Letting Go: From the Sacred Jainism Scripture – Uttaradhyayana, Part 2 of 2

“The pleasures in this very limited life of men are like (the water at) the top of a blade of kusha grass; for the sake of what will a man not care to gain and to keep (so precious a good which he risks to lose)? He who has not renounced pleasure, will miss his aim (that is the true end of his soul); for though he has been taught the right way, he will go astray again and again. But he who has renounced pleasure, will not miss his aim; (he will think): I have learned that, by getting rid of this vile body, I shall [achieve liberation]. […]”

Eighth Lecture. Kapila’s Verses

“By what acts can I escape a sorrowful lot in this unstable eternal Samsara [cycle of death and rebirth], which is full of misery? Quitting your former connections place your affection on nothing; a monk who loves not even those who love him, will be freed from sin and hatred. Then the best of sages, who is exempt from delusion and possesses perfect knowledge and faith, speaks for the benefit and eternal welfare, and for the final liberation of all beings.

All fetters (of the soul), and all hatred, everything of this kind, should a monk cast aside; he should not be attached to any pleasures, examining them well and taking care of himself. An ignorant sinner who never fixes his thoughts on the soul’s benefit and eternal welfare, but sinks down through hatred and the temptation of lust, will be ensnared […]. It is difficult to cast aside the pleasures of life, weak men will not easily give them up; but there are pious ascetics (sâdhu) who get over the impassable (Samsara) [cycle of death and rebirth] as merchants cross the sea.

Some there are who call themselves Sramanas [ascetics], though they are ignorant of (the prohibition of) killing living beings; the ignorant sinners go to hell through their superstitious beliefs. One should not permit (or consent to) the killing of living beings; then he will perhaps be delivered from all misery; thus have spoken the preceptors who have proclaimed the Law of ascetics. A careful man who does not injure living beings, is called ‘circumspect’ (samita). The sinful Karma will quit him as water quits raised ground. In thoughts, words, and acts he should do nothing injurious to beings who people the world, whether they move or not. He should know what alms may be accepted, and should strictly keep these rules; a monk should [receive alms] only for the sustenance of life, and should not be dainty. […]

Those who interpret the marks of the body, and dreams, and who know the foreboding changes in the body (aṅgavidyâ), are not to be called Sramanas [ascetics]; thus the preceptors have declared. […]”