The Lotus - Jainism's Holy Sutrakritanga Sutra: Book II, Lecture 1, Part 2 of 2

We present to you today, excerpts from Book II – Lecture 1, from Jainism’s Sutrakritanga Sutra. Second Book First Lecture The Lotus “Thus, some shameless men becoming monks propagate a Law of their own. And others believe it, put their faith in it, adopt it, (saying:) ‘Well, you speak the truth, O Brahmana, (or) O Sramana! We shall present you with food, drink, spices, with a robe, a bowl, or a broom.’ Some have been induced to honor them, some have made (their proselytes) to honor them. Before (entering an order) they were determined to become Sramanas, houseless, poor monks who would have neither sons nor cattle, to eat only what should be given them by others, and to commit no sins. After having entered their order, they do not cease (from sins), they themselves commit sins, they cause others to commit sins, and they assent to another's committing sins. Thus they are given to pleasures, amusements, and sensual lust; they are greedy, fettered, passionate, covetous, the slaves of love and hate; therefore, they cannot free themselves (from the Circle of Births), nor free anybody else from it, nor free any other of the four kinds of living beings from it.” “Thus, I have treated of the first man (as one who believes that) soul and body are one and the same thing. Now I shall treat of the second man (as one who believes that) everything consists of the five elements.” “Now I shall treat of the third man (who believes that) the Self is the cause of everything. Here in the East, teach this religion well. ‘Here all things have the Self for their cause and their object, they are produced by the Self, they are manifested by the Self, they are intimately connected with the Self, they are bound up in the Self.” “These worthless men entertain such opinions, and believe in them till they cannot return, (down to) amusements. I have treated of the fourth man who believes that Fate is the cause of everything. These four men, differing in intellect, will, character, opinions, taste, undertakings, and plans, have left their former occupations, but have not entered the noble path. They cannot return (to worldly life) nor get beyond it; they stick (as it were) in pleasures and amusements.”