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 73

52
STUDIES IN BUDDHIST AND JAINA MONACHISM
untimely, i.e., from sun-turn in one day till sun-rise in the next was a sinful act."
No direct mention is made of the quantum of food to be taken by the monks. They are simply advised to take as much food as is required to maintain life for practising celibacy." As such they take food with a view to appease the arisen pangs of hunger and to check its further origination, and not to put on flesh for personal charm and beauty.
Though the issue of storing up articles of food even as trifling a thing as salt had been a hot bed of contention among the Buddhists themselves, the monks were however permitted to possess all sorts of medicaments in general and the five delicacies in particular. A life-long possession of certain roots for use in case of emergency was also sanctioned to them.
So also storing up food-stuff procured from gifts, etc. as well as cooking inside the monastery was allowed in days of scarcity only." This privilege, which was often discontinued as soon as the alms were available in abundance, necessitated a kappiyabhumia (a warehouse) and an upatthanasala'' (a service-hall) to facilitate storing up articles of food and cooking respectively. Besides the kappirakäraka whose duty was to make things permissible to monks, several officers were appointed to look after the acquisition, preservation and distribution of the articles of food properly. 11
Proper dress and its use : The Buddhists, unlike the Jainas, etc., preferred the use of the least possible cloth to complete nudity. Therefore they admonished their followers to dress inasmuch cloth as was sufficient to protect the body from the inclement weather and keep the private parts out of sight 12 Initially this purpose of the Buddhists was fulfilled with robes inade of rags gathered from
1. PM, 5. 37, 85. 2. DN, Vol. I, pp. 62-63. 3. MN, Vol. I, p. 13. 4. CV, 12. 2. 13, p. 422. 5. MI', 6. 3. 12, p. 248; PM, 5. 23. 6 Ibid, 6. 2. 4. p. 219. 7. Ibid, 6. 5. 15, pp. 229-30. 8. Ibid, 6. 20. 36, pp. 253-54. 9. Ibid. 10 CV,6 1. 8. p, 246. 11. Vide Infra, Chap. IV, Sec. I. 12 DN, Vol I, pp. 62-63; MN, Vol I, p. 14.