Religious Prayascittas according to old Jaina Ritual

Author(s): Collete Caillat
Publisher: Z_Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_Mahotsav_Granth_Part_1_012002.pdf and Mahavir_Jain_Vidyalay_Suvarna_

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102 SHRI MAHAVIRA JAINA VIDYALAYA GOLDEN JUBILEE VOLUME
process should not be solely a negative, but also a positive one. monk should confess, repent, blame (his fault in front of his conscience), reprove it (in front of the guru), turn away and be cleansed of it, he should firmly resolve not to do it again, and, finally, perform the adequate payacchitta consisting in austerities: aloejjā padikkamejja nindejjá garahejjā viuṭṭejja visohejja akaraṇayde abbhutthejja ahá'riham tavokammam payacchittam paḍivajjejjā (Vav 1, 35; cf. 6, 10 f.; 7, 1; K 4, 25).
Other canonical treatises insist on the benefits that can be derived from aloyaṇā.63
The Vavahara 1, 35 teaches the correct procedure: when he has committed a fault, the bhikkhu should address his confession to his religious superiors, the ayariya and the uvajjhaya; if they are absent, he turns to ordinary monks, preferably of his own, or else of another sambhoga; or even, if none of all these are present, to a layman who will have been asked to carry the religious paraphernalia, and thus will have been given the appearance of a monk (särüviyam); the sutta moreover mentions the pious sanctuaries (sammaṁ-bhāviyāiṁ); if all these are wanting, the bhikkhu should stand in an isolated place and humbly confess to the Saints and Perfect Ones (arahantānam siddhanam antie).
Because it is no easy task to confess, the superior must show the utmost kindness to the culprit and go out of his way to help him as far as he can.64 As for the monk, he should confess straightforwardly and confidently, like a child talking to his parents:
jaha balo jampanto kajja-m-akajjaṁ ca ujjuyam bhanai.65
To make sure that the confession is honest, the confessors have it repeated three times : 66 if the three accounts are identical, they are held to be true:
63
Uttar 29, 5; cf. Mahänisiha 1, 16; 31 f.; §.13. Compare VavBh 1, 134 NisBh 6 391, according to which he who has confessed feels light, happy, etc..
64 Cf. VavȚ III 39 b 12 ff.; 40 b 2; IV 18 b 5 ff. Hence, nine qualities are required from the superior, VavBh 1, 337-338, ten qualities from the culprit, ibid. 339 b-340 a.
=
65 Quoted ad VavBh 1, 133 NisBh 6 392 Ohanijj. 801; cf. Mahānisîha 1,199 a.
66 In conformity with the technique of the śruta-vyavaharin as opposed to that of the agama-vyavaharin, who never errs, and therefore does. not need the help of any stratagem.