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INTRODUCTION TO JAINISM
straight spines and raised heads. As a result of self-imposed avoidance of shaving implements, they remove their hairs, beards and moustaches by pulling the hairs out of their heads and faces with their own hands. That has been the habit for millennia. It struck me how balanced their way of walking was, and to this I have seen no exception. Apparently they were not only outwardly innocent like babies, but also inwardly.
Their day begins early, at 4 in the morning, and in isolation from the outside world. But in other respects they live a public life. Every truly respectful person may walk in and out of the temple throughout the day and see what is going on there. But at a fixed hour (around 10 o'clock) the nude monks, after taking their daily vows, walk one by one, calm, silent and smiling, in a long line out of the temple. Not every one of them, because some have taken a vow to fast that day, and skip eating and drinking for another 24 hours. They always wear their compulsory broom of peacock feathers to softly brush aside tiny living creatures which otherwise they might have stepped on. They are awaited by lots of householder women, and brahmāchārinīs dressed in white saris, and some men also, who approach them with deep bows while all the time calling, “namustu, swami, namustu” - "be greeted, swami, be greeted” (photo 2), until a monk stops at a group of his choice. The group then starts a respectful and devout circular movement around him, three times, while the monks remain motionless. They are the ones who will provide him with food that day. Monks possess nothing, so no cooking utensils or crockery either, and thus depend for their food and drink entirely on others. Of course there are severe prescriptions for those who prepare the food. First they are worshiped and then given food. The most important thing is that no living being may be harmed during the process. The meal the men and women have prepared is carefully and conscientiously investigated before it is placed or poured into the hands of the monk. He grasps nothing; he only accepts For Personal & Private Use Only
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