Aspects of Jaina Monasticism

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

Page 77

and others (such as pārsvastha, i.e., prone to laxity, and the like). To the former, he should impart knowledge of the scripture, and cultivation of faith in the discipline and also give training in the rules of conduct; but to the latter, he should impart only the training in the rules of conduct, and desist from imparting knowledge of the scripture. The reason seems to be that those who are not genuinely detached from the world should be asked to observe the monastic rules and cultivate proper behaviour in consonance with the requirements of the Order. In case they do not conform to the monastic standard, they should forthwith be expelled from the Order.
The Order consisted of the samvignas and the pārsvasthas. The pärsvasthas were again of two kinds: (i) initiated by another parśvastha, and (ii) initiated by a samvigna. The samvignas again fell into two categories, viz. (i) samaņunna (identical with sambhogika), and (ii) asamaṇunna.25
The monk initiated by the parsvastha is subject to alocana with effect from the date of initiation. There were also monks who were originally initiated by the samvigna, but later, on account of lapses, fell down (avasanna) to the level of pārsvastha. Such monks are called samvigga-puraṇa (Skt. purāṇa-samvigna). They are subject to alocană (confession) from the date of their fall.
As regards samvigna, who falls into two categories, viz. samaṇunna
Sthavira-Kalpa 45
and asamaṇunna, the rule is that if he has deserted his own stem, he is to be subjected to alocană from the date of his desertion, and after com-plete purification through proper expiation, such as tapas (austerities), cheda (cutting down of the standing), or mula (re-initiation), he is to be reinstated in the sāmācārī of the stem, called 'Cakravāla'.
(iv) Training in Scripture and Its Meaning (Vacanā)26: After they have learnt the cakravāla sāmācārī in full, the disciples are to be trained in the scripture and its meaning. The ācārya should warn them again and again against the lapses in sāmācārī prescribed for the gaccha and any kind of non-vigilance, but he should always be moderate in warning, and never aggressive.27 But if the monks were found to be recalcitrant and disobedient, they should be expelled with utmost caution (nicchuvaṇā, Skt. niṣkāsanā),28
VI. Itinerary (Vihara).
Unlike that of the practitioners of the Victor's Course29 the itinerary (Vihara) of the elders is unrestricted (apratibaddha) in respect of numerical strength, place, etc.,30 and may be discussed in detail under the following heads:
(i) Time (Kāla): The itinerary. commences at the end of the rainretreat (varṣāvāsa) on the first day. of Margasirṣa under usual circumstances, and continues for eight months. It may commence earlier or may also be delayed in special cases.31