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The method of offering food to the श्रमणोपासक
The third light of Yoga Shastra, verse 87, states that it is forbidden. Rajoharan is useful for the direct protection of life, so there is no dispute about keeping it. Mukhavastrika, or 'muhpatti', is also useful for protecting against flying (sampaatim) creatures, for protecting external air-bodied creatures from the hot air coming out of the mouth, and for preventing the entry of dust particles, etc. into the mouth. The mat and the stool are useful because it is forbidden to sleep on the ground during the rainy season, which is full of नीलण-फूलण, कुंथुआ, etc. Therefore, it is useful to sleep or sit on a mat or stool. The bedspreads, etc., are useful for sleeping in the cold and hot seasons. Residence in a dwelling (house) or shelter, etc., is also very beneficial for the restraint of the sadhu. "Whoever gives a house (dwelling), shelter, etc., to the fortunate, multi-virtuous Muni, understand that he has given everything, food, water, clothes, bedding, seat, etc. Where all the Munis use that dwelling (house), in that shelter, there is protection of oneself and one's character, and the practice of knowledge, meditation, etc., is easy. Therefore, it is believed that the giver of the dwelling (house) has given everything. He who protects the Munis from cold, heat, thieves, dance, mosquitoes, rain, etc., attains heavenly bliss. In this way, there is no fault in the Munis keeping other, more and auxiliary religious articles. The giver alone benefits. The number-limit of the instruments is stated: "Twelve types of instruments are allowed for the Jinakalp, fourteen types for the sthavirakalp Muni, and twenty-five types for the Arya (sadhvi). Keeping more than this is called an auxiliary. (O. Ni. 671) All this should be known from the Agamas like Pindaniyukti and Aghananiyukti. Here, for fear of the text becoming lengthy, we stop the pen by saying so much."
Here, the elders (sthaviras) state the Samachari (the code of conduct for the Shravak): "Before the Shravaks take the parana (complete) after taking the poshadh, if the sadhu-sadhvi are present, they should be invited first and then the food should be offered. The method is that when it is time for your meal, you should be well-dressed and go to the shelter and request the sadhus to benefit from the food and water. What is the limit of the sadhu at that time? It is stated: One sadhu should quickly take the palle (padle), another the mukhavastrika, and the third should quickly take the vessels; so that the poshadhopavashi Shravak does not have to delay or obstruct the parana. Or, take care that no establishment fault is incurred due to the sadhus. If the Shravak requests food in the first watch (paursi) and the sadhu refuses till the naukarsi, then take the food. If the sadhu does not refuse till the naukarsi, but does refuse till the paursi, then do not take it; because that food will have to be kept. If the Shravak requests very strongly, then take the food, bring it to the place, keep it well, and give that food to the sadhu who is going to take the parana as soon as the paursi (one watch) refusal is complete, or give it to another sadhu. Before the sadhu goes for alms, he should take the vessels, palle, etc. At least two sadhus should go for alms; it is not proper for a single sadhu to go for alms. On the way, the Shravak should walk ahead of the sadhu; and he should take the sadhu to his house. There, he should request the sadhus to take a seat; if they sit, it is good, if they do not sit, then one should know and practice the conduct of humility. When the sadhu Muni comes to the house, the Shravak should himself offer them food and water with his own hands and benefit from it. If someone else is offering food in the house, then stand with the food vessel until the Gurudev takes the food. The sadhu should also take care that there is no fault in the aftermath of the alms, i.e., no fault later, so he should not take all the food in the householder's vessel; he should leave some behind. After that, he should bow to the Gurus, walk with them for a few steps, take them to their destination, and then eat himself. If there is no yoga of the sadhu Muni in that village, then at the time of eating, look in the direction of the arrival of the sadhu Muni and think with pure intention that 'If the sadhu Bhagvant were here, I would be fulfilled by offering them food.' This is the method of taking the poshadh (complete). Even if the poshadh has not been taken, the knowledgeable Shravak-Shravika gives something or the other to the sadhu-sadhvi every day and then eats. Or, they give alms even after eating. There are some verses in this regard, the meaning of which is presented here.
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