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64: Applied Philosophy of Jainism
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pariggahao veramanam" or abstention from all kinds of possessions. That means the monk promises to give up even the slightest form of attachment to everything, whether it is a trivial lifeless thing or a human being. Practically the vow demands not only the giving up of all property, but also of all family ties, that means the adopting of the life of a mendicant is thus grounded in this vow. Even the present Jaina monks and nuns are supposed to observe the vow in such a strict sense. The Digambara monks always roam about all along without even begging bowls and clothes, and the Śvetämbara monks with scanty clothes and equipment and requisites, and they do not accept anything but what they require at one time just for the fulfillment of their bare necessities.
The Mahāvrata pronounces that the monks abstain from all kinds of possessions, little in quantity or large in quantity, small in size or large in size, living or non-living. They do not abstain from all these possessions themselves, do not make others keep them, nor do they appreciate any such possessions kept by others. They abstain from them for the whole life with three instruments (yogas) and the three performances (karaṇas).
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Problem of disintegration of Human Society
Not only this, we are claiming the superiority of our own caste, creed and culture over others and thus throwing one class against the other. Now, not only in India but all over the world class-conflicts are becoming furious day by day and thus disturbing the peace and harmony of human society.
Jainism, from its inception, accepts the oneness of human race and opposes these manmade divisions of caste and creed. Lord Mahāvīra declared that human race is one. He further says that there is nothing like inferiority and superiority among them. All human beings are equal in their potentiality. None is superior and inferior as such. It is not the class but the purification of self or a good conduct that makes one superior. It is only through the concept of equality and unity of mankind, which Jainism preached from the very beginning that we can eradicate the problem of disintegration and class-conflict. It is mutual faith and co-operation which can help us in this regard. Jaina
