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Acaranga Sutra
Acaranga Sutra
The Acaranga Sutra, or Book of Good Conduct, is one of the sacred books of Jainism.
While not written by Nataputta Vardhamana (ca. 599-527 BC), also known as Mahavira,
the Great Hero, it contains many of his teachings.
The Arhats [1] . . . of the past, present, and future, all say thus, speak thus, declare thus,
explain thus: all breathing, existing, living, sentient creatures should not be slain, nor
treated with violence, nor abused, nor tormented, nor driven away. This is the pure,
unchangeable, eternal law [dharma], which the clever ones, who understand the world,
have declared: among the zealous and the not zealous, among the faithful and the not
faithful, among the not cruel and the cruel, among those who have worldly weakness and
those who have not, among those who like social bonds and those who do not: "that is the
truth, that is so, that is proclaimed in this."
Having adopted the law, one should not hide it, nor forsake it. Correctly understanding
the law, one should arrive at indifference for the impressions of the senses and "not act on
the motives of the world." "He who is not of this mind, how should he come to the
other?"
***
Beings which are born in all states become individually sinners by their actions.
The Venerable One [2] understands thus: he who is under the conditions of existence, that
fool suffers pain. Thoroughly knowing karma, the Venerable One avoids sin.
The sage, perceiving the double karma, proclaims the incomparable activity, he, the
knowing one; knowing the current of worldliness, the current of sinfulness, and the
impulse.
Practicing the sinless abstinence from killing, he did no acts, neither himself nor with the
assistance of others; he to whom women were known as the causes of all sinful acts, he
saw the true state of the world . . .
He well saw that bondage comes through action. Whatever is sinful, the Venerable One
left that undone: he consumed clean food.
Knowing measure in eating and drinking, he was not desirous of delicious food, nor had
he a longing for it . . .
The Venerable One, exerting himself, did not seek sleep for the sake of pleasure; he
waked up himself, and slept only a little, free from desires . . .
Always well guarded, he bore the pains caused by grass, cold, fire, flies, and gnats;
manifold pains.
The Venerable Ascetic Mahavira endowed with the highest knowledge and intuition
taught the five great vows.
***
The first great vow, Sir, runs thus:
I renounce all killing of living beings, whether subtle or gross, whether movable or
immovable. Nor shall I myself kill living beings, nor cause others to do it, nor consent to
it. As long as I live, I confess and blame, repent and exempt myself of these sins, in the
thrice threefold way, in mind, speech, and body . . .
The second great vow runs thus:
I renounce all vices of lying speech arising from anger or greed or fear or mirth. I shall
neither myself speak lies, nor cause others to speak lies, nor consent to the speaking of
lies by others . . .
The third great vow runs thus:
I renounce all taking of anything not given, either in a village or a town or a wood, either
of little or much, of small or great, of living or lifeless things. I shall neither take myself
what is not given, nor cause others to take it, nor consent to their taking it.
The fourth great vow runs thus:
I renounce all sexual pleasures, either with gods or men or animals. I shall not give way
to sensuality . . .
The fifth great vow runs thus:
I renounce all attachments, whether little or much, small or great, living or lifeless;
neither shall I myself form such attachments, nor cause others to do so, nor consent to
their doing so.