Tuesday 26 July 2016

Principles of Jainism - Non-possessiveness (Aparigraha)

Principles of Jainism - Non-possessiveness (Aparigraha):


NOTE: Hindi version after English version
Aparigraha is the concept of non-possessiveness, non-grasping or non-greediness. It is one of the virtues in Hinduism and Jainism.
Aparigrah is the opposite of parigrah, and refers to keeping the desire for possessions to what is necessary or important, depending on one's life stage and context. The precept of Aparigraha is a self-restraint (temperance) from the type of greed and avarice where one's own material gain or happiness comes by hurting, killing or destroying other human beings, life forms or nature.
Aparigraha is a concept that is relate

NOTE: d to and in part a motivator of Dāna (proper charity), both from giver's and receiver's perspective.

Etymology and meaning

Aparigraha is a combination word in Sanskrit, fused from "a" and "parigrah". "A" as prefix means "non-" in Sanskrit, and aparigrah is thus the opposite of parigrah. The word Parigrah means ‘to amass’, ‘to crave’, ‘to seek’, ‘to seize’, and ‘to receive or accept’ material possessions or gifts from others. The word includes in its scope outer worldly possessions as well as inner attachment to material rewards, rather than doing the right thing or good because it is the right thing or good. Parigraha thus includes the results as well as the intent, in other words the possessions as well as the craving, a sense of possessiveness and hoarding. Aparigraha is the opposite state of existence in thought, words and deeds than parigraha.
Monier-Williams states that the word Parigraha has roots in the Vedic texts, referring to fencing an altar, enclosing something, assuming or putting on a dress or receiving something. In the Brahmanas and later texts, the term contextually means accepting or taking a gift, acquiring, possessing, claiming, controlling something such a property, or assistance, or constraining force on others. A-parigraha reflects the opposite of parigraha. In some texts, the root reflects the state of marriage or having a family.
The virtue of aparigraha means taking what is truly necessary and no more. In Yoga school of Hinduism, this concept of virtue has also been translated as "abstaining from accepting gifts", "not expecting, asking or accepting inappropriate gifts from any person", and "not applying for gifts which are not to be accepted". The concept includes in its scope non-covetousness, and non-possessiveness. Taylor states, aparigraha includes the psychological state of "letting go and the releasing of control, transgressions, fears" and living a content life unfettered by anxieties.

Related terms

The virtue of aparigraha is sometimes referred by other terms such as alobha (अलोभ) or agradhnu (अगृध्नु) – which all mean "refrain from avarice", "avoid accepting and craving for gifts", and "restrain from excessive greed". For example, Max Müller translates the first hymn of Isha Upanishad as the precept, "Do not covet the wealth of any man!" The "do not covet" and "do not accept" virtue precept also appears in verse 8.1.10 of Srimad-Bhagavatam. In Shanti Parvaand other books of the Epic Mahabharata, "non-covetousness" is described as virtue,
That person who, always practicing truth and self-restraint and sincerity and compassion and patience and renunciation, becomes devoted to the study of the Vedas, does not covet what belongs to others, and pursues what is good with a singleness of purpose, succeeds in gaining moksha (self-realization, liberation). One should devote oneself to the practice of all these virtues.
— The Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, XII.300
Similarly, in Book 3 Chapter 2 verse 71 of the Mahabharata, the virtue of alobha (aparigraha) is discussed. Book 9, Shalya Parva of the Mahabharata, clarifies that self earned and proper pursuit of artha (wealth, profit, means of livelihood) is good till it is achieved without sacrificing either dharma (righteousness, morality, ethics) or kama (love, pleasure, emotional contentment),
धर्मः सुचरितः सद्भिः सह दवाभ्यां नियच्छति
अर्थश चात्यर्थ लुब्धस्य कामश चातिप्रसङ्गिनः
धर्मार्थौ धर्मकामौ च कामार्थौ चाप्य अपीडयन
धर्मार्थकामान यॊ भयेति सॊ तयन्तं सुखम अश्नुते
Morality (Dharma) is well practiced by the good. Morality, however, is always afflicted by two things, the desire of Profit (Artha) entertained by those that covet it, and the desire for Pleasure (Kama) cherished by those that are wedded to it. Whoever without afflicting Morality and Profit, or Morality and Pleasure, or Pleasure and Profit, followeth all three – Morality, Profit and Pleasure – always succeeds in obtaining great happiness.
— The Mahabharata, Shalya Parva, IX.60.17-19
In Vaishnava Dharmaśāstra, in the concluding chapters of a dialogue between Vishnu and Lakshmi, the concept of non-covetousness is extended to "not coveting someone's spouse". The dharmasastra includes aparigraha among virtues such as, "being friendly towards all creatures" (ahimsa), "being free from wrath" (akrodha), forbearance, being driven by excellence in one's own business, being skilled in related businesses and learning new abilities, "being humble before everyone", "being positive", "being driven by one's duty", among others.

Jainism

Aparigraha is one of the virtues in Jainism. It is also one of the five vows that both householders (Śrāvaka) and ascetics must observe. This Jain vow is the principle of limiting one’s possessions (parimita-parigraha) and limiting one’s desires (iccha-parimana).
In Jainism, worldly wealth accumulation is considered as a potential source of rising greed, jealousy, selfishness and desires. Giving up emotional attachments, sensual pleasures and material possession is a means of liberation, in Jain philosophy. Eating enough to survive is considered more noble than eating for indulgence. Similarly, all consumption is more appropriate if it is essential to one's survival, and inappropriate if it is a form of hoarding, show off or for ego. Non-possession and non-attachment are a form of virtue, and these are recommended particularly in later stages of one's life.[28] After ahiṃsā Aparigraha is the second most important virtue in Jainism.

Relation to charity and conservation

Some suggest aparigraha implies the concepts of charity (dāna) and conservation. Taking and wasting more of nature, or from others, is inconsistent with the ethical precept of aparigraha.
Scholars suggest Aparigraha allies with ideas that inspire environmental and ecological sustainability. Aparigraha suggests the reduction of waste and adds a spiritual dimension to preventing destructive consumption of ecosystems and nature.

Difference between Asteya and Aparigraha

Asteya is the virtue of non-stealing and not wanting to appropriate, or take by force or deceit or exploitation, by deeds or words or thoughts, what is owned by and belongs to someone else. Aparigraha, in contrast, is the virtue of non-possessiveness and non-clinging to one's own property, non-accepting any gifts or particularly improper gifts offered by others, and of non-avarice, non-craving in the motivation of one's deeds, words and thoughts.


जैन धर्म - गैर स्वामिगत (Aparigraha) के सिद्धांतों: Aparigraha गैर स्वामिगत, गैर-लोभी या गैर-लोभ की अवधारणा है। यह गुण हिंदू धर्म और जैन धर्म में से एक है
Aparigrah parigrah के विपरीत है, और क्या आवश्यक या महत्वपूर्ण, जीवन स्तर के एक और संदर्भ पर निर्भर करता है करने के लिए संपत्ति की इच्छा रखने के लिए संदर्भित करता है। Aparigraha का नियम एक आत्म संयम (शराबबंदी) प्रकार के लालच से और जहाँ एक ही सामग्री लाभ लोभ या खुशी को चोट पहुँचाने, हत्या या अन्य मनुष्य, जीवन रूपों या प्रकृति को नष्ट करने के द्वारा आता है।
Aparigraha एक अवधारणा है कि करने के लिए और भाग में एक प्रेरक की दान (उचित दान), दोनों दाता और रिसीवर के परिप्रेक्ष्य से संबंधित है।
व्युत्पत्ति और Aparigraha, जिसका अर्थ है एक संयोजन शब्द संस्कृत "a से आपस में जुड़े, में"और "parigrah"। "A" उपसर्ग "non- साधन के रूप में ' में संस्कृत, और aparigrah parigrah के विपरीत इस प्रकार है। शब्द Parigrah का मतलब है 'एकत्र करना ', 'याचना करने के लिए ', 'की तलाश करने के लिए ', 'को जब्त करने के लिए ', और 'प्राप्त होता है या स्वीकार करने के लिए ' सामग्री संपत्ति या दूसरों से उपहार। सही बात या अच्छा है, क्योंकि कर बल्कि यह अच्छा है या सही बात है, इसकी गुंजाइश बाहरी सांसारिक संपत्ति के साथ ही भौतिक पुरस्कार के लिए आंतरिक अनुलग्नक में शब्द शामिल है। Parigraha परिणाम के रूप में अच्छी तरह से इरादे, दूसरे शब्दों में संपत्ति के साथ ही लालसा, अधिकार जताना और होर्डिंग की भावना इस प्रकार शामिल हैं। Aparigraha विचार, शब्द और कर्म parigraha की तुलना में अस्तित्व की विपरीत स्थिति है।
Monier-विलियम्स राज्यों है कि शब्द Parigraha जड़ों में वैदिक ग्रंथों की चर्चा करते हुए एक वेदी, कुछ, enclosing बाड़ लगाने के लिए, संभालने या एक पोशाक पर डाल या कुछ प्राप्त करने। ब्राह्मणों और बाद के ग्रंथों में, शब्द संदर्भ स्वीकार करने या एक उपहार लेने, प्राप्त करने, रखने, का दावा है, कुछ इस तरह एक गुण, या सहायता को नियंत्रित करने या दूसरों पर बल में बाधा का मतलब है। A-parigraha parigraha के विपरीत को दर्शाता है। कुछ ग्रंथों में, जड़ विवाह या हवलदार की स्थिति को दर्शाता है

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