Editing Religious vows (section)

==Jain ethics and five vows==
{{Main|Ethics of Jainism}}
{{See also|Yamas#Five Yamas}}
[[File:Nishidhi stone with 14th century Old Kannada inscription from Tavanandi forest.JPG|thumb|[[Doddahundi nishidhi inscription|Nishidhi stone]], depicting the vow of ''sallekhana'', 14th century, [[Karnataka]]]]
Jainism teaches five ethical duties, which it calls five vows. These are called ''anuvratas'' (small vows) for Jain laypersons, and ''mahavratas'' (great vows) for Jain mendicants.{{sfn|von Glasenapp|1925|pp=228–231}} For both, its moral precepts preface that the Jain has access to a ''[[guru]]'' (teacher, counsellor), ''deva'' (Jina, god), doctrine, and that the individual is free from five offences: doubts about the faith, indecisiveness about the truths of Jainism, sincere desire for Jain teachings, recognition of fellow Jains, and admiration for their spiritual pursuits.{{sfn|von Glasenapp|1925|p=228}} Such a person undertakes the following Five vows of Jainism:
# ''[[Ahiṃsā]]'', "intentional non-violence" or "noninjury":{{sfn|von Glasenapp|1925|p=228}} The first major vow taken by Jains is to cause no harm to other human beings, as well as all living beings (particularly animals).{{sfn|von Glasenapp|1925|p=228}} This is the highest ethical duty in Jainism, and it applies not only to one's actions, but demands that one be non-violent in one's speech and thoughts.<ref name=pkshah5v>{{citation |last=Shah |first=Pravin K |title=Five Great Vows (Maha-vratas) of Jainism |url=http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~pluralsm/affiliates/jainism/jainedu/5greatvows.htm |publisher=Harvard University Literature Center |date=2011 |access-date=7 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231033127/http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~pluralsm/affiliates/jainism/jainedu/5greatvows.htm |archive-date=31 December 2014 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all }}</ref>{{sfn|Vijay K. Jain|2012|p=33}}
# ''[[Satya]]'', "truth": This vow is to always speak the truth. Neither lie, nor speak what is not true, and do not encourage others or approve anyone who speaks an untruth.<ref name=pkshah5v/>{{sfn|von Glasenapp|1925|pp=228–231}}
# ''[[Asteya]]'', "not stealing": A Jain layperson should not take anything that is not willingly given.{{sfn|von Glasenapp|1925|p=228}}{{sfn|Vijay K. Jain|2012|p=68}} Additionally, a Jain mendicant should ask for permission to take it if something is being given.{{sfn|von Glasenapp|1925|p=231}}
# ''[[Brahmacharya]]'', "celibacy": Abstinence from sex and sensual pleasures is prescribed for Jain monks and nuns. For laypersons, the vow means chastity, faithfulness to one's partner.<ref name=pkshah5v/>{{sfn|von Glasenapp|1925|pp=228–231}}
# ''[[Aparigraha]]'', "non-possessiveness": This includes non-attachment to material and psychological possessions, avoiding craving and greed.{{sfn|von Glasenapp|1925|pp=228–231}} Jain monks and nuns completely renounce property and social relations, own nothing and are attached to no one.{{sfn|Natubhai Shah|2004|p=112}}{{sfn|Long|2009|p=109}}

Jainism also prescribes seven supplementary vows, including three ''guņa vratas'' (merit vows) and four ''śikşā vratas''.{{sfn|Vijay K. Jain|2012|p=87–88}}{{sfn|Tukol|1976|p=5}} The ''[[Sallekhana]]'' (or ''Santhara'') vow is a "religious death" ritual vow observed at the end of life, historically by Jain monks and nuns, but rare in the modern age.{{sfn|Dundas|2002|pp=179–180}} In this vow, there is voluntary and gradual reduction of food and liquid intake to end one's life by choice and with dispassion,{{sfn|Jaini|2000|p=16}}{{sfn|Tukol|1976|p=7}} In Jainism this is believed to reduce negative karma that affects a soul's future rebirths.{{sfn|Williams|1991|pp=166–167}}