Studies in Buddhist and Jaina Monachism

SR No.: 006567
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Nand Kishor Prasad
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur
Publication Year: 1972
Total Pages: 306
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 16 MB

Page 120

PABBAJJA AND UPASAMPADA
(iii) do any transaction of the begging-bowl or any other requisite,1 (iv) undertake a journey,*
(v) go elsewhere due to paucity of space without the previous permission of the teacher or the authority concerned.
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Of course, the Jainas surpassed the Buddhists in giving an exalted position to the teacher. It is said in the Jaina scriptures that a disciple without a teacher is likely to go astray as a needle without a thread may be lost easily."
(d) The Causes of Renunciation
Most probably the Buddhist sources do not make any direct reference to the causes of renunciation. However, an analysis of the frequent references to persons bidding farewell to household life reveals that people took to mendicant-life because of diverse reasons and varied motives. Normally people adopted monkhood because of the natural insight into the Truth (abhisamaya). Another reason which inspired Kassapa, Senaka, Nadikassapa, Uruvela Kassapa, Jenta, Mahāpanthaka, Cülapanthaka, Ratthapīla, Sela, Angulimala, etc. among men and Ubbiri, Sakula, Kisāgotami, etc. among women to renounce household life was the thrilling mental agitation (samvega) caused by either of the imposing personality and the preaching of the Buddha or his disciples.
Unfortunate incidents like the death of a child, widowhood or husband's renunciation, etc. were not less responsible for making a person to adopt houselessness. Thus Vasetthi and Kisagotami renounced the world when their sons died. So did Canda and Capa because of their husbands' expiry and renunciation respectively. One of the most disgusting factors which constrained people, particularly the women to renounce the world was the transitoriness of bodily beauty and charm. Abhayamātā, Uppalavanņā, Ambapili, etc. took to nunhood due to this very fact. Besides, very often household drudgery and poverty, illness and deformity, disrespect and humiliation, and the like also acted as reasons for renouncing the pleasures of family life. Those accepting monk-life because of one or the other of these
1. Nis, 14. 1-4, 14. 5-7; 16. 25-29. 2. OghN, 9, p. 22b; HJM, p. 243. 3. Vav, 1. 21.
4. HJM, p. 156.