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ETHICS FOR ASCETICS
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Jewels. Eeven the three articles which he is permitted to possess viz., a book (jñānopādhi) a peacock-feather bunch (saṁyamopädhi) and a pot for water normally made of wood (saucopādhi), should have no attraction for him. In short, he should have an attitude of non-attachment, complete and thorough, both for sentient and non-sentient objects.
Besides the five Mahāvratas whose full and comprehensive amplitude has been indicated while discussing the five aņuvratas, he must observe the five kinds of careful behaviour (samitis). These are intended to train his mind and conduct so that they shall be in conformity with his other vows. They are: 1) Irya-samiti is going by paths trodden by men, beasts, carts etc., and looking to the ground carefully while walking so as not to occasion the death of any living being. 2) Bhāṣā-samaiti consists in gentle, salutary, sweet, righteous speech; 3) Eşāņa-samiti means receiving alms in a manner to avoid the forty-two) faults that are laid down. 4) Ādāna-samiti consists in receiving and keeping of things necessary for religious exercises.' after having carefully examined them; 5) Utsarga-samiti requires performance of the operations of nature (that is, nature's calls) in an unfrequented place. 4 Jacobi has called the five samitis and three guptis as the eight articles of creed (pravacana-mātņkās) as they are intended to inculcate self-restraint which is so essential for subjugation of passions and for spiritual development. The observance of the samitis ensures regulation of movements with utmost carefulness and helps one to avoid injury to organisms.
The walking of a well-disciplined monk should be pure in four respects : the cause, the time, the road and the effort. The cause is : knowledge, faith and right conduct, implying thereby that his walking should have a purpose and be guided by considerations of furthering the acquisition of the three Jewels. He shall neither walk aimlessly nor carelessly. The time of his walk is day-time only. The road that he chooses must be well-trodden excluding all bud roads with grass and other vegetable growth on it. With regard to the effort, the monk should look ahead to a
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