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Jina Sutra

 

"There's no knowledge without right faith,
No conduct is possible without knowledge,
Without conduct, there's no liberation,
And without liberation, no deliverance."
- Mahavira (Uttaradhyayana Sutra, Ch. 27, Verse 30)

''Endowed with conduct and discipline,
Who practices control of self, 
Who throws out all his bondage,
He attains the eternal place."
- Mahavira (
Uttaradhyayana Sutra, Ch. 20, Verse 52)

All unenlightened persons produce sufferings. Having become deluded,
they produce and reproduce sufferings, in this endless world.
- Mahavira (Uttaradhyayana, 6/1)

Just as a threaded (sasutra) needle is secure from being lost,
in the same way a person given to self-study (sasutra) cannot be lost.
- Mahavira (Uttaradhyayana, 29/59)

Only that science is a great and the best of all sciences,
the study of which frees man from all kinds of miseries.
- Mahavira (Isibhasiya, 7/1)

That with the help of which we can know the truth,
control the restless mind, and purify the soul is called knowledge.
- Mahavira (Mulachara, 5/70)

That which subdues passions, leads to beatitude
and fosters friendliness is called knowledge.
- Mahavira (Mulachara 5/71)

The unenlightened takes millions of lives
to extirpate the effects of karma whereas a man
possessing spiritual knowledge and discipline
obliterates them in a single moment.
- Mahavira (Bhagavati Aradhana, 10)

The nights that have departed will never return.
They have been wasted by those given to adharma (unrighteousness).
- Mahavira (Uttaradhyayana, 14/25)

The nights that have departed will never return.
They are profitable for one who is given to dharma (righteousness).
- Mahavira (Uttaradhyayana, 14/25)

Those who are ignorant of the supreme purpose of life will
never be able to attain nirvana (liberation) in spite of their
observance of the vratas (vows) and niymas (rules) of religious conduct
and practice of shila (celibacy) and tapas (penance).
- Mahavira (Samayasara, 153)

My soul characterized by knowledge and faith is alone eternal.
All other phases of my existence to which I am attached are
external occurrences that are transitory.
- Mahavira (Niyamasara, 99)

Righteousness consists in complete self-absorption and in
giving up all kinds of passions including attachment.
It is the only means of transcending the mundane existence.
The Jinas have said so.
- (Bhava-pahuda, 83)

Don't kill any living beings. Don't try to rule them.
- Mahavira (Acaranga, 4/23)

The essence of all knowledge consists in not committing violence.
The doctrine of ahimsa is nothing but the observance of equality i.e.
the realization that just as I do not like misery, others also do not like it.
(Knowing this, one should not kill anybody).
- Mahavira (Sutrakrtanga, 1/1/4/10)

Just as you do not like misery, in the same way others also do not like it.
Knowing this, you should do unto them what you want them to do unto you.
- Mahavira (Bhagavati Aradhana, 780)

To kill any living being amounts to killing one self.
Compassion to others is compassion to one's own self.
Therefore one should avoid violence like poison and thorn (that cause pain).
- Mahavira (Bhagavati Aradhana, 797)

Don't be proud if you gain. Nor be sorry if you lose.
- Mahavira (Acaranga, 2/4/114, 115)

One who cultivates an attitude of equality towards all living beings,
mobile and stationary, can attain equanimity. Thus do the kevalis say.
- Mahavira (Anuyogadvar, 708, gatha 2)

Only the one who has transcended fear can experience equanimity.
- Mahavira (Sutrakrtanga 1/2/2/17)

(One should reflect thus:) Let me treat all living beings with eqanimity and
none with enmity. Let me attain samadhi (tranquility) by becoming
free from expectations.
- Mahavira (Mulachara, 2/42)

Let me renounce the bondage of attachment and hatred,
pride and meekness, curiosity, fear, sorrow, indulgence and
abhorrence (in order to accomplish equanimity).
- Mahavira (Mulachara 2/44)

Let me give up attachment through unattachment.
My soul will be my only support (in this practice of unattachment).
(Hence) let me give up everything else.
- Mahavira (Mulachara 2/44)

Just as I do not like misery, so do others. Knowing this, one neither kills,
nor gets killed. A sramana is so called becasue he behaves equanimously.
- Mahavira (Anuyogadvara, 708, gatha 3)

One who remains equanimous in the midst of pleasures and pains
is a sramana, being in the state of pure consciousness.
- Mahavira (Pravachansara, 1/14)

A sramana devoid of the knowledge of Agama
does neither know himself, nor others.
- Mahavira (Pravasanasara, 3/32)

Other beings perceive through their senses whereas
the sramana perceives through the Agama.
- Mahavira (Pravachansara, 3/34)

One devoted whole-heartedly to knowledge, faith and right conduct
equally accomplishes in full the task of the sramana.
- Mahavira (Pravachansara, /42)

O Self ! Practice Truth, and nothing but Truth.
- Mahavira (Acaranga, 3/3/66)

Enlightened by the light of Truth, the wise transcends death.
- Mahavira (Acaranga, 3/3/66)

Truth alone is the essence in the world.
- Mahavira (Prasnavyakarna, 2/2)

The ascetic who never thinks of telling a lie out of attachment, 
aversion or delusion is indeed the practiser of the second vrata of truthfulness.
- Mahavira (Niyamasara, 57)

A truthful man is treated as reliable as the mother,
as venerable as the guru (preceptor) and as beloved
as the one who commands knowledge.
- Mahavira (Mulachara, 837)

Truthfulness indeed is tapa (penance).
In truthfulness do reside self-restraint and all other virtues.
Just as the fish can live only in the sea,
so can all other virtues reside in Truthfulness alone.
- Mahavira (Bhagavati Aradhana, 842)

One may have a tuft or matted hair on the head or a shaven head,
remain naked or wear a rag.
But if he tells a lie, all this is futile or fruitless.
- Mahavira (Bhagavat Aradhana, 843)

One can bear all kinds of unbearable pain
caused by spikes in expectation of wealth etc.
But he alone who tolerates, without any motive of worldly gain,
harsh words spoken to him is venerable.
- Mahavira (Dasavaikalika, 9/3/6)

One should not speak unless asked to do so.
He should not disturb others in conversation.
He should not back-bite and indulge in fraudulent untruth.
- Mahavira (Dasavaikalika, 8/46)

One should not utter displeasing words
that arouse ill feelings in others.
One should not indulge in speech conducive to the evil.
- Mahavira (Dasavaikalika , 8/47)

Discipline of speech consists in refraining
from telling lies and in observing silence.
- Mahavira (Mulachara, 332)

The sadhaka (one who practices spiritual discipline)
speaks words that are measured and beneficial to all living beings.
- Mahavira (Kartikeyanupreksa, 334)

The bhiksu (ascetic) should not be angry with one who abuses him. 
Otherwise he would be like the ignoramus.
He should not therefore lose his temper.
- Mahavira (Uttaradhyayana, 2/24)

If somebody were to beat a disciplined and restrained ascetic, 
the latter should not think of avenging himself considering
the soul to be imperishable.
- Mahavira (Uttaradhyayana, 2/27)

As gold does not cease to be gold even if it is heated in the fire;
an enlightened man does not cease to be enlightened on
being tortured by the effects of karma.
-Mahavira (Samayasara, 184)

A thief feels neither pity nor shame,
nor does he possess discipline and faith.
There is no evil that he cannot do for wealth.
- Mahavira (Bhagavat Aradhana, 862)

On the aggravation of one's greed,
a person fails to distinguish between what should be done and
what should not be done. He is dare-devil who can commit
any offence even at the cost of his own life.
- Mahavira (Bhagavati Aradhana, 857)

By practicing celibacy one can fulfil all other vows - chastity, 
tapas (penance), vinaya (humility), sayyama (self-restraint), 
forgiveness, self-protection and detachment.
- Mahavira (Prasnavyakarana, 9/3)

Knowing that pleasing sound, beauty, fragrance,
pleasant taste and soothing touch are transitory transformations of matter,
the celibate should not be enamoured of them.
- Mahavira (Dasavaikalika, 8/58)

The soul is the Brahman. Brahmacarya is therefore nothing but
spiritual conduct of the ascetic concerning the soul,
who has snapped out of relationship with alien body.
- Mahavira (Bhagavati Aradhana, 877)

An amorous person, failing to achieve his desired objects,
becomes frantic and even ready to commit suicide by any means.
- Mahavira (Bhagavati Aradhana, 889)

The sun scorches only during the day,
but cupid scorches in the day as well as in the night.
One can protect oneself from the sun, but cannot from cupid.
- Mahavira (Bhagavti Aradhana)

The more you get, the more you want.
The greed increases with the gain.
What could be accomplished by two masas (grams) of gold
could not be done by ten millions.
- Mahavira (Uttaradhyayana, 8/17)

Knowing that the earth with its crops of rice and barley,
with its gold and cattle, and all this put together will not satisfy
one single man, one should practice penance.
- Mahavira (Uttardhyayana, 9/49)

Just as fire is not quenched by the fuel and
the ocean by thousands of rivers,
similarly no living being is satisfied even with all the
wealth of all the three worlds.
- Mahavira (Bhagavati Aradhana, 1143)

Non-possessiveness controls the senses
in the same way as a hook controls the elephant.
As a ditch is useful for the protection of a town,
so is non-attachment for the control of the senses.
- Mahavira (Bhagavati Aradhana, 1168)

Greed even for a piece of straw,
not to speak of precious things, produces sin.
A greedless person, even if he wears a crown, cannot commit sin.
- Mahavira (Bhagavati Aradhana, 1371)

One who, being swayed by wishful thinking,
becomes a victim of passions at every step,
and does not ward off the desires, cannot practice asceticism.
- Mahavira (Dasavaikalika, 2/1)

External renunciation is meaningless
if the soul remains fettered by internal shackles.
- Mahavira (Bhava-pahuda, 13)

Living beings have desires. Desires consist in pleasure and pain.
- Mahavira (Kartikeyanupreksa, 18/14)

One who is constantly careful in his deportment is like the 
lily in the pond, untarnished by mud.
- Mahavira (Pravachansara, 3/18)

Objects of the senses pollute knowledge
if it is not protected by discipline.
- Mahavira (Shila-pahuda, 2)

Discipline is the means of achieving liberation.
- Mahavira (Shila-pahuda, 20)

Even the noble becomes mean in the company of the wicked,
as precious necklace on the neck of a dead body.
- Mahavira (Bhagavati Aradhana, 245)

The ignoramus is always benighted.
The enlightened is always wide awake.
- Mahavira (Acaranga, 3/1)

The five senses of the awakened always remain inactive.
The five senses of the unawakened always remain active.
By means of the active five one acquires bondage while by
means of the inactive five the bondage is severed.
- Mahavira (Isibhasiyam, 29/2)

Just as every body keeps away from the burning fire,
so do the evils remain away from an enlightened person.
- Mahavira (Isibhasiya, 35/23)

Keep yourself always awake.
One who keeps awake increases his wisdom.
He who falls asleep in wretched. Blessed is he who keeps awake.
- Mahavira (Brhatkalpa-bhasya, 3387)

The yogin who is indifferent to worldly affairs remains
spiritually alert to his own duty, namely, his duty towards his soul.
On the other hand, one who indulges in worldly affairs is not dutiful to his soul.
- Mahavira (Moksha-pahuda, 31)

Birth is attended by death, youth by decay and fortune by misfortune.
Thus everything in this world is momentary.
- Mahavira (Kartikeyanupreksa, 5)

The courageous as well as the cowardly must die.
When death is inevitable for both,
why should not one welcome death smilingly and with fortitude?
- Mahavira (Mulachara, 2/100)

Both the righteous and unrighteous must die.
When death is inevitable for both, 
when should not one embrace death while maintaining good conduct? 
- Mahavira (Mulachara, 2/101)

There is nothing as fearful as death, and there is no suffering as great as birth.
Be free from the fear of both birth and death,
by doing away with attachment to the body.
- Mahavira (Mulachara, 2/119)

Do not be in dread of the dreadful, the illness,
the disease, the old age, and even the death or any other object of fear.
- Mahavira (Prasnavyakarana, 7/20)

The non-vigilant has fear from all directions. 
The vigilant has none from any.
- Mahavira (Acaranga, 3/75)

One who entertains fear finds himself lonely (and helpless).
- Mahavira (Prasnavyakarana, 7/20)

The valiant does not tolerate indulgence, nor does he tolerate abhorrence. 
As he is pleased with his own self, he is not attached to anything.
- Mahavira (Acaranga, 2/6/160)

As a tortoise withdraws his limbs within his own body,
even so does the valiant withdraw his mind within himself from all sins. 
He also withdraws his hands, legs, mind, sense-organs, sinful moods, 
evil words, pride, and deceitfulness. This indeed is the valor of the valiant.
- Mahavira (Sutrakrtanga, 1/8/16-18)

The enlightened should contemplate that his soul is
endowed with boundless energy.
- Mahavira (Niyamasara, 96)

Only that man can take a right decision,
whose soul is not tormented by the afflictions of attachment and aversion.
- Mahavira (Isibhasiyam, 44/1)

One who knows the spiritual (self) knows the external (world) too.
He who knows the external world, knows the self also.
- Mahavira (Acaranga, 1/7/147)

If one's vision is capable of expelling the darkness,
he would not need a lamp. Likewise the soul itself being blissful,
there is no need of external object for bliss.
- Mahavira (Pravachansara, 1/67)

Those who are interested in worldly objects
have of necessity misery in them. If there were no misery in them, 
they would not indulge in those objects.
- Mahavira (Pravachansara, 1/84)

I condemn what is worthy of condemnation.
I censure what is worthy of censure.
I atone for all the outer and inner encroachments on the soul.
- Mahavira (Mulachara 2/55)

May the state of Arhats, the Siddhas and the Vitranagas be my goal.
- Mahavira (Mulachara, 2/107)

As the fire quickly consumes dry wood,
even so an adept whose soul is equipoised and unattached
causes the accumulated karma structure to disintegrate
- Mahavira (Acaranga, 4/3/33)

Those who hanker after pleasure,
those who are attached to or seized by passions and are obstinate like miser,
cannot know the nature of samadhi (self-concentration).
- Mahavira (Sutrakrtanga, 1/2/58)

A monk engrossed in meditation renounces all evils.
Meditation is therefore the best way of regression from all transgressions.
- Mahavira (Niyamasara, 65)

One who meditates on the soul, attains the supreme samadhi.
- (Niyamasara, 129)

The monk who is absorbed in meditation achieves victory
over attachment and aversion, and the senses.
His fear vanishes and his passions are shattered.
Finally, he extirpates his indulgences, abhorrence and delusion.
- Mahavira

"The Arhats of the past, those of the present and the future narrate thus,
discourse thus, proclaim thus, and affirm thus: One should not injure,
subjugate, enslave, torture or kill any animal, living being,
organism or sentient being. This doctrine of Non-Violence (Ahimsa Dharma)
is immaculate, immutable and eternal." 
- Mahavira (Acharanga Sutra, Ch. 4)

"Above, below and in front, people indulge in violent activities
against living beings individually and collectively in many ways;
discerning this, a wise man neither himself inflicts violence on these bodies,
nor induces others to do so, nor approved of their doing so. " 
- Mahavira (Acharanga Sutra, Ch. 1)

"The Arhats have propounded the doctrine of Non-Violence, one and all, equally for those who are desirous to practice it and those who are not, those who have abandoned violence and those who have not, those who are deeply engrossed in worldly ties and those who are not. This doctrine of Ahimsa is Truth. It is rightly enunciated here in the teachings of the Arhats. Comprehending the true spirit of the doctrine, one should practice it till one's last breath." 
- Mahavira (Acharanga Sutra, Ch 4)

 

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Information Courtesy : Mr. Pravin K. Shah
Chairperson Jaina Education Committee
 Federation of Jain Associations in North America
509, Carriage Woods Circle Raleigh, NC 27607-3969, USA
E-Mail : pkshah1@attglobal.net, Tele: & Fax : 919-859-4994
Websites : www.jaina.org & www.jainism.org

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Mail to : Ahimsa Foundation
www.jainsamaj.org
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