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3. Souņa vā gilāņam, panthe gāme ya bhikkhavelāe Jati turiyam na gacchati, laggati gurue sa caumāse Il
- Niśītha sūtra Cūrņi, 10. That is - On hearing that some monk or nun is sick, the monks and nuns must rush quickly to his aid. If some monks or nuns do not do so, they incur the penitence of a 'guru cāturmāsa', which means that their seniority may be reduced by a full four months.
Vaiyāvrtya is a form of internal penance and its form has been referred to variously at various places, such as -
1. Addhāņa teņa sāvad-rāyanadīrodhaņāsive ome!
Vejjāvaccaṁ uttam samgahasārakkhaṇo veda ||
That is – To serve those that are tired by long peregrinations, that have been tormented by the thieves, beasts, and rulers and those that suffer from flooded rivers, epidemics such as plagues, and famines, is ‘vaiyāvrtya' penance.
2. Veyāvaccam niyayaṁ kareha, uttamaguņadharantāṇam |
Savvam kira padivāī, veyāvaccaṁ apadivāī ||
That is - The monks that are endowed with noble virtues must always be served; because all other virtues are impermanent while vaiyāvrtya is permanent.
3. Āhāraușadhayorupakaraṇāvāsayośca dānena vaiyā-vrtyam bruyate caturātmatvena caturasrāh 11
- Ratnakaranda Śrāvakācāra, 117.
- Vasunandi Śrāvakācāra, 2333.
-Padmanandi Pañcavimśti, 2/50. That is – The Gañadharas who are endowed with four types of perceptions such as sensory, scriptural, clairvoyant and telepathic, serve the others in four ways – through giving them food, medicine, monastic equipage and residence. Vaiyāvrtya is a duty.
Bhagvān Mahāvīra has depicted service and self-study as equal and as means of liberating from all troubles -
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