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Lord Mahāvīra and His Times he should preach it indefatigably for no other motive than the annihilation of Karma. Such a monk searches the law, knows the law, and endeavours to gain liberation. He renounces action and worldly occupation, he is free from passions, possesses the Samitis, is wise, virtuous and liberated, lives on simple food, desires to get across the shore of the Saṁsāra and never departs from general and particular virtues.
A monk abstains from the five cardinal sins, from the slaughter of living beings, etc. He does not clean his teeth with a tooth brush; he does not accept perfumes, emetics, and collyrium. Such a monk does not act nor kill; he is free from anger, pride, deceit, and greed; he is calm and happy. He is well controlled and restrained, avoids and renounces sins, is not active but careful and thoroughly wise.
The wrongly instructed Šramanas do not comprehend the soul's bondage through Karma (Karmabandha). A wise monk should improve his chances for final liberation. He should conform himself to the rules laid down by the Jinas and wander patiently about till he attains final liberation.
A monk, who has achieved his religious perfection through the instruction of the Awakened one and stands firm in it, who guards himself in the threefold way with regard to thoughts, words and acts, and who possesses the things requisite for crossing the immense Ocean of existence, may prcach the law.
If a mendicant thinks that on account of his illness, hc has become weak and is unable to wander from house to house, on his thus complaining the householder may bring food and give it to him. By practising monastic rules, onc becomes tranquil, free from sin, and guards himself against the alluremenis of the senses. Entering a village or a town, a monk should beg for straw. After getting the straw, he should retire with it to a secluded spot. After having examined and cleanı' the ground, he should spread the straw on it. A naked monk thinks thus: 'I can bear the pricking of the grass, the influence of cold and heat, the stinging of flies and mosquitoes. I can sustain all those painful feelings but cannot abandon the cove! ing of the privities'. Knowing the two obstacles relating to the
| SR No. | 011080 |
| Book Title | Lord Mahavira and His Times |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Kailashchandra Jain |
| Publisher | Motilal Banarasidas |
| Publication Year | 1974 |
| Total Pages | 427 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 20 MB |