Notes on Modern Jainism

Author(s): Mrs Sinclair Stevenson
Publisher: Oxford

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MODERN JAINISM.
The greatest punishment the guru can inflict is to annul the ascetic's initiation and so “unfrock” him.
The guru is bound by the Scriptures to secresy with regard to Confession. (6) The ascetic must also pay Pieverence to his superiors
(Vinaya (9014). An ascetic who has no reverence
for his superiors will never gain heaven. (c) An ascetic must serve his superiors and the afflicted.
This is called Vaiyāvacca 4419224. He must bring water and food for his guru and massage him
when tired. (d) Neither must an ascetic neglect the duty of Study
(Svadhyāya 2916414). He must gain knowledge by reading, by questioning, by remembering, by
discussion, and by preaching (e) Meditation ( Dhyāna t411). There are two bad
ways of meditation which a monk is bound to renounce, z. e. wailing for the dead, and remembering with anger any personal injuries he may have suffered. He is however bound to meditate in the good ways, by being absorbed in religious thought, and by being so freed from earthly thoughts as to
be able to think of spiritual things. (7) The last interior austerity which an ascetic must
practise is absolute Indifference to his physical state (Utsargu @choi). In order to gain this indifference he sits in a particular position, which he must not change even if a serpent draw nigh!