Please point me to specific Jain texts or teachings that discuss restraint, karma, and the avoidance of intoxicants.
Here are key Jain texts/teachings that discuss restraint, karma, and avoiding intoxicants, with notes on Digambar/Shwetambar perspectives:
- The Five Great Vows (Mahavratas) and the emphasis on restraint and karma
- What they are and why they matter for self-control and karma.
- You can read an approachable summary here:
- Note: Both Digambar and Śvetāmbara traditions uphold these vows, though practices may differ in detail between the two. The core idea—non-violence, truth, non-stealing, chastity, and non-attachment—remains central.
- The 12 Anuvratas (lay vows) including restraint and avoidance of karmic influx
- These are the milder versions of the great vows and include specific restraints that help prevent karma.
- You can read a concise explanation here:
- Digambar/Shwetambar: Both traditions use the Anuvratas as foundational for lay practice, with some ritual/form-level variations.
- Panchindiya Sutra (Sambodha Prakarana: Sthapanā) and the 36 attributes including the five Mahavratas
- This hymn recites the invocation of the spiritual master and mentions the five Mahavratas and related disciplines.
- You can read it here:
- Practical guidance on intoxicants (alcohol, drugs) in Jain practice
- Intoxicants are widely prohibited in Jainism because they cloud the mind and interfere with restraint and karma-purification.
- See concise guidance here:
- For a direct note on intoxicants and paryushan practices:
- Special caution on intoxicants and their relation to vows (summary)
- The vow of Ahimsa and related vows explicitly discourage intoxicants because they undermine self-control and lead to karmic bondage.
- You can read related discussions here:
If you’d like, I can summarize any of these texts in more detail or pull out exact verses and their meanings from Digambar and Śvetāmbara perspectives.