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BRAHMESHANANDA: JAIN MONASTICISM
109 All these vows are to be practised in the thrice threefold way', i.e. the monk must not transgress them himself, nor cause somebody else to do so, nor consent to others doing so, either mentally, vocally or physically.
The Daśavaikālika Sūtra adds a sixth vow, viz abstaining from taking the night meal. 13
These Mahāvratas, specially ahimsā, form the basis of Jain monasticism, and have led to the formation of numerous rules, and regulations, as well as exceptions to the rules to deal with unusual situations.
Samitis and Guptis
The practice of ahiṁsā is strengthened by five samitis and three guptis. 14 The five samitis prescribe carefulness regarding movement (iryā), speech (bhāsā), begging (esanā), receiving and keeping things (adāna-niksepana) and excretory function (utsarga). The three guptis consist of control of mind, speech and body. The tenfold religion (dharma) of the monk consists of forbearance, modesty, uprightness, truthfulness, purity, restraint, austerity, renunciation, nonattachment, and continence.15
Parisaha
Twenty two parisahas pertain to the troubles and hardships a monk is often subjected to, and which he must conquer by patience and forbearance. These include troubles due to hunger and thirst, heat and cold, mosquitoes and flies, nakedness, wandering life, uncomfortable lodging, illness, insults and abuses, want of things required, etc. 16
13. (a) Dasa-vaikälika Sūtra, Tr. by Kastur Chand Lalwani, Motilal
Banarsidass, Delhi, 1973. Ch. 4 (b) Samana Suttam, Sarva Seva Sangha,
Varanasi, 1975, verse 382. 14. (a) Uttarādhyayana Sūtra, tr. by H. Jacobi in Jain Sūtras, 2:1-232. Sacred
Books of the East, Vol. 45, Ch. XXIV. (b) Samana Suttam, op.cit., verse
384. 15. (a) Tattvārtha Sūtra, op.cit, IX-6. (b) Samana Suttam, op.cit., 84. 16. Uttaradhyayana Sutra, Ch. II.
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