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144 The Concept of Pañcasila in Indian Thought
“Without observing 'brahmacarya', as without earning money in youth, one suffers from sorrows and worries in old age like a bird who lives in a pool without fish.”]
With so much stress on the principle of 'brahmacarya' in Buddhism, the precept of the monk takes its most rigorous form. The monk or nun is not supposed to indulge in any sexual act, great or small, not only pertaining to human females but also to goddesses, fairies etc., beasts and eunuchs.
Like the five bhāvanās or helping devices of Jaina mahāvrata, the Buddhist texts also speak of certain aids for the cultivation and maintenance of this vow, which point out that personal effort in implementation of the vow is basically important. Here a Japanese proverb may be quoted with aptness. It is said, "We cannot prevent the birds of evil from flying over our heads; but we need not allow them to build their nests in our hair."
Among these aids the first aid is that the monk or nun should avoid taking supplies of overrich and excessive food, which surpasses the limits of nourishing quality and becomes luxurious. This overplus food stimulates the reproductive functions and thus unnaturally stimulates sex. For this reason it seems that Buddha recommended only one substantial meal within twenty four hours.
Another aid towards keeping this powerful passion in proper subjection is the keeping of the body busy in wholesome activity by the right use of physical exercises. When the body and mind remain engaged in healthy exercises they will have little opportunity for indulging in unwholesome things. 1. raficat afset 350 TOT TI, जिण्णकोञ्चा वा झायन्ति खीणमच्छे व पल्लले ।
JDhammapada, 155. 2. Pārājika, pp. 35-37. 3. faltar a chuit fykerTË I
Khu. Pātha, Dasasikkhāpadas.
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