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३०३] चतुर्विंश अध्ययन
सचित्र उत्तराध्ययन सूत्र
CHAPTER 24
MOTHERS OF RELIGIOUS ORDER
(Circumspections)
Foreview
This chapter named as Pravacana-mātā. Samvāyānga gives another name 'Samio'-circumspections or vigilence. In the text, incorporating five vigilences and three restaints, eight vigilences are said (described). Therefore the name vigilences also denotes the same.
There are two causes to describe the vigilences and restraints as mother of Pravacana-(1) it is apprehended that all pravachana (religious order) originated from these or these are the substances of twelve angas, (2) these vigilences and restraints take care of the great vows of a monk, like a mother.
The only desire of mother remains that her son should take right path and leave the wrong path. She always endeavours to protect and character-formation of her son.
In the same way these eight mothers of religious order inspire the adept to advance for good tendency, check from wrong path and ill-tendencies, develop his right conduct, obstruct from inauspicious and make him to practise auspicious.
Auspicious tendency is vigilence and to abstain from inauspcious is restraint.
Circumspections or vigilences are five-(1) of movement (2) language or speaking, (3) seeking for necessities (4) take and put (5) to throw the unnecessary things.
In movement, speaking, seeking for food and other necessities, taking and puting the things and things to be deserted like-stool, urine etc., in all activities carefulness and proper tendency is vigilence.
To check the mind, speech and body from inauspicious tendencies is restraint.
By the four divisions of mind, speech and body-(1)) truth (2) false (3) mixture of truth and untruth and (4) no truth and no untruth-only behaviour, it is explained that a monk speak true and behavioural language, he should never speak untruth and the mixture of truth and untruth, he should also control his mind and body.
The central orbit of these vigilences and restraints is non-violence. So adept should do nothing, which my be injurious and nor he should think like this even in his mind.
Thus the exhaustive description is produced in this chapter and made understood that who practises these properly he attains his goal.
This chapter contains only 27 couplets.
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