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PHILOSOPHY OF SOUL
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or non-living thing. The monk shall not cause others to hold such possession nor encourage one doing so under the influence of this great vow, the monk cannot own a monastery or a temple; nor can he possess wealth, commodities, farms, gardens, parks, shops, mansions, cattles, cash money, jewellery etc. The clothes and utensils which the monks maintain for their subsistence of life, are not the objects of ownership or possession as they are not maintained out of possessive instinct, but out of fostering their life of self-restraint.
SIXTH VOW
Person initiated into monkish order of life also has to observe this sixth vow of avoiding nocturnal dinner over and above five great vows. This vow prohibits nocturnal dinner of any nature. Dasavaikālika Sutras declare: "Here are innumerable moving and non-moving minutest creatures-lurking on the surface of the earth. One cannot perceive their bodies with secret movement at night. To avoid injuries, how can a monk go out for accepting food? Moreover, earth is wet on account of water and such earth is covered with ants, vermins and seeds. It is very difficult to avoid killing such living beings and it is not possible at all to avoid their masHow can one walk at night? Viewing wisely all these evils, the great Lord Mahavira said: "The monk must avoid taking all sorts of meals at night.
sacre.
FEEDING-MOTHER OF EIGHT RULES OF CONDUCT
(Asta-Pravachana Mata)
The monk has to strive a great deal for the protection and maintenance of right-conduct. Five Samitis (modes of vigilance) and three guptis (modes of self-restraint) are the main rules of conduct. The scriptures name them as 'Asta--PravachanaMata-feeding mother of right conduct as they help to protect and maintain great five vows.
'Samiti' means right action and 'gupti' means act of protecting or the act of controlling. You are quite conversant with five 'Samitis' and three 'Guptis', we hope.
First is 'Irya Samiti' (Act of walking cautiously) which implies that a monk has to place his feet very watchfully. Following six rules are to be observed in this connection.
