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THE JAINA GAZETTE
that it is easier to go wrong when by one self than when in the company of the righteous. Besides, there may be occasions when one does not know precisely what is the line of conduct to be followed in a given case. He can then obtain the advice of the others who are better qualified to speak on the subject. For confession also one requires a leader of great experience to fix the nature of the penance due, before absolution can be deemed to have been obtained.
Jaina saints should not stay in a locality where the passions are easily excited, where respect is not shown to the pious and the good, where people are grossly ignorant, where temptations are many and numerous, where gaily-dressed females are proIninent every where, where there is much discontent and where they themselves have to face much trouble. Similarly, the place where there is anarchy, or where the king is unjust, where it is difficult to obtain food, where the people are not interested in dharma or the adoption of the saintly life, and where samyama (self-control) is interfered with, is not to be approached by the
ascetics.
The saint should avoid transgressions, partial and entire, of his vows and be ever eager to work off his sins by means of confession and suitable penance. The partial transgressions of vows are variously termed atikarma, vyatikarma, and atichara and their entire violation is anachara. More particularly,
Atikarma is the intention to transgress, i.c., the entertainment of desire for sense-indulgence; Vyalikarma is the preparation for the act of sense-indul
gence;
Atichara is the qualified or partial indulgence in opposition to the purport of the vow; and
Anachara is the direct and complete violation of its sanctity.
The saint must avoid these transgressions as far as possible, and if a fault is committed he should at once purge out its poison by means of the necessary penance. The true saint is endowed with eighteen thousand excellent virtues which may
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
