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PIŅDEŞAŅA
Ram Prakash Poddar
In Jaina monastic discipline great importance is attached to Pind eşana i.e. begging for food. Among other things Lord Mahāvīra inherited a code of conduct also from his predecessor and there is no doubt that the discipline of begging for food formed an essential part of monk's conduct in pre-Mahāvīra Jainisim. A monk has to be free from all attachments for food - he takes food only to survive and he survives only to practise ascetism. Whenever he feels that his survival is not conducive to the. practice of asceticism he has to give up taking food with a determination to end the body which no longer served any purpose. While remaining completely detached to food, the monk has also to exercise great discretion in accepting it. We find that the discretions have gradually gained dimension.
The general principle is that a monk should beg such food as has been prepared by the householers for themselves and in the action of begging or taking food he should not commit, cause or support injury to living beings. He has to be abstemious in the matters of food.
In his ascetic life Lord Mahavira was completely detached to food. Though in good health, he did not take his fill and generally lived on rough food. For days together he did not take any food or drink at all. It did not make any difference to him if he got moist or dry food or he did not get food at all.
• The Lord exercised great discretion in taking food. While still a hóuseholder he had given up the use of cold water. In his ascetic life he did not take the food which had expressly been prepared for him. He begged such food as was prepared by the householders for themselves. He took care that the food was free from living beings. He ate food restraining his impulses regarding its quality. He took care that his begging for food did not involve in any way injury to living beings. Whenever there were Brahmana or Áramana, a beggar or guest or a Candala or even a cat or a dog already waiting for food, he walked away lest his presence might result in their disappointment.
1. Ahākadar. 2. Viyadam. 3. Ayata-jogayāe.
Sambodhi 7.1-2
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