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GACCHĀCĀRA PRAKĪRNAKA : 3
GACCHĀCĀRA-PRAKĪRNAKA
1.
BENEDICTION AND STATEMENT OF PURPOSE . After bowing to noblest of the noble Lord Mahāvīra whom
Tridaśendra, the king of Trāyamstrimśa gods bow to, I shall describe the subject of conduct in monastic' groups (Gacchācāra), drawing it out of the ocean of scriptural knowledge.
THE HARMS OF STAYING IN WAYWARD MONASTIC
GROUPS
O’ Gautama ! there are some that stay in the wayward monastic groups and keep on wandering in the mundane existences.
3-5.
THE GAINS OF STAYING IN THE RIGHTEOUS
MONASTIC GROUPS O' Gautama ! the benefit one draws from staying in a righteous monastic group for any length of time – half a Prahara, a Prahara (a period of approximately three hours), a day, a fortnight, a month or a year - is that even if one is beset with lethargy, pride, lack of enthusiasm, or sadness, he is enthused and motivated to enthusiastically perform one's monastic duties and severe penance merely by seeing other noble and glorious monks in the group. One is, thus, able to transcend shame, doubt, etc and get involved in the pursuit of one's monastic duties vigorously.
O'Gautama ! the moment an aspirant soul is gripped by vigorous spiritual energy, it is able to destroy the heap of karma accumulated over many a birth in a very short time.
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