Unknown Pilgrims

SR No.: 007014
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: N Shanta
Publisher: Sri Satguru Publications Delhi
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 820
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

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The Unknown Pilgrims
- 44 had returned home; - 1 had departed this life.76
The śikṣā-kendras number only a few and serve only a small minority of sådhvis and vairāginis. This section is placed after the section upon dikṣā for, on the one hand, preparation for dikşā takes place, in the majority of cases, within the group under the direction of the guruņi and elder sādhvis; moreover, the sādhvis who do follow courses in these centres go there ordinarily some years after their dikṣā. However, their stays in these centres are of limited duration. The factor of real importance upon which the fabric of the sādhvis' life is, as it were, woven, is svādhyāya, one of the most important observances, performed daily. 77 These centres perform a very useful service in giving solid foundations for a knowledge of the Scriptures and doctrine. They play their part in helping the sādhvis who attend them to acquire a certain discipline and method of study, in awakening within them a taste for svădhyāya, which may in turn lead them to an awakening to spiritual realities such as transcends all intellectual knowledge. However, these centres remain means only. One encounters sãdhvis who have not attended these institutions, but who have a prosound knowledge of the Scriptures and have attained a certain depth of spiritual experience simply by adhering intelligently to their rule of life, to the practice of svādhyāya and to reflection, neglecting no opportunity of gaining instruction from masters, sages or their elders. In some very big groups which contains sādhvis capable of teaching, the guruņi prefers the studies to take place within the group. This is still the ideal and certain groups testify to its efficacy. 78
76 These facts were given to me during my meetings in November 1978 with Muni Sri Mahendrakumăra and Sri N. Jaina ('Jijñāsu'), professors at that time at the Samsthā to instruct the vairāginis; cf. also Šri Paramarthika Śikṣaṇa Saṁsthā, Lādanūḥ, bulletins 1974; 1976; 1977.
77 Cf. P 490 ff.
78 E.g. that of Mahasati Sri Pramodasudhā.