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for a period of two days and meditates in a posture in which he stands with his legs slightly bent and his arms stretched to his knees. Other conditions remain unchanged.
12. Night Long Practice (Rātrikī Bhiksu Pratimā) – At this final stage of advanced monastic practice, the aspirant monk observes waterless fast for a period of three days and nights and meditates in a posture in which he keeps his body bent forward and keeps his arms outstretched. He keeps his eyes open and his gaze fixed on one inanimate object and bears all afflictions with equanimity. Other conditions remain unchanged. This practice is considered to be most critical and while its successful culmination may render the aspirant monk achieve great spiritual accomplishments such as clairvoyant perception or telepathic perception or even omniscience, failure may render him insane or afflicted with incurable malady.
These advanced practices used to be observed in the distant past and are no longer in current practice. The reason being lack of bodily prowess of the present day monks who lack the make and mettle of the monks of the days of yore. Also, for similar reasons, in those days too, these practices used to be carried out only by the monks and not by the nuns. Preparation And Practice Of Voluntary Death (Sallekhana Santhārā) –
The ascetics also undertake this practice for the same reasons and rationale as mentioned under the same heading in the part of this chapter on Householders' conduct. The practice is carried out in two parts - the preparatory part called Sallekhana and the practice part called Santhārā. Sallekhana is the preparatory penance in order to purify the soul by weakening the body and may extend up to a period of twelve years. After the preparatory
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