Aspects of Jaina Monasticism

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

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The Four Monastic Courses
sometimes considered as falling attract able monks and nuns to his under the first category and thus own Order. On account of his the number of these categories is successful exertion for the prospereduced to two.
rity of his Order, he is installed as (v) Geographical knowledge in- an ācārya on his return from the cluding flora and fauna (janapada- travels. His mature experience is parikṣā)20 : During his wide travels, now fruitful. Now if he is asked the monk gets an opportunity to by his teacher to make journeys to acquaint himself with the social different parts of the country, he is activities of the people and all able to get the assistance of his other aspects of their life, habits new disciples whom he admitted and customs, sources of mainte- during his past travels to those nance of life, and so on.
places.
(ii) Stabilization of the Order V. Consummation (Nispatti).21
(Sthirikarana)24 : Now, for stabiThe consummation is discussed lizing the Order, he properly trains under the following four heads : his disciples in the scriptural lore
(i) Admission of Disciples (Upa- (grahaņa-śikṣā) and rules of monassampadā)22 : During his visits, the tic conduct (äsevana-śikṣā). Under monk (would-be ācārya) succeeds this head, self-estimation and estiin attracting inquisitive people who mation of the followers are also would like to learn the scripture
considered. Along with the consiand its meaning from him. He
deration of the needs of the Order, develops such abilities that people
such as food and outfit, the ācārya flock to him, attracted by his great
is also required to assess his own qualities and traits. The ācārya
ability to sustain the Order in does never speak of himself, but
times of famine and other natural his intrinsic merits spontaneously
calamities. He has to safeguard attract people. because it is the his Order against the moral and nature of such merits to shine spiritual lapses of himself and the bright without any external effort. members of the Order. The Order Those merits are like gems that is also to be acquainted with all are mute and silent, but are esti- possibilities of adverse situations, mated at millions (of rupees) by
and trained in facing such circumsexpert jewellers.23 By dint of the tances with patience and forbeaexcellence of his knowledge and
rance strictly in accordance with conduct, he attracts monks and the rules of monastic conduct, as nuns of other stems to his own fold. far as possible. This is called upasampadā. During (iii) Discrimination in Imparting his travels, he also gets oppor. Knowledge (Padicchuņā): The ācārya tunity, at religious celebrations and should, at this stage, discriminate meetings of monks and nuns, to between the samvigna (genuinely demonstrate his learning, and thus detached from the world) monks