SELECTIONS FROM TATTVARTHA SUTRA
The Five Observances for the Vow of Truth are:
- speaking according to the principles of religion, and,
- giving up anger, greed, cowardice and frivolity
.
The five observances for the vow of not stealing are:
- living in a solitary place,
- living in a deserted habitation,
- sharing one's place and possessions,
- accepting clean and simple food, and
- avoiding criticism of peers in society.
The Five Vows for the Observance of Chastity are:
- renunciation of stories of attachment to the opposite sex,
- not seeing their attractive bodies,
- not remembering past sexual experiences,
- not using aphrodisiacs, and
- beautifying one's own body.
The Five Observances for the Vow of Non-Possessiveness are:
- giving up attachment to and aversion from pleasant and unpleasant objects of the five senses.
- renouncing violence, untruth, stealing, unchastity and possessiveness since these lead to
calamity and disgrace.
The ultimate consequence of calamity and disgrace is unhappiness. Therefore, we should have:
- feelings of friendliness for all living beings,
- feelings of joy for the virtuous,
- compassion for those in distress, and
- indifference towards those who mistreat us.
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