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464
PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
monk was ill during the entire monsoon. So he began to lament saying, “Alas, no monk was ill and so I could not serve any. I regret I could not observe my vow.” This is gross ignorance. His vow was sacred but his feelings bore no common sense.
Word Jayana' or 'Yatana' is current here in our religious parlance. This word implies that however liberal the concession allowed would be, one should strive to avail of it as rarely or as little as possible only as and when found hard-pressed to do so.
Question: Why one should not take up to nine types of retro
gression from sins when engaged in self-study (devotionalsitting)?
Reply : Because one cannot observe them. When the son returns
from abroad having earned immense wealth, father would re
joice and here arises encouragement. Question : Can a monk not entertain such encouragement ? Reply: A monk cannot entertain even the attachment for a
son or notion of being possessed of a son. Notions of being possessed of a son, a wife, a relative etc. are the notions of worldly attachments and hence the absence of encouragement. This is the reason why a monk has to retrograde from nine kinds of sins.
Question : Followers of Sthanakvasi-fold retrograde from eight
types of sins!
Reply : They add two varieties of non-encouragement, mental
and physical ; but the scriptures enjoin only six types of sins to be avoided by a lay disciple. Those who depart from the original try to introduce something new. A verse in Sanskrit runs as follows: ‘A man can be famous by breaking a pot, by tearing garments
or by riding a donkey.' Now such a man would argue in defence that in scarcity of horses he would prefer to ride a donkey. Such an argument would meet with compliments and claps, such a man riding a donkey would make others ride donkeys and win compliments. At present, the hypocrites are garlanded and a man earning with immoral means is worshipped.
