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The lay Jain life code

Lay Jains are expected to follow a code of conduct that is stricter than that of many faiths. Jain monks and nuns live according to a similar, but more rigorous code.

Very few modern Jains follow the letter of the rules given below, and in fact it would be very difficult to do so, but they do follow the spirit of the code.

Modern Jains respect animals and the environment and eat a diet that encourages this. They should avoid work which intentionally violates the rules below. And they work hard to do things with the right mind-set and spiritual intention. They do all of this gladly, believing that right conduct is the best religion.

Vows taken by lay Jains

Jain scripture expects lay Jains to follow the following twelve vows.

The five Anuvratas

The Anuvratas are known as the Lesser or Limited Vows:

• Non-violence - Ahimsa:
  • Jains must do their best to avoid any intentional hurt to living things. In daily life harm can be minimized by filtering drinking water, not eating at night, and so on. Intentional hurt includes cases of avoidable negligence.
  • Jains must be vegetarians.
  • Jains may use violence in self-defence.
  • If a Jain's work unavoidably causes harm (e.g. farming) they should try to minimize the harm and maintain complete detachment.
• Truthfulness - Satya:
  • Jains must always be truthful.
  • Jains must always conduct business honestly.
  • Dishonesty by not doing something is as bad as being actively dishonest.
• Non-stealing - Achaurya or Asteya
  • Jains must not steal
  • Jains must not cheat
  • Jains must not avoid paying tax
• Chastity - Bramacharya
  • Jains must have sex only with the person they are married to.
  • Jains must avoid sexual indulgence even with that person.
  • Jains must give up sex, if possible, after the marriage has yielded a son.
• Non-possession - Aparigraha
  • Jains must only possess what they need.
  • Jains must use surplus possessions to benefit others.
  • Jains must live simply.
  • Jains must not use too many resources.

The three Gunavratas

The Gunavratas are known as the Subsidiary Vows:

• Limited area of activity - Dik vrata
  • By this vow a lay Jain restricts the extent to which they travel, so as to reduce the area in which they may do harm.
• Limited use of resources - Bhoga-Upbhoga vrata
  • Jains should limit their use of things like food and clothing according to what they need.
• Avoidance of pointless sins - Anartha-danda vrata
  • Thinking or speaking badly of other people.
  • Being inconsiderate (and not just to people).
  • Being self-indulgent.
  • Reading, watching or listening to immoral material.

The four Siksavratas

The Siksavratas are known as the Vows of Instruction or Discipline:

• Meditation vow - Samayik vrata
  • Jains should carry out sitting meditation in one place for 48 minutes each day.
• Limited duration of activity vow - Desavakasika
  • Jains should restrict certain activities to specific times.
• Limited ascetic's life vow - Pausadha vrata
  • Jains should regularly adopt the life of a monk for a day.
• Limited charity vow - Siksavratas
  • Jains should give to monks, nuns and the poor.

Find out more

• Jainism - Daily spirituality