Book Title: Jaina Culture
Author(s): Mohanlal Mehta
Publisher: P V Research Institute Varanasi

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Page 130
________________ CONDUCT 121 In the first part he should study, in the second he should meditate, in the third he should sleep and in the fourth he should study again. Thus, out of the eight parts of a day and night four are mainly for study, two are for meditation, one is for food and drink and one is for rest. Study includes reading or recital, questioning, repetition, pondering and religious discourse. Meditation or contemplation should be inquisitive and metaphysical. In the first quarter of the first part of the day the ascetic should inspect his implements, pay his respects to the superior and then begin to study. In the third part he should beg food and drink for any of the following six reasons: 1. To quench hunger and thirst, 2. to serve the teacher, 3. to observe the rules of self-control, 4. to comply with the rules about walking, 5. to save one's life and 6. to meditate on the Law. The ascetic may omit to beg food for the following six reasons: 1. In case of illness, 2. in case of a disaster, 3. to preserve one's chastity, 4. out of compassion for living beings, 5. in the interest of penance and 6. to court voluntary death. In the fourth part of the day the ascetic should put away his almsbowl after having taken his meal and begin to study. In its last quarter he should pay his reverence to the superior and after having performed expiation of sins (transgressions) concerning the day (daivasika pratikramana) he should inspect his lodging. He should also inspect the place where his excrement and urine are to be discharged. Similarly, he should perform expiation of sins concerning the night (rātrika pratikramana) in the last quarter of its fourth part. He is, as a rule, required to abstain from all killing, lying, stealing, sexual intercourse and attachment. Correct Behaviour : : Monks (at least two in a group) should be content to live in a burial-place or cremation-ground, in a deserted

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