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## Sixteenth Uddeshak ]
[ 343
Therefore, the monk should abandon the bed of the ocean of matter and emotion and seek a pure bed. If even after searching, a faultless bed is not found, then he should remain in the refuge of the Gītartha and take the atonement mentioned in the sūtras.
Saudagam Sejjam Where there is water in an open vessel or a pot, etc., the monk's actions of coming and going, etc., may cause harm to the microscopic beings.
From the arising of an intention, a monk may also have the intention to drink that water, or other people may have the fear that the monk will drink the water.
In the Brihatkalpasutra U 2, it is forbidden to stay where there are pots full of water throughout the day and night, and here, atonement is mentioned for staying in a place where water is generally present.
Sāgaṇiya Sejjam In the Brihatkalpasutra, two options are mentioned for staying on a bed with fire: 1. Fire burning in a stove, furnace, etc., 2. The fire of a lit lamp. The monk should not stay in a house or a room of a house where there is fire burning or a lamp lit, because if he moves around there or performs the actions of bowing, writing, cleaning, etc., which are part of the conduct of a monk, there is a possibility of harming the fire element.
Using fire for warmth will incur the guilt of approving violence.
The commentaries have imagined many faults, which are mostly related to open fire or open lamps. In the present day, the electric lamps, etc., that are available do not have those faults, but the faults related to the use of light are still possible.
In the Brihatkalpasutra, it is forbidden to stay in a place where fire or lamps are burning day and night, but here, atonement is mentioned for staying on a bed with a generally lit fire. In the Āchārya Śruti 2, Pra. 2, U. 3, there is a prohibition on staying in a sāmaric bed, a bed with fire, and a bed with water, all at the same time.
In the Brihatkalpasutra Uddeshak 2, there is an exceptional provision for the monk to stay in a place with water or fire for one or two nights if no other place is available.
In the Niśīthabhāṣya Cūrṇa, it is also said that even if a Gītartha monk stays in such a place for one or two nights, he incurs atonement, but a Gītartha monk does not incur atonement. Because he can make a true decision about the exceptional situation.
In reality, to practice the Gītartha and to practice in the refuge of the Gītartha is the only conceivable practice. The wandering of one or many Gītarthas and the prohibition of all actions like begging, etc., is the same. Therefore, if other houses are not available, the monk can stay in the aforementioned beds for one or two nights, and if he stays longer, he should understand the atonement mentioned in the sūtras.
Many managers of monasteries install electrical fittings for convenience. They use and allow the use of lights when necessary. Saints also stay in the same monastery. There...