Restraint Brings Freedom: A Collection of Stories Demonstrating the Importance of Taking Vows
Written by Rishi Zaveri
Illustrated by Twinkle Shah
One Jain philosophy has been proving its worth with the current pandemic: restraint brings freedom. At first glance, this seems illogical! How can I be free if I am bound to NOT do something? Yet, this is what is reflected in our surroundings — many have found peace during quarantine, experiencing more joy despite being unable to carry out their usual activities. But how? The answer lies in acceptance and changed perspectives. By coming to terms with the changes that have come with COVID-19, people have realized that true happiness comes not from external elements but rather, from within. It comes from seeing the virtues within us and the virtues in others unconditionally. Our “normal,” busy lives were distracting us from achieving true happiness and satisfaction. However, these restrictions are temporary — they will end one day or another. So, how can we keep this shifted perspective alive? Jainism provides the solution in Niyams, small restraints that come with immeasurable impact. What kinds of impact? The three short stories below provide three different kinds of results we might receive when we follow Niyams in our daily lives.
Story 1:
A father was fed up with this son. His son not only lost interest in religious studies but was also becoming disrespectful and disobedient. One day, the father had enough. He decided to take his son to the Upashray (place of temporary stay for Jain ascetics) to meet the Maharaj Saheb (Jain ascetics). The Maharaj Saheb also tried to reason with the boy, but he did not take anything seriously. Finally, the Maharaj Saheb said “If you do nothing else, then just take one Niyam.” The boy jokingly said “I will take the Niyam that I will not eat any food in the morning until I see the bald head of the potter who lives across from me!” Although the boy said it as a joke, the Maharaj Saheb agreed and gave the Niyam to the boy. Whether out of pure stubbornness, or some slightly hidden respect for the Maharaj Saheb, the boy stuck to the Niyam. Each morning, he would wake up, look out the window, see the bald head of the potter, and only then have his breakfast. This went on for some time. One morning, the potter realized he had run out of clay and decided to go to the river bank to collect more. When the boy woke up and looked out the window, he could not see the potter anywhere. He got worried — if he couldn’t see the potter, he couldn’t eat. So, the boy set out in search of the potter. By midday, not finding the potter in the city, the boy decided to check near the river. It just so happened that while the potter was digging near the river, he discovered a buried treasure chest. At the same time, the boy reached the river bank. He saw the head of the potter and excitedly exclaimed “I see it! I see it!” The potter, not understanding the reason behind the boy’s exclamations, assumed that the boy was talking about the treasure chest. Not wanting to attract the attention of others on his fortune, the potter went to the boy and told him he would share half the treasure with him if he would keep it a secret. The boy agreed. He started to think, “If following this one Niyam, partly as a joke, resulted in such great fortune for me, what else could I gain from following them seriously?” From that day, the boy took more interest in his religious studies.
Takeaway:
As we saw, the boy had not originally taken the Niyam seriously. However, he followed through with it and he got such a rich reward. It is not always easy to see how Niyams might help us because the fruits of the Niyam can come much later, but they will surely come. Jainism says that any Niyam results in some reward, large or small, but only if it is followed religiously. The reward the boy got was materialistic, but as Jains, we should not act in hopes of materialistic gain. So can Niyams reward us in a different way? Keep reading to find out!
Story 2:
There was once a Jain businessman. He learned from a Sadhu (male Jain ascetic) that all Shravaks and Shravikas (Jain laymen and laywomen) should take the 12 Vrats (vows) and follow the 14 Niyams every day. He became convinced by the Sadhu’s teachings and decided to apply the Vrats and Niyams in his life. One such Vrat the Shravak followed was Adattaadaan (non-stealing). He would not use any item that he did not own without first asking for permission. One day, the Shravak went to the bank. He had to sign some papers, but he did not have his pen with him. There were some pens on the banker’s desk that he could use, but before he picked one up, he remembered his Niyam. Even though the pens were intended for others to use, his Niyam dictated that he still ask for permission. He asked the banker if he could borrow a pen. The banker, annoyed, replied “Of course you can take it! Why are you bothering me with that kind of question?” The Shravak respectfully replied that this was his Dharma (duty), and his duty dictated he ask for permission, no matter what. A few days later, the banker came to the Shravak’s home for some business. The Shravak happily invited him to his home and showed him warm hospitality as if he were a friend. The banker, still curious about the episode from the bank, asked the Shravak more about his Dharma. As the Shravak explained Jain philosophy and the Jain way of life, the banker became awestruck and his respect for the Shravak increased a hundredfold. At the end of the conversation, this banker fell at the feet of the Shravak and told him “You are like an angel on this Earth! Your love and respect for all lives has touched my soul, even I will try to improve myself!” This scene constantly played in the Shravak’s head. His respect and faith in his Dharma increased day by day. Some years later, this Shravak took Diksha, and he is still gracing the world with his presence today.
Takeaway:
Not only do Niyams bring worldly rewards, but they can also change the way others see and treat us. Niyams not only help us build self-control, but they also provide proof of our self-control. Self-control is a trait that is respected around the world, in all religions and all cultures. Yet, it is rare to see a person stay true to their values and lifestyle against all odds. Such people are treated as heroes and role-models, just as the businessman was. Niyams are the first step in building that self-control. Over time, our self-control will take us to great heights — in our careers, our communities, and especially our personal satisfaction.
Story 3:
There once lived a Jain merchant named Sinha. Sinha was best friends with Bhima, the prince of the kingdom. Sinha was a devout Jain, and although Bhima was not Jain, he would join Sinha in various religious activities out of friendship. One day, the king ordered Prince Bhima to go to the city of Nagpur to marry the princess. The prince asked for his friend, Sinha, to come along and the king agreed. The king sent for Sinha and ordered him to accompany the prince to Nagpur. It so happened, that earlier that same day, Sinha had taken the Dig Pariman Vrat (vow of limited travel), and had only allowed himself to travel 100 miles in any direction. Unfortunately, Nagpur was 125 miles away. He informed the King of his Vrat, but when the King angrily dismissed it, he did not argue back. Out of friendship for the prince and respect for the king, he decided to start the journey — he would find another way of fulfilling his Vrat. On the many days’ journey to Nagpur, Sinha taught Bhima all about Dharma. He taught him about the teachings of the Tirthankars (liberated souls that reestablished the Jain religion during their lifetimes) — Ahimsa, the 5 Mahavrats, 12 Bhavanas, and more. When they reached 100 miles, Sinha told the prince, “As you know, my Vrat does not allow me to go farther than this, I am sorry.” The prince, who now understood the importance of Sinha’s Vrat, agreed to go on alone. However, the royal guard told Sinha that they had orders to forcefully take him to Nagpur if he didn’t comply. When they made camp that night, Sinha began to think: “I cannot break my vow. But if I try to reason with the guards, they will just bind me and take me anyway. It is better that I do something by which they will not be able to make me break my Vrat.” Thinking this, Sinha went to the top of a nearby hill and took Paadopagaman Anshan, a type of meditation where all voluntary movement is sworn off. In due time, Sinha attained Keval Gyan (omniscience) and went to Moksha (achieved liberation from the cycle of birth and death).
Takeaway:
The final and most important reason to follow Niyams is that they are the best tools on our journey to bliss. In the story, Sinha the merchant attains Moksha, which might be beyond our comprehension, but contentment and happiness are not. When we decide a limit for ourselves, we force ourselves to be content with what we have. As we learn to live with less, we become more content, and we free up our time and our mind to focus on ourselves. This cannot be achieved overnight, but Niyams help us become a better person every day.
Final Note:
In each of the three stories above, the main characters only received a reward for their Niyams after they were tested in some way. Even when we take a Niyam, we will be tested — it may be on the first day or the hundredth day of following the Niyam. When faced with the challenge, we must hold tightly to the belief that we are doing the right thing. If we lose our resolve, we will not only fail the challenge, but we will also not get the benefit of the Niyam. Therefore, when you take these Niyams, be firm, be strong, be confident!
For guidance in taking Niyams yourself, click here! Created by the Education team, this simple resource can help you make significant strides in your spiritual journey.
If I have written anything which has hurt or upset you in any way or which is against the teachings of Mahavir Swami, I sincerely ask your forgiveness. Michhami Dukkadam.
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We hope you take a vow this Paryushan/Das Lakshan, no matter how small! Visit yja.org/paryushan or yja.org/daslakshan to access a Vow Generator, along with several other resources.
