Jainism a Glimpse

Author(s): Punyadarshanvijay
Publisher: Sanmarg Prakashan

Page 39

JAINA MONK :
Right faith and Right knowledge usually go together, one should have faith in the one who is a spiritual climax of positive dynamism, who is "Arhata"- Right Faith means, therefore the Faith in the Omniscient Teacher - "Arhata".
Right conduct prescribed by Jainism is very difficult to observe. But if you have "Right Faith" right behaviour will come in the natural course. A Jaina monk has no home of his own. He moves from village to village on bare foot. He does not shave but removes his hair by plucking. He keeps no extra clothes. He does not keep money. He meditates and prays in silence and solitude. He does not take bath, for there is life in water, (water itself is a living entity). He does not want to hurt anyone, he does not cook, because there is life in fire. Solicits his requirements by visiting several house - holders but accepts equivalent to only a few morsels per family just as a honey-bee gathers honey. He does not use vehicles in order to protect the life in particles of dust on the road. His every tissue and texture of life is becoming with reverence for life and this is the essence of Jainism.
From where does he get such enormous strength to observe "Right Conduct" prescribed by Jainism? The answer is rule of aspiration and strength. Higher the aspiration,higher is the flow of strength. "Right Faith" is the aspiration which is the highest in case of Jaina monks, and Right Conduct is born out of aspiration and it is also the highest. Therefore Jainism puts all its stress on "Right Faith". "Right knowledge" is a bridge between "Right Faith" and "Right Conduct." There are fundamental divisions of spiritual life, to which Jainism introduces us.
38