Ahimsa Times 2008 06 SrNo 96

Author(s): Ahimsa Times
Publisher: Ahimsa Times

Page 10

AHIMSA TIMES - JUNE 2008 ISSUE - www.jainsamaj.org
Page 10 of 15
others. 13. Can some people manage all tirth kshetras? Are they all retired? 14. How many times these 21 members go to tirth kshetras in a year? 15. I have not seen any board or any printing material at any tirth kshetra.
I have seen a lot of tirth kshetras which require repairing/ maintenance / security guards / pujaris / care takers. I think, state wise or district wise or city wise committee (nearest to tirth khstra) should be formed. Can anybody reply for my above noted questions? so that I could satisfy to myself. Sunjay Jain, President Vishwa Jain Sangathan (Regd.)
JAIN SAINTS - Mahavir Sanglikar writes (E-Mail: msanglikar@yahoo.com) - Date: Sunday, 15 June, 2008, 1:38 AM
It is time to ban nakedness....... Nakedness is the highest position in the spiritual world. All Jain teerthankars became naked at a certain point, but no one of them did it knowingly. They did not copy it from previous tradition. They did not arrange any ceremony for removing the cloths. The fact is that they even did not try to remove their cloths, the cloths were removed automatically and they didn't care about it. In ancient times, naked Jain monks lived in caves and jungles. They had nothing to do with worldly things so they avoided visiting towns. They were the true followers of aparigrah. But it is very sad to write that today's naked Jain monks are just a blame on the name of Jainism. They do not wear any cloth on their body to show that they are not involved in any attachment, but in fact they carry lot of worldly things with them. Here are some examples:
•A famous naked monk is accompanied by his mother, brother and sister. This is not an exception; many Jain monks are attached with their worldly family and relatives.
•Many naked Jain monks are making money in the name of religion. Such monks have Bank Accounts in their own name or in relatives' names.
•Many such monks use mobile phones. I know one naked monk having three mobile handsets! Some years before, a daily had published a photograph of another naked Jain monk who was talking on mobile phone. The great followers of such monks like to gift such worldly things to their equally great gurus.
Some naked Jain monks have appointed Personal Assistants for themselves. Such P.A.s help them to manage worldly things. Many naked monks carry a big staff with them which includes cooks, book sellers, drivers etc.
Nakedness has become an essential thing for making money from blind followers. This has nothing to do with the real teaching of Jainism. As Osho says that these monks are nothing but corrupted copiers of the ancient Jain monks.
So it is time to ban the nakedness at least in the public places. If the naked monks are real followers of un attachment, they should leave the public and go to the jungles or remote areas where they can spend their time in meditation. This will stop the all the bad things that are happening because of such monks. -- Mahavir Sanglikar. E-Mail: msanglikar@yahoo.com
Naveen Jain (E-Mail: naveen_jain_2000_in@yahoo.com) writes: I completely support sentiment expressed below. When our saints are ready to mould as per current environment by having a special team of cooks, mobile phone, a list of donators, then same adjustment should be shown towards clothes as well. Nakedness alone should be not the criterion of sainthood but character is more important. We can still follow our saints if their actions are holy and solid, rather than expecting nakedness as saint symbol.
Maulik (E-Mail: findnew@gmail.com), writes: This is among the other contraversial issues. This issue is only related to Digambar samprada, as all other monks wear cloths, but being a jain, we also have to be a part of listeners. This subject is internal to Digambars and they are the only ones who can bring this to an end. The very good thing pointed by Mayur is that we have Agams. If a digambar monk is attached by worldly needs like mobile, automobile, etc, the Digambars should ask them to attach themselves with the cloths, before attaching
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8/11/2009