________________
NEW IDEOLOGIES NEW TRADITIONS
Said the Lord, 'One who has successfully observed continence, has observed all other vows One who has violated continence has violated all other vows 1
145
'Those who abstain from incontinence have the prior claim to earn deliverance "
The view of the Lord is echoed in the voice of his later followers An Acharya writes
"I find nothing commendable in a man rigorously observing silence and meditation, wearing barks of trees and performing penitence, if he cherishes libido, be he the creator Brahma himself'
THE LORD'S DEVOTION TO SELF AND HIS SINGULAR GUSTO FOR CONTINENCE
Hitherto various thinkers put premium on incontinence Certain theologians found the institution of marriage indispensable, as, according to them, progeny was essential to a suitable posthumous desert Another group of sanyasins pleaded incontinence to be natural and hence innocent They worded it like this As one is prone to itch a sore, so it is natural to tickle the sore of wanton desire for the other sex Lord Mahavira so vigorously opposed these licentions notions that in Post-Mahavira era it was deemed commendable to abstain from sensuality even for a householder
Monk Gautam came to Shravasti with his disciples Kumar Shraman Keshi was already there Gautam halted at Kausthakh garden Keshi camped at Tinduk garden Their respective disciples noticed the rival group A few doubts pestered them 'How be it that our goals are identical and still our approaches are different? Else why the difference of four and five major observances?' The matter came to the notice of Gautam and Keshi The doubts of their respective group warranted an immediate solution It was decided to have a congregation.
Panhavagarnaim, 9/3
1
2 lbid 9/3