________________
64
The Concept of Pancasila in Indian Thought
with the duty of saving the life of the nun, which is rooted in the positive aspect of non-violence.
It is also posited at another place that a monk can eat a fresh mango fruit, which is prohibited under ordinary circumstances, if it helps in the cure of disease, or at the time when he is starving. Under such conditions it is said that the vow of non-violence is not violated.l
Many more examples of exceptions with regard to the vow of non-violence can be cited, which can show that stringent rules of the Jaina monks could have been elastic as well, if a real situation demanded that. However, undue resort to these exceptions is not regarded as desirable, for it may create laxity and laziness among the monks; nor is overrigidity in rules to the extent of accepting death than resorting to the exceptions is rational and acceptable in the Jaina monastic code of conduct. “What is needed is the relative evaluation of the circumstances under which one happens to be, and the clearcut understanding of the acceptance or non-acceptance of exceptions to a general rule."2 Actually, the helping device of manogupti should be the most important means to impose a check upon oneself.
Transgressions, Atonements and punishments
So far the discussion pertained to the general precept of monks' non-violence or ‘non-violence as it should be.' The following discussion will deal with the impurities or deviations in the monk's vow of non-violence. Before directly dealing with the transgressions of the vow as such it is.
बितिय पदमणप्पज्झे, भुजे अविकोविए व अप्पज्झे; जाणते वा वि पुणो, गिलाण अद्धाण ओमे वा । खित्तादिगो अणप्पज्झो वा भुजति, सेहो अविकोवियत्तणओ अजाणतो रोगोवसमणिमित्तं वेज्जुवदेसितो गिलाणो वा भुंजे अद्धाणोमेसु व असंथं
ar putar faggi - Nišitha Bhā. 15.4695 2. Jaina Monastic Jurisprudence-S. B. Deo, p. 15.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
