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order to let all my thoughts flow in the direction of the divine. Rather than wander in the realm of sense demand, I will free my mind to focus on lifting my energy for a higher purpose. Seeing a man or a woman, I will respect and revere the soul behind the mortal frame.”
Silence fell upon them again as they reflected on the purpose of Celibacy.
“I accept Aparigrahamahāurata, to untie myself from all attachments, internal and external, and to renounce all nonessential possessions."
The monks chanted sacred mantra.
Rup left the circle for a few moments to present himself to the barber who shaved off his hair, symbolic of his renunciation of worldly concerns and of the removal of the “grass” of ignorance. All was shorn except five hairs at the top of his head. These five were plucked out one by one by Pannyas Shree Chandra Sagarji who told him: “These five hairs symbolize the five bodies in which the soul transmigrates.* With the plucking of these five hairs, you are uprooting your karmic bindings and all five bodies and you are reminded of the five Vratas as you proceed on your journey."
It was a consummate moment. Deep within his being the new monk felt instilled with deep fervor and an unshakable conviction that he was on the right path.
“Rup-Rajendra, you are given the spiritual name of Munishree Charıdraprabh Sāgarji — the Ocean of the Beams of Moon. May you find that cooling source of light within your Self and shed its beams upon the living beings of the universe. "
*According to Jain teachings, the soul is always dwelling in several kinds of bodies until it purifies to the finest degree, emancipates from its ties with all matter, and experiences moksha. The five types of bodies are as follows: (1) audarika, that which can be burned, cut, or destroyed; (2) valkriya, that which can assume various forms, large or small, thick or thin, one or many; (3) aharaka, that which can be produced only by a monk who knows the fourteen Purva texts; (4) taijasa, that which is made of electrical energy, causing the body to glow with light and causing various bodily functions; (5) karman, that which constitutes the total aggregate of karmas at any given time.
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