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What is Sallekhanā ?
DA
standing, he may sit down or walk about. He should regulate the motions of his organs. If the place becomes swarmed with insects, he should search for a cleaner place without remaining at a place which is likely to give rise to sin. He should be free from sin and bear all pains. He should meet his death calmly. 8
Padapopagamana or Pāoavagamana is a still more difficult method. A monk should not stir from one's place and check all motions of the body. Having examined a spot of bare ground, free from living beings, he should fix himself up to the place. He should be wholly unmindful of his body, even if he was to suffer mortification of his flesh. He should put up with all dangers and troubles knowing full well that they are natural processes in the dissolution of the body. He should realise that eternal bliss is the goal of his life, without entertaining any idea of greed or nourishing any desire. He should seek enlightenment in the contemplation of the eternal characteristics of the soul and should not be carried away by delusions about life.
A monk or a pious layman should reach the end of his life without any attraction to external objects after having patiently chosen any one of the three methods for attainment of Nirvana.”
In his book called Mülācára ( Basic Conduct), Kunda. kunda Acarya deals with the important rules of conduct for the ascetics. In the first Canto, he deals with the five great vows, the five religious observances ( samiti), and the other obligatory duties. In the second Canto, he deals with the abondonment of five sins and describes the manner in which an ascetic should acquire concentration, how he should exchange his thoughts with his Guru and thereafter ask for pardon. He states that death is of three kinds : Bála marana, Bála-pandita marana and Pandita maraņa. . Bála maraṇa is
8. Ibid, pp. 76-77. 9. Ibid, pp. 77-78. 10. Mūlācāra, by Kundakunda Acārya, Verse 31.
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