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ETHICS FOR ASCETICS
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with by people who are ignorant of the importance and practice of An ascetic has to face ridicule and abuses of other people. He is indifferent to pleasures and pain; this is possible only when he conquers his sense of dissatisfaction arising out of self-denial of all kinds of sensual pleasures. He has to conquer all sense of excitement or passionate thoughts that are likely to arise at the sight of lovely or attractive women. He has to move barefooted from place to place involving pain and discomfort. He has to endure all these effects of continuous wandering. He has to sit during the day almost in the same posture and certain discomfort is quite natural. Similarly he has to sleep on hard ground without movement, sometimes suffering insect-bites. These are to be borne as natural to the life of an ascetic. During his wanderings, he has to face hatred, jeers and anger from people who do not like a naked monk moving freely along the roads in cities and villages. He has to bear all these without show of anger or dislike and overcome censure or hatred with self-restraint. Sometimes, a monk is beaten or pelted with stones; he has to suffer the injuries with patience thinking them to be due to his own past Karmas without blaming mischief-mongers. He has to beg for his food only according to rules; but if he does not get food, he cannot resort to pitiful begging or plead for mercy. He has merely to endure the consequences. It is natural that as a human being he is subject to deseases and ailments. He has to endure the pain caused by thorns and pebbles while wandering. Since he should have no attachment or love for his body, he must petiently bear all these afflictions. He does not take bath at any time and has merely to shake off the dust if any with his bunch of peacock feathers. His main aim is to purify his soul and keep his mind free from every kind of defilement.
He is indifferent to praise or cold reception. He does not become elated by the grandeur of welcome nor disappointed by the indifference of people. He is not proud of his learning nor disheartened by his ignorance. His life is one of quiet pilgrimage for liberation. He studies the scriptures, delivers discourses, indulges in self-analysis and repents for his lapses, if any. He
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