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FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS
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sun the pain of the scratches will grow insupportable, but the ascetic who cheerfully endures this pain (Trinasparśa p.) knows that he is impeding karma. If a monk is given water that has been previously boiled, he is allowed to sponge his body or wash his clothes with it, but he may never bathe or wash his clothes in a running stream; when an ascetic feels dirty and sticky and hot, he must never allow his mind to rest on the delicious joy and refreshment of a bathe, but is told, on the contrary, that by enduring the horror of feeling dirty in his body (Mela p.) he is benefiting his soul (!), and practising the noble excellent Law, he should carry the filth on his body till he expires '.1
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It is a perilous moment for a monk when he is praised; but if he can listen with absolute indifference (Satkāra p.), he has obstructed the inflow of karma; and, vice versa, hc must also carefully perform the easier task of hearing himself blamed unmoved. Even without being actually praised by others, a man may become puffed up through realizing the extent of his own learning and accomplishments: such feelings must be sternly repressed (Prajñā p.) if karma is to be checked. To other monks there comes the opposite temptation to be cast down at the thought of their own ignorance (Ajñāna p.), but this also must be endured with indifference. Finally, when enduring hardships or studying other religions, a monk must never allow a doubt as to the value of asceticism or the truth of his own religion to enter his mind, but must be willing to endure martyrdom rather than change his faith (Samyaktva p.).
Duties of Monks.
An ascetic can also stop the inflow of karma by faithfully The ten observing his ten great duties, which in a lesser degree are binding on the laity also. The first of these duties is forgiveness (Kṣama): every day and every moment of the day a monk must learn to control his anger, and instead of giving way to wrath practise the difficult duty of forgiveMonks are constantly reminded of how Mahāvīra
ness.
1 Uttaradhyayana, S. B. E., xlv, p. 14.
