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184
Joharimal Parikh
(as ag inst part time amateurs) has been prescribed and very highly recommended also. Accordingly, knowing the true nature of this world, one becomes a 'Muni' by rerouncing the householder's life, parts away from wife, relatives, wealth and other worldly involvements and leads a desireless and detached life with a strict disciplined routine. People of all the three age-groups are eligible to be admitted to this order.
F2. On adoption of this hard course, their relatives etc, offer opposition and try to dissuaderthem by arguments, temptations or other measures and at times the weak and timid ones give way and continue or come back to house holder's life. Such persons are condemned even by the lay masses and they wander in the world for a long time. People who do not become Muni, yet not leave that order fall in the same category. Inspite of being in the company of the best of the Munis, one falls out due to delusion etc. Therefore, it has been said that easy-going, intimately affectionate, involved in sensual pleasures, deceitful, inactive and unalert and deeply attached to house holders' life and property is unfit to become a Muni. Sometimes one does not give up the formal Munihood but falls from its prescribed high conduct and due to delusion and sensual attraction leads a corrupt Muni life of his own liking. On being asked, he cuts a sorry figure -- in fact such a person is neither a householder nor a Muni--a loser both ways. Such perverted ones speak ill of their own preceptors, disobey them, and though not being real followers, criticise good monks and Munis and preach conduct to others, thinking themselves to be the wisest. They only talk and make a show of Munihood but in fact lapse into stronger bondage.
F3. Admired ones are those who remain steadfast to the Muni conduct. One should maintain the zeal at the same high level at which he entered the order. At times a Muni is beaten, tortured by worms, insects, birds, and animals vagabonds, gods; and in various ways he is troubled by others : But he should face all such difficulties with equanimity and courageously, indeed without shirking down in the least from the lofty heights of conduct befitting a Muni. He should never be afraid of hostile area or atmosphere.
F4. Till a Muni is not fully matured and conversant with rules of Muni life, scriptures, etc., it is risky for him to wander alone-he should have the company of the preceptor. Thereafter he may part away and lead alone the true Muni life. Sometimes, in order to hide their nescience, lethargy and other weaknesses, quarrelsome Munis lead a lonely life, but they are away from the right path because of their passions, hypocracy, fraud, self-praise and lustfullness. Generally, there should be no give and take of food, clothings, bowls, etc. amongst the Munis inter se-in exceptional cases help can be given. The ban is more strict qua the monks of other group, sect, or religion. Begged food etc. cannot be given in charity. A Muni should neither participate and fully mix up with householders nor take interest in folk-dances, dramas, entertainments, gossip and the like of the village.
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