Book Title: Jains Today in World
Author(s): Pirre Paul AMIEL
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

View full book text
Previous | Next

Page 260
________________ Their Ascetics : 215 1) to renounce, during the day and the night that follows, all sinful thought, word and activity. That is called the “sāmāyika”, 2) to praise several times each day the 24 Tarthankara. That is called the “caturvimśatistava. 3) to greet with respect his "guru” for a monk, her "guruņi” for a nun, the senior monks or nuns, the "Acārya”, “Upadhyāya" and “Bhattāraka” according to the obedience. The greeting includes to ask forgiveness for the transgressions of the day or of the night according to the moment and to recite a specific “mantra”. That is called the "guru vandana". 4) to proceed to self-examination (ālocană), ritual confession and common repentance, with the recitation of long "sūtra” on monastic obligations. That is called the “pratikramana", 5) to abstain from certain foods and beverages for a particular period of time. The "guru” or the “guruņi" may add some other abstentions. This rite comprises the recitation of specific“ sūtra”. It is called the “pratyākhyāna.” 6) to renounce the body, by remaining motionless while standing, sitting or lying down in case of health problems or old age, while reciting the “Namokāra Mantra” and to do a profound concentration of mind (dhyāna). This rite must be performed, every day, for at least one Indian “muhūrta”. Very harsh, it is to purify the body and to help the ascetic to be aware the body is distinct from the soul. Such rite must lead the ascetic to become more and more detached from the body and so to arrive to remove all the “karma" that drives the soul to imperfection, transgression, ignorance, etc. Such specific Jain posture may have a tantric character, in particular among the Śvetāmbara. It is the “kāyotsarga" (abandonment of the body). Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360