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it in every life. The more intimate the contact, the greater is likely 3) If perversion is repressed, would the sexual urge not come to be the attachment. Because of our greater contact with the sense out with explosive force? of touch, attachment for the opposite sex has become our trait. 4) Would the starvation of sexual instinct not give rise to
Celibacy is at variance with this long-standing trait. different psychosomatic and other diseases? Observance of celibacy is, however, desirable and is considered a 5) Is it not likely that an aspirant gets sick of repression and necessity under certain conditions. For instance, monks and nuns, gives up the monastic life? almost everywhere, are supposed to observe celibacy. How to ensure
6) Total insulation would mean that a man should not touch or effectively enforce the observance of celibacy under such
a woman or vice versa even for the sake of nursing or for other circumstances has therefore been engaging the attention of the
type of service. How is it justifiable? civilized societies.
Since males are considered more prone to pitfalls in this respect, the approach of the society has so far been to insulate them from
These questions relate to the pitfalls of the restrictive approach. female contact by segregating the two. Such insulation is supposed
We do come across cases of perversion and of giving up the to give protection to the observers of celibacy as a fence provides
renounced life particularly among the monks and of prevalence of protection to a growing plant. Those at the helm of the society
psychosomatic diseases among the nuns. Moreover, the code of have therefore devised a variety of segregating systems. In this respect
segregation results in untouchability of the worst type, in the sense Jainism lays down the following nine-fold code of conduct, which
that it forbids even touching of mother, sister or daughter by a is supposed to act as so many fences for protection of celibacy.
male celibate and of father, brother or son by a female. This can
hardly be considered desirable. While commenting on the restrictive 1) To stay in a place bereft of women, animals or eunuchs,
approach, Mahätmä Gandhi had therefore said that the celibacy 2) Not to talk or think about females,
that forbids one from touching his mother or sister is totally 3) Not to occupy a seat for 48 minutes after it has been made
worthless. As such, we need to consider whether there can be better, use of by females,
more sensible and more reliable ways of observing celibacy. 4) Not to look at the limbs of females,
Indulgence in sex takes place mainly because of two factors, i) 5) Not to occupy a place where there happens to be a couple
persons concerned have attachment for each other and ii) they behind the wall or partition,
experience pleasure with the sense of touch. While examining these 6) Not to recall the sensual activities, that had been indulged
two aspects in the following paragraphs, presentation has been made earlier,
mostly from the male point of view. That is, however, more or less 7) Not to take intoxicating food or beverages,
applicable to females as well and need to be interpreted as such. 8) Not to eat too much and highly enriched food,
Attachment results from attraction that usually arises because 9) Not to adorn or otherwise beautify the body.
males perceive beauty in females and are attracted towards them. The question to be considered here is whether attractiveness of
female is factual or it is simply a fancy of males. When we look These or such other restrictions, if rigorously enforced, can be
around us, we notice that the male elephant is more attractive helpful in preventing the physical contacts of males with females.
than his female, the lion is more attractive than the lioness, the The restrictions, however, give rise to the following questions.
peacock is more attractive than the peahen, the rooster is more attractive than the hen, the male sparrow is more attractive than
his female and so on. If these are the phenomena at large, how can Sadde Roove Ya Gandhe Ya Rase Phase Tahev Cha a human male be less attractive than a human female? Why does Panchvihe Kämgune Nichchaso Parivajjae
the man feel that his other half is more attractive? Can it not merely Mahävirväni be a reflection of his own attraction that he perceives in the mirror
of his beloved? Arising from sound, sight or smell, from taste or touch,
Moreover, a girl perceived as attractive by one man might be the five aspects of sensuality should be given up forever.
perceived as unattractive by another. How does it happen? Had
there been inherent attractive features and if the viewers had an 1) Can these restrictions help in overcoming the sexual instinct? identical perceiving capability, every viewer would perceive the same
2) If the instinct is not overcome, would the code not lead to degree of attractiveness. But the attraction remains subjective perversion by starving the body of its natural urge?
instead of objective. There is therefore a reason to believe that the
18/JAIN DIGEST. Summer 20004
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