Page:The Heart of Jainism (IA heartofjainism00stevuoft).djvu/215

The soul is still unable to take those vows which help in the fight against karma (which we shall discuss in the next chapter) and so the step is called Avirati. He can now, if he likes, control anger, pride and greed and three branches of Mohanīya karma (Mithyātva, Miśra, and Samyaktva), and it is a very dangerous thing not to destroy all of them, for they may lead to a man’s falling back to the second step. Whilst on this fourth step, the jīva gains five good things: the power of curbing anger (Śama); the realization that the world is evil, and that since it is a place in which one has to reap the fruits of one's own karma, one need have little affection for it (Śamavega^[1]); he also realizes that his wife and children do not belong to him (Nirveda); and that he must try and relieve any one who is in trouble (Anukampā); and lastly he gains complete faith in all the victorious Jina (Āsthā). We have seen that the distinguishing mark of this stage is that a man does not yet take the vows; he may wish to do so, but though he has destroyed excessive anger, pride and greed, he has not yet entirely escaped from their influence.

v. Deśavirati guṇasthānaka, or Saṁyatāsaṁyata guṇasthānaka.The fifth step, Deśavirati^[2] guṇasthānaka, or the step of merit, as it is often called, is specially interesting, for up till now faith has been the chief point that has exercised the thoughts of the climber, but now he realizes the great importance of conduct, and so can take the twelve vows which, as we shall see, deal largely with questions of behaviour. The step has three parts. First (Jaghanya deśavirati), a man promises not to drink intoxicants or to eat flesh, and he constantly repeats the Māgadhī salutation to the Five Great Ones (Pañċa Parameśvara): ‘A bow to Arihanta, a bow to Siddha, a bow to Āċārya, a bow to Upādhyāya, a bow to all the Sādhus of this world.’ Then, though still on the fifth step, he may advance a little higher on it (Madhyama deśavirati) and, keeping all the twelve vows, take special care only to make money in righteous ways.

1. Or Saṁvega.
2. Otherwise Saṁyatāsaṁyata.