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XXXVIII: GACCHĀCĀRA PRAKĪRŅAKA
weal at their heart, it has been said that many such great men have been in the past, many of them are there in the present and many such great souls will be there in the future. The creatures of the three worlds bow at the feet of such great men. (36)
In the very next verse it has been said that even a reflection on the qualities of such great men is enough to atone for one's own sins. (37)
In this work the author feels that the fear of the guru is essential for the disciple for in the absence of counter-questioning, motivation and expiatory repentance the disciples become wilful just as a servant or a horse becomes wilful in the absence of proper care and control. (38)
This work does not recognise each and every group of monks as a true monastic group (Gaccha) but only those in which the monks are knowledgeable about the meaning of the canonical learning, possess a desire for liberation from the mundane existence, where they are vigilant, observe their monastic vows properly, are always steadfast in their monastic duties and are without attachment and aversion. (39)
Delineating the monastic characteristics this work says that the words (commands) of the canon-learned monks must be obeyed even if they appear as bitter as the most potent poison because, in the ultimate analysis, such words prove to be beneficial like nectar. Firstly, no one dies as a result of such words and if at all someone dies while obeying their commands, he becomes immortal. On the contrary, the commands of the canon-ignorant monks must be ignored even if they appear to be as sweet as nectar because, in the ultimate analysis, such words prove to be harmful like the most potent poison. Actually such words are not embrosial but poisonous by obeying which the aspirant comes to his
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