Charlotte Krause her Life and Literature

SR No.: 001785
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Shreeprakash Pandey
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1999
Total Pages: 674
Language: English, Hindi, Gujarati
Classification: Book_English, Biography, & Articles
File Size: 11 MB

Page 91

46
Dr. Charlotte Krause : Her Life & Literature
priating, or using, anything that he has not explicitly been given, or its use allowed, by the lawful proprietor. This goes so far that a Jaina Sādhu, even if starving, would never pick up even a wild fruit from the ground ( which would, it is true, imply the further sin of hurting plant life ), nor would he use even a blade of dry grass lying about, nor a stone.
By the Fourth Mahāvrata, the ascetic promises to avoid even the slightest form of sexual activity. Even the touch, not only of a human person, but even of an animal, of the opposite sex would be counted as a kind of trespass. The present Jaina Sadhus take this vow, therefore, so strictly as to anxiously avoid even the indirect contact with a woman, such as by a carpet, or by a piece of furniture, or by a book etc., always keeping in mind that certain substances, such as wood, paper, metals, cloth etc. are considered as better conductors than others, such as stone, or earth. Amongst all the ascetic rules, the fourth vow is said to be the one which allows no exceptions at all.
By the fifth vow, the ascetic promises to give up even the slightest form of attachment to whatever it may be whether lifeless things or persons. Practically, this vow demands not only the giving up of all property, but also that of all family ties, i.e., the adopting of the life of a mendicant. It is well-known in which strict way the present Jaina Sãdhus keep this vow, the Digambara monks, who roam about, always alone, without clothes, without even vessels to eat from, and the Svetāmbara Sādhus with their scanty clothes and equipment, who will not accept but what they can use at a time, the acceptance of money being, of course, strictly forbidden.
After having reached a certain standard of firmness in the keeping of Sarva-virati, and of religious learning too, a monk can climb up to the next step of discipline, the Parihāra-viśuddhicăritra, which can be reached by undergoing certain practices requiring a high degree of self-control and firmness. It is prescribed that always groups of nine monks should devote eighteen months to