Rules and Restrictions

Absolute respect for all life and the requirement of non violence entail very severe restrictions in the practice of Jainism. For example, Jains must be vegetarian and they cannot be farmers because by working with soil, animals, plants and even earth could be hurt.(1) There are two sets of rules, one for Jain monks and one for laymen, which outline the general restrictions of Jainism.

Rules For Jain Monks

• A Jain monk must carry a whisk with which to gently brush insects out of the way so as to not tread on them while walking.
• He must wear a cloth over his mouth so as to not harm insects or minute organisms by breathing them in.
• He may never light a lamp at night, walk about in the dark, or put out a fire.
• Bathing is forbidden, as it harms the water and the vermin on the body.

"All this is not only a matter of respect for life, but of refraining from actions, since actions enmesh the soul in matter." (2)

Rules For Laymen

• not to harm living thins
• not to lie
• not to steal
• to be faithful in marriage
• not to be attached to worldly objects (3)

The rules for the laymen are very simplistic, yet by following them, ones life can be pure and fulfilling.

(2) Richard Cavendish, The Great Religions (London: Contact, 1980)p.66

(3) Cavendish, p.67

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