Jainism For Beginners Level 02

Author(s): Sayampurnashreeji
Publisher: Sayampurnashreeji

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Gochari ALMS
z Vihar TRAVEL
ain Sadhus and Sadhvis do not
cook their food, do not get it prepared for them, and do not accept any food, which has been prepared for them. They go to different householders and receive a small amount of vegetarian food from each house. This practice is called Gochari. Just as cows graze the top part of grass by moving from place to place, taking a little at one place and a little at another, in the same way Jain Sadhus and Sadhvis do not take all their food from one house. They collect it from various houses. The reason Jain Sadhus/Sadhvis accept a small amount of food and not all the food from one house is because this way the householders will not have to cook again.
JAIN ASCETICS (SADHUS & SADHVIS)
Pain Sadhus and Sadhvis
always walk bare footed and continuously travel from one place to another. They do not use any vehicle like bullock cart, car, boat, ship, plane or train for traveling. Whether it is cold weather or scorching sun; whether the road is rough, unpaved, or full of thorns, whether it is burning hot desert sand or sun-baked asphalt.they do not wear any footwear at any time. They move about on bare feet all their life. The reason for not wearing shoesis that while walking, they can avoid crushing the bugs or insects on the ground. When they travel from place to place, they preach religion (Dharma) and provide proper spiritual guidance to people. They do not stay more than a few days in any one place except during the rainy season, which is about four months in duration. The reason they do not stay anywhere permanently or for a long period in one place is to avoid developing an attachment for material things and the people around them. The Sadhus and Sadhvis generally do not go out at night. The place where they stay is called Upashray or Paushadha Shala. They may stay in places other than the Upashray if those places are suitable to the practice of their disciplined life and if they do not disturb or impede the code of conduct.
The cooking process involves much violence in the form of fire, vegetable chopping, water consumption, etc.. and Sadhus or Sadhvis do not want to be a part of any violence due to their needs. They do not receive food standing outside the house: but they go inside the house where food is cooked or kept. This way they can understand the situation that their accepting food will not require the householders to cook again. They accept food, which is within the limit of their vows.
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