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HISTORY OF JAINA MONACHISM
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Time for Study:
The Oghaniryuktibhāsya244 lays down the rule that study was to be done after 'padilehana.'
The terms 'sūtrapauruşi' and 'arthapaurusi' suggest that there were two procedures -- one in which simply the reading of the text was done, or lessons were taken from the guru, and the other in which the meaning of the text was explained.
Places for Study:
The old rules of avoiding such places as were full of women, eunuchs and beasts, and where injury to living beings was likely to take place, still held good
In a place, however, which was close to he nunnery, no monk was allowed to recite the canon loudly at night, as that was likely to attract the nuns. The whole affair was likely to lead to mutual intimacy between a particular nun and the monk which proved a cause for their going astray. In such a place, therefore, all the monks recited the sūtra simultaneously so that it was difficult to find out sweet voices of particular monks.245
Higher Studies and Debates :
We have already seen that the practice of leaving one's gana and going to other ācāryas for higher studies was practised at the time of the Chedasütras. The same practice seems to have been current246 and the monks were allowed to meet reputed scholars and ācāryas while on tour.
There were debates frequently, and for this purpose the disciples were to prepare themselves not only in logic and religious philosophy, but also in the various regional languages and the tenets of rival faiths. Therefore, a major portion of the monk's life was spent in studies.
The views of Haribhadra on this point may be said to be liberal, and are after the manner of a person who craves for liberation. He remarks that "all the wise (budha) who are desirous of getting liberation, should grasp the meaning not only of one's own system (svasamaya), but also that of the rival sect (parasamaya), by tantra, nīti and yukti". 247
244. 173, (pp. 114b-115a). 245. Brh. kalp. bhā. Vol. III, 2264-71. 246. Ibid. Vol. V, 5425-31.
247. Vim. 11, 19. BULL. DCRI.-54
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