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Nigganthe nigganthis ņāvam āruhamāņi vā, orohamāņim vā, ginhamāne vă, avalambamāne vā, nātikkamati
- Sthănặnga s@tra, 5.2.
That is, - A monk who supports or holds a nun who slips or falls in a slippery or a difficult place does not flout the dictates of Lords Jina.
A monk who supports or holds a nun who is stuck in muddy place and drowning in water does not flout the dictates of Lords Jina.
A monk who supports or holds a nun who is climbing in or climbing out of a boat does not flout the dictates of Lords Jina.
Comments - The exceptions mentioned in the Sthānānga sūtra indicate that to save the life of a nun in difficulty or danger is more important than the flaw of touching her. It is so because the monk so saving her life is motivated by the feeling of saving a life rather than by his lust for touching her. Therefore, it is an acceptable exception in the monastic conduct. When even the monks have been permitted to save lives in such cases, there is no difficulty in saving lives for the householders. Such exceptions in respect of monks and nuns are also mentioned in other scriptures such as Kalpa sutra, Vyavahāra sūtra, etc...
Nigganthassa ya acchissi pāņe vā, bīye vā, rae vā, pariyāvajjejjā, tam ca nigganthe no sañcāei niharittae vā visohettae vā | Tam ca niggnthi niharamāni vā visohemānī vā nāikkamai - Kalpa sūtra Uddeśaka 6.
That is, - If any fine creature like a mosquito, etc., or a seed or a dust-speck falls in the eye of a monk and the monk is unable to take it out and a nun takes it out or helps him take it out, she does not flout the dictates of Lords Jina.
Comments - In this aphorism of the Kalpa sūtra it has been said that under exceptional circumstances the touching of a monk by a nun in order to help him out of his pain or misery has not been considered
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Positive Non-Violence
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