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      Five Samitis and Three Guptis  (G30)     01/19/93   SAMITIS.A01
      Complied by Pravin K. Shah,  Jain Study Center of North Carolina


                        Five Samitis and Three Guptis
                        ------------------------------

      Besides the five great vows for ascetics and twelve vows for
      laypeople, Jainism lays great emphasis on observance of five rules
      of conducts (Samitis) and three rules of avoidance of misconducts
      (Guptis).

      A person must be careful in walking, sitting, standing, and lying
      down.  He must speak only gentle, sweet, and righteous speech.  He
      must be careful in placing and removing articles of his use.  He
      must be clean and should not make himself instrumental in the
      growth or death of germs and insects.

     Five Samitis
     ------------
       1. Iriya Samiti   - regulation of walking
       2. Bhasa Samiti   - regulation of speaking
       3. Esnna Samiti   - regulation of begging
       4. Adana Nikshepana Samiti - regulation of taking or keeping
       5. Utsarga Samiti - regulation of disposal

     Three Guptis
     ------------
       1. Mana Gupti     - regulation of mind
       2. Vachana Gupti  - regulation of speech
       3. Kaya Gupti     - regulation of bodily activity


      Five Samitis:
      --------------
      Iriya Samiti - regulation of walking
         One should walk carefully looking forward about six feet
         distance so as not to cause the pain or death of any living
         being.

      Bhasa Samiti - regulation of speaking
         One should avoid the eight faults of speech during conversation.
         The eight faults are anger, pride, deceit, greed, laughter,
         fear, gossip, and slander.  Always use sinless and concise speech.

      Esnna Samiti - regulation of begging
         Monks should search and obtain pure foods and other articles
         necessary for use, and to use the same in a faultless manner.

      Adana Nikshepana Samiti - regulation of taking or keeping.
         One should lay down or take up an article of use very carefully
         so as not to endanger the life of small creatures and insects.

      Utsarga Samiti - regulation of disposal
         One should  dispose of waste things, such as mucus, urine, stools,
         etc. in a solitary and out of the way place in a proper manner so
         as not to cause any inconvenience to anybody by becoming a
         source of nuisance, unsanitation, or contamination.  This waste
         helps the growth of germs, and is also the indirect cause of
         their death.


      Three Guptis:
      -------------
      Mana Gupti - regulation of mind
         One should guard one's mind from impure thoughts such as anger,
         hate, curse, greed, jealous, ego, etc.  Always be forgiving and
         devote the mind to pious meditation.

      Vachana Gupti - regulation of speech
         One should guard his speech so that it might not utter harmful,
         harsh, careless, foul, senseless, embarrassing, or bad language.

      Kaya Gupti - regulation of bodily activity
         One should guard movement of his body, so as not to hurt
         others, walking with an eye on the path so as not to harm, or
         kill an innocent life such as ants, bugs, etc.  One should not
         day dream while doing any activity.  Develop decent behavior and
         manners.

      Thus Samitis purify the actions and make them faultless, while
      Guptis are prohibitions against sinful activities of mind, speech,
      and body.  Both are equally necessary for the spiritual uplift of
      soul.  Collectively all eight virtues are known as Ashta Pravachan
      Mata.

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