feelings
of compassion towards all living creatures.

Just because shravakas (Jain householders) do not have
the oath of non-violence, it does not mean that they
should be devoid of the feelings of compassion for all.

How can one feel like leaving this material world ?
A true shravaka shivers at the thought of the compulsory
violence of Ekindriya living beings done while carrying out

106 Courage Redefined