Sannyasa Dharma

Author(s): Champat Rai Jain
Publisher: Champat Rai Jain

Page 61

1
SANNYASA DHARMA
CHAPTER III.
THE TEN EXCELLENCIES.
The Sadhu's dharma is tenfold, comprising ten holy virtues of the most excellent type. They are (1) forgiveness, (2) humility, (3) straightforwardness, (4) truthfulness, (5) greedlessness, (6) equanimous self-control or sinlessness, (7) asceticism, (8) renunciation, (9) self-denial, and (10) chastity (celibacy).
The degree of excellence required here is absolute; the muni will, on no account, cherish resentment against any one, however offensive, rude, cruel and inimical. In respect of meekness and the other virtues enumer ated above he will not, in any way, depart from his dharma, whatever may happen to his body or to those he considered dearest and nearest a little while back, when in the second asrama of life. We shall now con. sider these ten attributes separately.
entertain
EXCELLENT FORGIVENESS.-The saint should never hatred or anger. Howsoever malicious the act of aggression, or vile the language of abuse, he should forgive at once and without being requested to do so, recognising that mental agitation is sure to undo all his merit that might have been acquired thus far, The results flowing from forgiveness are the protection of vows and pious inclinations of the mind, the removal of pain here and hereafter, the command. ing of respect and reverence in the world and the acquisition of saintly fame. The antithesis of forgiveness, that is anger, is, on the other hand, noted as
50