History of Jaina Monachism

Author(s): S B Deo
Publisher: Deccan College Research Institute

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S. B. DEO
played an important role in the existence not only of Jainism but also of Jaina monachism in the best possible orthodox traditions. This conservative minded laity conscious of its role in the Church has also proved to be a check on the moral discipline of the monks, 49 and has been successful in keeping away their monachism from facing liquidation which Buddhist monachism had to do in India.
Distinctions of Buddhist and Jaina Monachisms :
The role of Jaina and Buddhist types of monachism was not, therefore, merely to have a system for system's sake. They implied breaking away from worn out grooves of thought and an idealisation of monastic life. They were, in short, "essentially pessimistic in worldly outlook, metaphysically dualistic if not pluralistic, animistic and ultra humane in its ethical tenets, temperamentally ascetic, undoubtedly accepting the dogma of transmigration and karma doctrine, owing no racial allegiance to Vedas and Vedic rites, subscribing to the belief of individual perfection, and refusing unhesitatingly to accept a creator" 50
The aim of the thesis :
Such being the character of Jaina monachism, it has played an important part in the ideological revolutions pertaining to religious life in India.
The evaluation of the role of Jaina monachism, therefore, is attempted in the following pages firstly by a minute study of Jaina literature, secondly by noting the influence it had on other aspects of Indian life, and lastly by the observation of the actual practice of monastic life by the Jaina monks today.
49. For a few instances of this see GLASENAPP Jainismus, Guj. tran. pp. 339-40. 50. UPADHYE, Pro. pref. pp. 12-13; Brhatkathākośa, Intr. p. 12.