Mokshamala

Author(s): Manu Doshi
Publisher: Manu Doshi

Page 54

3 Seat: A celibate should not sit with a woman on the same seat, nor should he occupy one within 48 minutes after a woman has vacated it. Occupying such a seat leads to the memory of that woman. The lord has said that it leads to arousal of sexual instinct
4 Observing a female body: A celibate monk should not look at the limbs of a woman. Concentrating on some limbs leads to rise of enticement.
5 Across partition: A celibate should not stay in a partitioned compartment, where a couple might be having sex behind the partition of bamboo, curtain etc. Their words, movement etc. can lead to rise of excitement.
6 Recalling the earlier play: A celibate should not recall the sexual play indulged earlier during the lay life, because that leads to breach of celibacy.
7 Rich eatables: A celibate should not generally take rich foods like milk, yogurt, ghee, sweets etc. Such articles lead to increase in semen, which in turn leads to excitement and arousal of sexual instinct.
8 Excessive intake: A celibate should not fill his belly with food, nor should he take in too much, because that leads to rise of sexual excitement.
9 Decoration: A celibate should not go in for bath, ointment, flowers etc. because they tend to compromise the celibacy.
The Lords have stipulated these nine hedges for observing pure celibacy. You might have heard about it. They are given here briefly for those, who intend to observe temperance in lay life at least on certain days.
Lesson 70: Sanatkumär, Part 1
Can there be any dearth in the splendor of a sovereign ruler? Sanatkumär was such a sovereign ruler. Incomparable were his charm and complexion. They were once adored in the heavenly assembly, but two heavenly beings could not believe it. In order to remove their doubt they came to Sanatkumär's palace in the guise of Brahmins. That time Sanat's body was starchy and smeared with ointments. He had put on a piece of cloth and was going to take bath. Those heavenly beings, guised as Brahmins, were highly impressed by looking at his charm, golden complexion and moon-like brightness. As they moved their heads in assent, the ruler asked the reason thereof. The heavenly beings said:
"We had been keen to see your complexion and handsomeness. Everywhere we had heard praising words about the same. We are highly pleased to see it vividly today. Our moving of heads was in token of our approval that your handsomeness is truly in accordance with what the people talk about; it could be more, but in no way less than that."
Sanatkumär felt proud of his adorable handsomeness and said, "The handsomeness that you notice in my present state is okay, but my complexion and handsomeness are worth looking at when I am in the royal assembly sitting on throne, fully dressed and adorned. At present my body is starchy, but if you look at it in the court, you would find it miraculous and would feel amazed." Thereupon those heavenly beings said that they would come to the court and left.
Thereafter Sanatkumär put on highly valuable clothes and ornaments. Then with perfumes etc. he made the body as attractive as possible. Then he came to the court and sat on the throne. His proficient secretaries, commanders, learned men and other members occupied their seats around him; the ruler was being hailed with praising words and greeted with umbrellas over his head. That time those heavenly beings arrived