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340
S. B. DEO
He avoided plucking the grass, leaves, bark, bulbs and roots, fruits, flowers or trees. 668
Unattached to anything, he wandered as light and free as the wind
(vāda).669
The Period of Stay:
We have already referred to the fact that the monk had to stay at one place in the rainy season. But normally the monk stayed for one day in a village and for five days in a town.670 The four months of rain-retreat are seen to be interpreted by the commentator of Mūlācāra in various ways.
The first interpretation of the word 'māsa'671 was that the monk could stay at one place one month before the rainy season started, then the two months of the rainy season plus one month after it was over. Thus in all he stayed there for four months.
One reason given for his stay at a place a month in advance of the rainy season was that his stay was essential for the proper knowledge of the conditions around him (lokasthitijñāpanārtham). Another consideration was the strict practice of ahimsā which made it compulsory for him to restrict his movements, even before the actual downpour began, on account of slight overgrowth of vegetation all around (ahiṁsāvratapālanārtham). The cause of his stay for one month at the same place after the rains stopped was to redress the grievances of the laymen (śrāvakalokādi-sanklesapariharaņāya). Thus he had to act not only for his benefit but even for the benefit of the laity which had rendered all facilities to him during his stay there.
Another interpretation of 'māsa' was that the monk was allowed to wander one month and stay for one month in each stu except in the rainy season.
The third possibility was that in which the monk was asked to stay at one place during the rainy season and wander throughout the rest of the year on pilgrimage to different places.
On the whole, therefore, it seems that the monks were allowed to stay at one place for a period of one month during the eight months of an year excluding the rainy season.
668. Ibid., 9, 35-36. 669. Ibid., 9, 31. 670. Ibid., 9, 19 "gameyarādivāsī ņayare pañcahavasino dhīrā". 671. Ibid., 10, 18: comm. pt. II, pp. 104-105,
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