Book Title: ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04
Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

View full book text
Previous | Next

Page 358
________________ evening. 64 The great Am tacandra says that the householder should consider the act of S m yika as obligatory and perform it at least twice a day, i.e., in the morning and evening.65] He further remarks that its performance at other times will conduce towards the enhancement of the spiritual and moral characteristics, hence it is not improper, but beneficial (66) Sitting and standing postures are generally recommended for the performance of Sm yika.67] 3 Posture 4 Meditation The aspirant should purge the mind of sensual pleasures by concentrating on the sermons of the Jina, adopt submissive and surrendering gestures, and finally, either repeat the devotional hymns mentally or absorb himself in self-meditation; [68) and three folds purity of mind, body and vocal 3.6 Nature of Pro adhopav savrata Samantabhadra [69) and others, enunciate (70) the Pro adhopav savrata as 'renouncing the four kinds of food on the eighth and fourteenth lunar days in each fortnight'. Probably keeping in view the infirmness of disciples, K rttikeyanuprek also includes the eating of unseasoned food once a day in the Pro adhopav savrata, and Amitagati!12) and dhara173) also comprise the taking of only water in this Vrata. The observance of this Vrata requires the performance of meditation, the study of spiritual literature, and the avoidance of bath, perfumes, bodily embellishment, ornaments, cohabitation and household affairs. 174) The r vaka Prajñapti prescribes that the relinquishment of food, bodily embellishment, cohabitation; household affairs should be affected either partially or completely in the Pro adhopav savrata. As regards the place for the performance of this Vrata, a temple, the abode of S dhus, a Pro adhopav savrata or any holy place should be chosen for one's stay (75) 3.7 Nature of Atithisa vibh gavrata He who offers four kinds of gifts to deserving recipients is pursuing the Atithisa vibh gavrata.l76) Four kinds of gifts have been recognised; namely, food, medicine, books and fearlessness. (77) Food, medicine, Upakara a religious accessories) and the place of shelter is the other list of four objects. (78) All these things should be worthy of the P tras. Only such things should be given as are useful for the pursuance of studies and for practicing austerities of a very high quality, and as do not bring about attachment, aversion, incontinence, pride, sorrow, fear and the like. [79] Just as water washes away blood, so proper gifts to saints would for certain wipe off the sins accumulated on account of the unavoidable household affairs. The paying of obeisance to the holy saints causes noble birth; the giving of D na to them entails prosperous living; their servitude promotes high respect; their devotion determines gracious look; and the extolling of their virtues brings about celebrity. 181) Vasunandi tells us that the gift to P tras is just like a seed sown in a fertile land; the gift to Kup tras is just like a seed sown in a semi-fertile land; and the gift to Ap tras is just like a seed sown in a barren land. 182] 4.1 Eleven Pratim s: (Eleven Stages for Becoming Excellent r vaka) The eleven Pratim s are denominated Dar ana, Vrata Sm yika Pro adha, Sacittaty ga, R tribhuktity ga B hm c rya, rambhaty ga Parigrahaty ga, Anumatity ga, Uddistaty ga 83 Page 348 of 556 STUDY NOTES version 4.0

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567