Balancing the seer and the doer

Lord Mahavir's birthday is being celebrated today. PRATIBHA JAIN writes about the rules which govern the life of his followers.

THE JAINA ethics prescribe rules and ideals for every aspect of life, for a householder and for an ascetic. For the former, it is more relaxed and lenient. But not loose or weak. The boundaries are firm, the injunctions clear and precise. And comprehensive. In a manner which is breathtaking. Nothing is ignored, no aspect of life is unattended to. How to work, how to earn, how to live in a family, what and how to eat and wear - everything follows a clear-cut code of ethics.

The Yogasastra of Acharya Hemachandra Suri written in about 1160 A.D. gives us 35 rules, which constitute the `marganusari path', which can be translated as the `path-adhering' way. These are the rules that a householder has to abide by a manner in which one must act, think and behave. But how practical is it? Is it possible to weigh and conduct every action in a deliberate manner? Are not most of our thoughts, feelings and actions spontaneous and habitual? Would it not appear a very cumbersome and contrived exercise to consult and remember these guidelines at every step?

These rules are intense in depth and precise in their application. An analysis and reflection of these rules can sharpen the intellect and intuition. For instance, the first rule says that one must earn in a manner which is lawful. This is one of the first concerns of a householder. What is the mantra of success? Is it enough to be clever and smart? Foolish it is to think that the key to success lies in being clever or firm, it lies in abiding by the fundamental principles of money, in understanding the correlation between earning and sharing, between spending and saving, between means and end, between integrity and success. Be guided not by the superficial and short-term formulae of success, but by the underlying universal laws of work and wealth. This is what the rule says - to generate wealth lawfully. Acharyashri Bhuvanbhanusoorishwarji calls it `the prosperity of lawfulness'.

On the surface, the difference between certain rules are so subtle that only careful reflection can highlight them. For instance, apart from Rule 8 which says that one must be in the company of virtuous people, Rule 15 says that one must listen to spiritual discourses. One must cultivate an admiration for the masters because they have illuminated this path and made it a resourceful and potent energy of light. As much as this sharing within members of the same religion and culture strengthens the religious spirit, so it is with the national spirit. This is found in Rule 5 which says that one must adopt the common practices of the place where one resides. But the reference is only to those traditions which do not in any way contradict one's own faith and principles. Such shared practices enhance the feeling of brotherhood and unity. This ideal is further stressed in rule 6 wherein one is asked to refrain from any criticism, particularly higher authorities and masters. Why so? Not because of fear of power, but because one must not instigate negative feelings towards the leaders as it weakens the morale of the country.

However, the largest concern when looking at a system propounded centuries ago is its relevance to today's life. Changing trends, changing values, a changing way of life. So, there is a rule in anticipation of this criteria that one must act in accordance with the place and time (Rule 22). Change is natural and inevitable, the concern is not about change but in the manner that one chooses to change.

We see that the understanding of one rule is not possible without another because these rules are concerned with the way of life. So, these rules have a necessary connection to one another. One has to `see' the total picture and understand the patterns like the child with the blocks. But it is not just a matter of following the rules. It is an individual process. These rules can teach, guide, caution and encourage the aspirant, but the onus of the decisions and actions rests on the individual alone.

An understanding of these rules is an objective process, but their application is a subjective one. Not just analysis and intelligence, but also intuition and reflection. However, the compartments are never water-tight. Some people are more analytical, others more intuitive. The best possibility is to exercise a dynamic equilibrium between the two, passing back and forth between the two journeys, between that of the seer and the doer, thus finding that integrated self within.

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