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Jaina Acara: Siddhanta aura Svarupa
161
possible only when deviations and deformities are got rid of. The uninhibited rise of one passion invites others. It turns out to be a Satanic rule. To transform it into divine Law is the aim of life for which everybody should exert in order to achieve it.
(3) Bhiksacarī - A spiritual aspirant collects alms but he is not a beggar. The beggar has no code of conduct. He takes whatever good or bad, even money is thrown at him. He eulogises the donor and humbly begs so as to excite his compassion. He even abuses a person if he blankly refuses to give him any crumbs. The Jaina monks and nuns feel gratified and householders feel obliged. They are always contented and have no ill-will against a householder who offers them unacceptable food or at times nothing at all. They take food not from one or a fixed house. They cannot afford to be burdensome to the laity. They move out like a cow and also take food as it does.
Jinadasagani and Haribhadra say' "A cow grazes whatever grass good or bad, comes her way. She does not uproot or hurt any grass but goes on grazing from one end to the other. So also a hermit who takes whatever is not specifically meant for him and what does not contain life." Wedded as he is to non-violence, he must not knowingly hurt even a one-sensed being, not to talk of crushing it. He does not mind if the food offered is sweet or sour, smooth or rough. His is 'gocari'; his attitude is fixed on "madhukari". It has been recorded in holy books that he is to accept food from high, middle-class or low families without distinction. He must not enter a hated house or when some owner forbids him to enter his house or where he is suspected of being a spy or having illicit relations with some inmate or where the giver is inimically disposed to him. He should ask for alms from those who have regard for him, from those who would never offer anything with life or in which there may be some trace of violence.
A black-bee hovering round flowers collects a little from this and a little from that but without hurting flowers, so does a mendicant who collects not all that he needs from one house. He satisfies his hunger, like the bee, from what he is offered at different houses. It is called 'Vṛttisanksepa' because he cannot be a chooser. When he looks for something warm, he may be given stale, rough food; when he looks for something sweet and juicy, he may be given some hard substance. He shallnot have any desire in this regard. He does not injure any being; asks none else to do it and never supports it. He does not cook nor gets things cooked for him; he does not purchase anything nor gets things purchased for him. His food is pure in all the nine ways. Whatever he has, he has received by way of alms. To ask for a thing is demeaning oneself. If he is not given what he asked for or given something tainted he has ever to be watchful, since he may not be given what he had asked for or given tainted or unacceptable stuff. He has to save the food from forty-two defects.
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