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Teachings of Mahāvīra
121
suffer violently. When death really comes, the fool trembles in fear. He dies against his will. Some householders are indeed superior to some monks of self-control. But the saints .are verily superior to all householders in self-control. A faithful man should practise the rules of conduct meant for householders. He should never neglect the fast. Those who are trained in self-control and penance, whether monks or householders, and those who have obtained liberation by the absence of passions, go straight to the highest regions. The virtuous and the learned do not tremble in the hour of death. A wise man will become calm through patience and will have an undisturbed mind at the time of death. When the right time for death has come, a faithful monk should in the presence of his teacher suppress all emotions of fear or joy, and wait for his end. When the time for quitting the body comes the sage dies willingly.1 ON DISCIPLINE
A wise man should not be angry if reprimanded. He should rather, be a man of forbearing temperament. Nor should he associate with mean persons and be guilty of doing anything mcan (chandālija) or evil. He should mcditatc by himself after having learnt his lessons. He should never refuse to confess if he does anything mean. He should not speak unasked for. He should not tell a lie when asked. If the self is subdued, a person will be happy. It is better to subduc onc's own self by self-control and penance than be subducd by others with fetters and corporal punishment. He should never do anything disagreeable to his superiors cither in words or deeds, openly or secretly. He should never remain silent if spoken to by his superiors. He should always approach his tcacher politcly. An intclligent pupil will rise from his scat and answer the teacher's call modestly and attentively. A good pupil has the best opinion of his icacher, for he thinks that his tcacher treats him like his own son or brother. He should not provoke his tcacher's anger, nor should he himself lose his 1. Athu, 1, 7, S. 2. Lilleri, I, 16. 3. Ibid, I, 21.
