Book Title: Monks Dilemma
Author(s): S M Jain
Publisher: ABD Publisher

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Page 31
________________ 621 Monks 'Dilemma Monks' Dilemma 63 Shree and kept moving her eyes till she located Vibhu. She caught the Shree's hand and virtually dragged her to the place where Vibhu was chatting with Vibha. Deepti, "Shree did not tell us that she knew Vibhu. Shree has denounced the order of nuns and taken an extraordinarily bold decision against formidable odds and threats from her own community. It required a great effort and courage to win over her mindset as a result of intensive indoctrination exalting the life of nuns. She is now an eligible bride. I shall talk to Deepak if you approve my proposal." Shree and Vibhu blushed. Vibha answered, "I shall discuss it with Vijay and my parents." Deepak too joined and called Vijay also. They discussed the matter in detail. Vijay and Vibha promised to talk to the parents concerned and try to finalise the matter as early as possible." Deepti, "Please, Vijay recommend my proposal to Deepak also so that I and Shree are simultaneously married in as simple a ceremony as that of Vibha and yours." Deepak, Deepti and Shree had to catch their flight and departed exchanging greetings and promised to meet again soon. realising that decrying and denigrating the householders was like speaking against the very foundation and support system on which the entire edifice of monkhood stands and if they react, get annoyed and stop supporting because of continuing pestering and denying their importance, the institution of monkhood will not survive. He realised that the householders do a lot for monks and give everything they need but get nothing in return because monks, as a matter of fact, are incapable and incompetent to give anything to the householders, even advice as claimed by monks for the benefit of householders because the monks initiated at early age do not have any experience of problems of household and those who join late after living as a householder are generally those who became monks, being unable to face the challenges and problems of household and are therefore not competent to advise. He also felt that the claim of monks for better knowledge and understanding of scriptures and benevolence in imparting it to householders is also exaggerated. He knew that there are householders with academic interests, who are better versed in scriptures in spite of onerous household responsibilities and are invited and appointed to teach the very monks who claim to be superior. He had read in scriptures also about superiority of many householders who were more abstemious and stricter followers of the vows than monks. He was impressed by seeing transformation in Shradha now Shree as a householder. He found her happier than before when she was a nun. He could have not imagined that she would look so elegant and graceful in her new attire, her fair beautifully chiselled face sparkling bright in the background of her long black hair now fully grown which during monkhood were being repeatedly and periodically plucked The dialogue with Shree stirred the mind of Acharya Vinay and forced him to rethink about the relevance of monkhood and its traditions, rules, code of conduct, life style and process of recruitment and importance of householders. He was

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