Jainism the Creed for All Times

SR No.: 006564
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: D S Baya
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy
Publication Year: 2006
Total Pages: 420
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 67

faith gives up are milk, curds, butter, oil, sweets and salts. 5. Penance of Tolerating Physical Discomfort (Kāya–kleśa Tapa)- The aim of this type of penance is to make the body so tolerant and pliable that it does not flinch when rigours of spiritual life present themselves. However, body is also the medium of all religious practices and it is not to be hurt or harmed in any way by undertaking unduly harsh measures. To train oneself to overcome the love for physical comforts and to endure the hardships of spiritual life, the spiritual aspirant adopts various bodily postures, endures vagaries of weather, plucks own hair, etc. It is the physical adventure of the spiritualist that gives him the same type of pleasure as a mountaineer feels while enduring hardships while scaling the peaks. 6. Withdrawal Penance (Pratisallīnatā Tapa) - This penance involves withdrawal from mundane pleasures and devoting oneself to spiritual upliftment only. In other words all extrovert interests are subjugated in favour of introversion and means that the body, mind and speech are constantly watched and diverted inwards. This endeavour succeeds best when the physical environment is conducive to such withdrawal and, therefore, lonely residence free from distractions of residents, animals and way-fareres as well as from the attractions wrought by various sounds, smells, touches, tastes and sights is recommended for the aspirant desirous of practising withdrawal. Such withdrawal results in conquest of passions and desires and ensures full attention towards spiritual pursuits.
Internal Penance (Ãbhyantara Tapa) —
1. Expiation Penance (Prayścitta Tapa)- To accept one's faults in observing the accepted vows of right-conduct and sins committed under the influence of passions etc,
JAINISM: AN INTRODUCTION: 39