Religious Quest of India

SR No.: 011031
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: J N Farquhar, Griswold
Publisher: J N Farquhar Griswold
Total Pages: 365
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 25 MB

Page 249

HIS RELIGIOUS LIFE
223 uncooked, never to break a mango from a tree, and oniy to eat it if some one else has taken out the stone.
Lest in the darkness he might unwittingly devour some vi. Nisiinsect he promises (Nisibhojanatyāga pratimā) never to eat buh
ityāga between sunset and sunrise, or to sip water before daylight. pratimā. If a guest arrives during the night, the layman may prepare a bed for him, but never offer him food, lest he cause his guest to sin.
Getting nearer to the ascetic ideal, the layman next vii. Brahpromises (Brahmacarya pratima) to keep away from the macarya
pratimā. society of his own wife, and never in any way to scent or adorn his body, lest he should cause hic wife to love him.
As the layman is now steadily mourting the steps, he viii. must be very careful never to begin anything that might Aram:
bhatyāga entangle him in such worldly pursuits as involve the de- pratima. struction of life. So he undertakes (Arambhatyāga pratima) never even to begin to build a house or take up a trade (like a blacksmith's) which entails the taking of life.
He must also use his remaining days in the world as a ix, Parisort of novitiate; and first he must be careful not to have graha
tyāga any attachment for his worldly possessions (Parigrahatyāga pratimā. pratima), and to avoid it he should divide his property, for instance money or grain, amongst his children, or give it away in charity. He must also prepare for the hardships he will have to face by never allowing his servants (if he has any) to work for him, but should always wait on him. self and only allow the servants to wait on his children. Having made this resolution, he should endeavour in every way to lead a quiet unambitious life.
The next resolution (Anumatityāga pratimă 1) shows a x. further step taken towards a sādhu's life, for the erstwhilc
hilAnumati
tyāga layman promises to keep the sādhu rule of never allowing pratimā. any special cooking to be done for him, and only to take what is over when others have dined, and, if none remains, just to fast. He also vows that he will never give advice 1 Or, according to the Digambara Jaina, Anumodanavrata pratima.