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Monks 'Dilemma
Monks' Dilemma
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requirements of the body are necessary and that body should not be despised as monks and nuns are taught. Of course life style should be simple and needs should be managed as to not encroach on others including various constituents of nature, the soil, water, forests and numerous life forms as all these like human beings have their carrying or bearing capacities beyond which none should be burdened."
Acharya, "I am impressed. You are adapting to the new situation. You are looking healthier. The glow on your face is manifesting confidence, happiness and well being."
Shree, "I am in good health because I am not torturing my body by the forced ritual of fasting every alternate day, continuously for two, three, eight days and for a month and longer as I was conditioned to observe of my own or in competitive spirit with other nuns. I am now taking nutritious diet, breakfast of boiled cereals and milk at 8.a.m., lunch comprising wheat and rice preparations with two, three vegetables and pulses at 12.noon, and then I take seasonal fruits at 3.p.m. and lastly supper almost similar as lunch at 6.p.m. before sunset, the age old practice in our country which provides automatically three to four hours' gap between meals and sleep advised medically also. Under western influence people now take meals late at night and go to sleep soon after, which is the cause of gastric diseases. The glow on my face of course manifests my renewed confidence but is obviously because I have now full well grown dark hair which by contrast enhances the colour and beauty of my face. As a nun it was obligatory to pluck hair periodically by pulling forcefully in spite of excruciating pain to which also nuns get desensitised in due course of time as the nerve cells at root of hair get irreparably damaged. As nuns we are advised to follow non
violence so that no other life is hurt even slightly, yet we are required to pull out hair forcefully, causing pain to root cells and nerve cells which are also living entities like other life forms. Likewise prolonged fasting also kills innumerable living micro-organisms, the fauna and the flora in our body. This is outright violence and mockery of the mandatory vow of non-violence."
Acharya, "Your point of view is worth debating. I shall keep it mind during any future conference."
Deepak, "We beg leave of you to meet my parents."
Deepak went to see Prashant muni his father and Deepti and Shree to Pushpa sadhwi (earlier Phoolwati, Deepak's mother) and informed them about the permission of the Acharya to leave their religious bonds if they so desire. Both disagreed and said that they would wait for the decision of the conference of monks to be convened by the Acharya. Disappointed the three left for the venue of Ajeet's marriage.
Ajeet the bridegroom and Abha the bride were seated on exquisite chairs on the decorated stage. Abha was looking gorgeous in her bridal outfit and her gold and diamond jewellery. Deepak and Deepti went up the stage to congratulate them and gave the presents to the couple. Seeing Deepti Ajeet looked intensely at Abha to show his pride that he has got more beautiful and befitting wife than her. To humiliate and tease her he pointed his finger over the body of Abha from head to toe holding for a moment or so pointing specifically at her beautiful eyes, nose, cheeks, lips and the curves below. Deepti sensed this and getting down swiftly went to sit with
