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"If the body is not there, how can it practice restraint? The body is essential for the practice of restraint." The goal of the seeker is neither to live nor to die. He does not desire to live nor does he desire to die. He wants to live so that knowledge, vision, and character can grow. He prefers to do the work that leads to the attainment and growth of knowledge, vision, and character, and brings purity to the practice of restraint. When he sees that the body is becoming an obstacle to the growth of knowledge, vision, and character, he accepts death with affection.
A disciple asked with curiosity, "O Lord! Tell me, is *utsarga* the *svasthāna* for the seeker or is it an exception?"
It was said that for a seeker whose body is perfectly healthy and strong, the path of *utsarga* is the *svasthāna* and the exception is the *parastthāna*. But for one whose body is diseased and weak, the exception is the *svasthāna* and *utsarga* is the *parastthāna*.
Where there is zeal for restraint in the seeker, there is also awareness of discretion. The description of the path of exception has been made only from the perspective of the *sthavirakalpa*. The *jinkalpi* *śramaṇa* walk only on the path of *utsarga*. Exception is a secret.
In the *Nishithachurni*, the word "prohibition" is used for *utsarga* and "permission" for exception. *Utsarga* is prohibition and exception is a rule. All the forbidden actions that have been told for the restrained *śramaṇa* come under prohibition, and when permission is given to perform those forbidden actions in special circumstances, then those forbidden actions become rules. Due to special circumstances, even an improper action sometimes becomes proper. An ordinary seeker does not have the power to transform prohibition into a rule. He cannot even test the propriety or impropriety. That is why exception, permission, or rule is not told to every seeker. For this reason, the synonym of exception in the *Nishithachurni* is also a secret.
Just as following prohibition (*utsarga*) keeps conduct pure, so too should the acceptance of the path of exception be considered pure conduct. Why and for what purpose is there an exception?
Many conditions have been laid down before accepting the path of exception. If those conditions are not taken into account, the path of exception will become a cause of downfall. For this reason, there are two types of *pratisevana*: the use of exception without reason is called "arrogant *pratisevana*."
- *Oghanuyukti* 47
- *Brihatkalpabhāṣya* Pīṭhikā 324
1. *Sanjamaheun* *deho* *dhārijjai* *so* *kao* *utadbhāve*.
*Sanjama* *phāinimittam*, *deha* *paripālana* *itthā*. *Santharo* *saṭṭhānaṁ* *ussaggo* *asa* *huṇo* *paraṭṭhānaṁ*. *Iya* *saṭṭhāna* *paraṁ* *vā*, *na* *hoi* *vatthu-vinā* *kinchi*.
- *Nishithabhāṣya* Gā. 87
- *Nishithabhāṣya* Gā. 6698
- *Uthānachaurni*
- *Nishithabhāṣya* Gā. 5245
- *Nishithachurni* Gā. 495
7. *Nishithachurni* Gā. 287, 1022, 1068, 4103
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