Āvaśyaka Sūtra
Jain religious text
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Āvaśyaka Sūtra is one of the four Mūlasūtra texts of the Śvetāmbara scriptural canon.[1]
| Āvaśyaka Sūtra | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| Religion | Jainism |
| Language | Jain Prakrit |
Contents
Six Obligatory Actions
The Āvaśyaka Sūtra lists the six Obligatory Actions, which Jain ascetics are required to follow. They are:[2]
- equanimity (sāmāyika / samatā)
- praise (bhakti) of the fordmakers
- homage to the teacher (vandana)
- repentance (pratikramaṇa)
- laying down the body (kāyotsarga)
- abandonment (pratyākhyāna)
The first obligatory action of equanimity (sāmāyika) is described in Chapter 2 of the Āvaśyaka Sūtra as such:[2]
I perform, sir, the rite of equanimity. I abandon all bad activity for the course of my life, threefold by threefold, in mind, body and speech. I will not perform nor cause anybody to perform nor approve anybody performing any bad action. I repent of it, sir, I censure, reject and abandon myself.
The fourth obligatory action of repentance (pratikramaṇa) is described in Chapter 32 of the Āvaśyaka Sūtra:[3]
I ask pardon from all living creatures. May all creatures pardon me. May I have friendship for all creatures and enmity towards none.
