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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
FOURTH GREAT VOW
531
This
Fourth great vow is abstaining from sexual intercourse. vow prohibits intercourse with any divine-being, human-being or an animal. He cannot cause others to indulge in such intercourse nor encourage one who indulges in such intercourse. This is a very hard vow to practise and that is why it is so declared in 'Prashnavyakarana sutras'. "Just as moon is the most prominent luminary among the stars and planets, celibacy is the most prominent virtue among modesty, good conduct, penances, etc.
Nine limitations are laid down in the scriptures to guard the vow of celibacy; and the monk has to vigilantly carry out these limitations.
1. The monk should choose his stay in an isolated place with no men, women or hermophrodites living by.
2. The monk should not indulge in sensual talks.
3. The monk should not continue to get in a place for more than two 'periods' where a woman is sitting on a seat, a bed or a platform.
4. The monk should not observe various parts of a woman's body out of lust.
5. The monk should not stay in a place where a couple stays in an adjoining room.
6. The monk should not recollect his past daliance with a woman. 7. The monk should avoid intoxicants.
8. The monk should not accept more than reasonable quota of even dry and insipid food.
9. The monk should avoid physical expression indicative of amorous nature. They are bath, ointment, gay, dresses etc.
Shri Dasa Vaikalika Sutras ordain, "The monk must not touch even an old dame 100 years old and with nose, ears, hands and feet cut-off".
You are quite aware of the practice that ladies have no access at night to a place of monks' residence.
FIFTH GREAT VOW
Fifth great vow is abstaining from any possession of hoarding nature. This vow prohibits possession of any small or big, living
