Teachings of Mahavira

Teachings of Lord Mahavira

1)    1)  In this world, nobody knows about his previous birth or future life. They do not know whether their soul changes or remain intact from one birth to another. But there are a few saint-like people who, either by intuition, or being informed by their gurus, know from where they have come, what will they achieve in the present life and what will be their destiny in future. According to Jain tirthankaras, the journey of soul is never ending and takes many births according to their karma. Destruction of bad karmas elevate the soul to higher levels and destruction of all karmas lead to liberation of soul.

2) Human beings are attached to sense objects via sensory organs like eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin to understand different forms, hear various sound, smell different fragrances, taste different food and touch different objects. Their mind is controlled by attraction and repulsion; that is why they lose all senses of good and evil. Everybody wants to get the best of things for which they fight, quarrel and becomes jealous. To fulfil their desire, they adopt various evil means but such conduct has an evil effect upon their mind. They adopt various techniques for the sake of getting distinction, honour or worship in this life; for the relief of some sorrow or the redress of some grievances; or for relief from the burden of anxieties which disturbs the life; and on account of such desires, they kill or torture their opponents; Such conduct has an evil effect upon their mind and soul and become an obstacle to the attainment of true knowledge.

3) Those who are addicted to sense enjoyments do violence to the creatures of earth, water, air, fire, vegetable and animal kingdom.  Such conduct of violence brings evil effect on the mind and soul and is an obstacle to gain true knowledge.

4) The person whom you wish to beat, subdue, cause grief or pain or to kill, is none other than your own self. He feels pleasure and pain as you do. Everybody must remember this truth and refrain from killing or causing harm to any living being.

5) Human life is very brief and subtle. The days pass very quickly and before one understand, one reaches the old age where the most beloved people of the family and friends turn their back and cannot help in any way to avoid death. The person who had accumulated wealth throughout his life to enjoy old age without difficulty also face trouble. The wealth and property become of no use, because one cannot carry them after death or enjoy any facility of his richness. It is the soul which gets detached from the body after death and gets ready for the next birth. The body is either burnt into ashes or buried under the soil and all the material objects remain behind in this world.

6) No one can avoid death or nobody can save anyone from death. Everybody is the architect of his own fate, be it happiness or suffering. Therefore, so long a person’s life has not succumbed to death, so long as the power of his senses, his intelligence, his memory and comprehension are unimpaired, a person should make the best use of time in uplifting his soul ---(Acharanga Sutra).

7) It is extremely difficult to have human birth. The time that passes away never returns. Death surprises us at any time, in our childhood, during our middle age, in our old age, or even when we are in the mother’s womb. All their life, people remain attached to sensual pleasures and the affection towards his family and surroundings. When the allotted span of life is over, not only humans but even the gods, gandharvas etc., all have to accept their destiny which is nothing but the consequences of his own karma. Neither royal splendour, nor riches, nor poverty, nor the knowledge of the scriptures, religion, brahminhood, shramanhood can save him from the consequences of one’s evil deeds.

8) It is extremely difficult to have human birth. The time that is passed never returns. Death can come at any time. All their life, people remain attached to sensual pleasures, to family, friends and their work. But no one tries to improve their soul by doing good deeds or karma. Nobody on earth can save one from the consequences of one’s evil deeds. Therefore, strive for true knowledge before it is too late, so that your soul may get liberated from this wheel of suffering, by destroying all karma and its causes.

9) But the path of destruction of karma is very subtle and arduous. In the hope of attaining true knowledge, many become ascetics and take recourse to begging, live in a state of nakedness, practice severe austerities like fasting for a whole month; but because they fail to root out the desires of the heart, rather than being liberated from the wheel of karma, they become all the more entangled in it. Only after practicing true religion and following the path of those who himself could reduce his soul from karmic bondages, one can lighten the burden of karma and enjoys happiness beyond ---(Sutrakritanga Sutra).

10) Non-violence, self-control and austerities constitute the highest benefit for those whose mind is constantly occupied with the spiritual practices. (Dasha-Vaikalika Sutra)

11) An intelligent person practices the religion preached by the Jinas by an observance of the five great vows of non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, continence and non-attachment. Such religious practices help to lighten the burden of karma which in turn gives better life in the next birth.

12) When time of death comes nearer, all the near and dear ones, property, wealth and other belongings remain behind with the body and it is the religion and the good achievements in life that can save us from the fear of death ---(Uttaradhyayana Sutra),

13) He who himself hurts the creatures on earth, or gets them hurt by others or approves of hurt done by others, augments the world’s hostility towards himself --- (Sutrakritanga Sutra).

14) Let no spiritual seeker inflict any injury to the creatures on earth --- (Uttaradhyayana Sutra).

15) The essence of wisdom lies in the fact that he practices non-violence (Ahimsa). Also, he gives off falsehood and speaks only the truth.

16) Whenever questioned, one should never speak words that are vicious, senseless or heart-rendering, either in one’s own interest or in the interest of others ---(Uttaradhyayana Sutra).

17) Monks who have acquired self-control should not accept anything except the items received from the householder as alms--- (Dashavaikalika Sutra).

18) The monks should avoid all those doubtful places where there is the possibility of even the slightest harm to his continence (brahmacharya).

19) It is the desire alone which is the root of all sufferings. The spiritual seeker, who gives up his attachment to his possession is relieved from all sufferings, physical and mental ---(Uttaradhyayana Sutra).

20) Mere physical possession is not as bad as the attachments towards his belongings ---(Dashavaikalika Sutra).

Reference:

Lord Mahavira, his life and doctrines, by Puran Chand Samsookha, 1957, publisher Jain Swetambar Terapanthi Mahasabha, Kolkata.

From Vardhamana to Mahavira (a self-emancipating reality) by Lata Bothra, publisher Jain Bhawan, Kolkata.