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Monks 'Dilemma
Monks' Dilemma
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sacred scriptures and on the basis of that knowledge they preach householders. Of course you are right that they do not have experience of the problems of the householders and may not be able to suggest proper solutions. Our main objective is spiritual."
Deepti, “I am not able to grasp the relevance of nakedness in a civilised society. People other sects do not like and rather hate it. Their women despise and feel it very repulsive. There should be an element of shame while living and moving in a civilised society."
Acharya, "Digamber form is total relinquishing, devoid of any possession. It is to observe the vow of non possession in totality. It also represents the innocence of a child who also remains naked."
Deepti, "No one despises the naked children but as they grow up they are required to be properly dressed. Children do not have ugly hair growth on genitals and it is very disgusting in adults. As regards non possession you do have the broom and water pot and you can have one more, just a little loin cloth. I have seen the articles being transported when monks of your sect shift to other town. They are in truck loads much more in number and quantity than of any ordinary householder. My other question is about your process of taking food. You keep some hidden conditions to take food at any household. I am told that the idea behind this is to make conditions more and more difficult to get food with the objective to avoid taking food and observe forced fasts. This is very strange and contradicts your own actions. You want to take food and therefore you come out to have it and simultaneously you prefix conditions to avoid it. I have one more question and that is about your make shift toilets. They are in the open and the heat of the sun would kill the very
microorganisms you want to save fearing that these would perish in modern flush toilets. Your faeces and urine have to be cleaned by poor helpless sweepers every day though it is against government rules. In fact the microorganisms will not die in flush tanks where the environment is more congenial for them than under the hot sun."
Seeing the Acharya nonplussed and in predicament to answer or not the president of the committee asked Deepak to proceed to the venue where he has to chair the first session of the seminar. The Acharya will also be coming and further there are eminent scholars there. Deepti's questions can be discussed there.
The Seminar started at 3 p.m. after the time consuming preliminaries of welcoming and honouring the chairman, chief guest, special guests and scholars. The time allotted for each speaker was ten minutes only and there was no time for questions. Deepti was disappointed and thought that such seminars do not serve any useful purpose except giving the opportunity to participants to meet each other at the expense of organisers who do all this to satisfy their ego by getting credit and accolades for the arrangements. Only twelve speakers could present the summaries of their papers till 6.p.m. which was time for evening meals. Deepti was preparing notes and handed over a brief to Deepak for his concluding address as the chairman of the session.
Deepak was very brief in his address, "I shall not take much of your time. I shall be committing sin by delaying you for evening meals. This will be harmful to me also as I shall overload myself with 'Antaraya' Karmic matter. I represent the modern educated youth with a scientific temper. To me the relevance of very consecration is questionable. Nothing special happens to inanimate idols by such extravaganza.
