Mahavir Foundation 1997 11 London 10th Anniversary

Author(s): Mahavir Foundation
Publisher: Mahavir Foundation

Page 50

MAHAVIR FOUNDATION 10th Anniversary Issue
November 1997
- These karmas are
1, Gyanavarniya- this Karma obscures knowledge. 2. Darshnavarniya- this Karma obscures vision
and cognition. 3. Mohaniya-obstructs conduct and faith 4. Antaraya-Antaraya prevents good action. 5. Vedaniya-produces feelings and emotions. 6. Ayu-determines the life-span of the individual 7. Nama-this Karma gives factors of individuality,
8. Gotra-this Karma destines family surroundings After paying homage to Arihanta and Siddha- the 'Gods'; three teachers are remembered. They areAcharya- the head of the group, Upadhyaya - a monk in the middle rank' and the Sadhu- an ordinary monk These three have their own virtues or are associated with attributes The Acharya has 36 virtues, Upadhyay has 25 virtues and Sadhu has 27 virtues
The 36 virtues of a guru are well defined in Pratikraman Sootra* These 36 virtues are the following: - (a) The control of the five senses of touch, hear, smell, sight and taste (b) The nine limitations of celibacy - avoiding direct contact with the opposite sex, avoiding tempting talk, avoiding a common seat, not observing or looking at bodies or pictures which might corrupt the mind, avoiding places which might corrupt one's mind, avoiding such memories and thoughts, avoiding wrong, plentiful food and avoiding cosmetics, (c) Five different ways of practising good conduct- with knowledge, faith, virtues, austerities and total strength and dedication. (d) The four kashayas -- anger, greed, deceit and pride. (e) The five vows - Non-violence, truth, non-stealing, non-acquisition and celibacy. (f) Panch samiti:- The five restrictions of taking care when walking, speaking, eating and the care of accepting one's needs and discarding what is surplus and unnecessary. (g) Three Guptis:- The three ultimate means to achieve the above - the condition that neither mind, speech nor body should be part of any bad action). = 36 in all
Attributes of UpadhyayThese are 25He has learnt eleven main scriptures and twelve subsidiary scriptures. He is practising one complete set of rules (There are 70 rules) for right conduct and one set of rules (There are 70 rules again) for practical conduct befitting a monk. These are 25 in all.
Sadhu has 27 attributesThese are-They take six vows. They protect all six types of living beings, They have a control over five senses and obey ten religious basic commandments.
Though these list is probably a very old one, one is always puzzled why these types of attributes are associated with specially Acharya, Upadhyaya and Sadhu. The 36 virtues quoted for Acharya are the one associated with a Guru. Now believing that Gurus are Acharyas or Acharyas can only be a true Guru, these virtues are proper and complete. But then 25 virtues associated with Upadhyaya and 27 with Sadhu are more puzzling. Surely it does not mean that the virtues attributed to sadhu are that for sadhus only. Sadhu's virtues list protecting six types of lives but then Upadhyay also protect six types
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