Aspects of Jaina Monasticism

Author(s): Nathmal Tatia, Mahendramuni
Publisher: Jain Vishva Bharati

Page 73

IX
THE FOUR MONASTIC COURSES
The monastic course begins with the renunciation of the world and acceptance of the five great vows, and continues till the end of life without any break. There are rules of monastic life that are to be strictly followed and any breach of them is duly expiated. The monastic course is essentially unitary and single. But it can be distinguished, in its aspect of intensiveness, into several stages that are, from one view-point, four in number. These are known as (1) the Elder's Course (sthavira-kalpa), (II) the Victor's
The word 'elder' (sthavira) is used in the sense of a 'cenobite', i.e., a monk who lives in a 'stem' (gaccha) or a group (gana). The cenobites fall into five categories: (i) preceptor (ācārya), (ii) teacher (upadhyāya), (iii) monk (bhikṣu), (iv) 'senior' (sthavira), and 'junior' (kṣullaka).2
The course of the elders is described under eight main heads viz. (I) initiation and ordination (pavvajjā, Skt. pravrajyā), (II)
Course (jina-kalpa), (III) the Purificatory Cooperative Course (parihāra-viśuddhi-kalpa), and (IV) the Time-bound Course (yatha-landakakalpa). The Victor's Course is formulated in imitation of the one followed by Lord Mahāvīra himself, as recorded in the Ayaro.1 The Elder's Course is designed in view of the limitations of ordinary human beings, the final end, however, being the Victor's Course. In between these two lie the other two courses. A brief account of the the four courses is attempted here..
I
STHAVIRA-KALPA
or
The Course of the Elders
training (sikkhapaya, Skt. śikṣāpada), (III) comprehension of meaning (atthagahana, Skt. arthagrahana), (IV) life of a wanderer (aniyaavāsa, Skt. aniyatavāsa), (IV) consummation (nipphatti, Skt. nişpatti), (VI) itinerary (vihāra), (VII) deportment (sāmāyārī, Skt. sāmācārī), and (VIII) essential features (thii, Skt. sthiti).3
A brief account of these heads is given below, showing the main features of each head.