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NEW IDEOLOGIES NEW TRADITIONS
monks to develop an elevated moral consciousness capable of taking life and death equally in its stride Such beings of refined moral calibre rendered the supposedly invincible citadel of casteism perfectly vulnerable
2 Monastic norms :
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The era was predominantly religious Monkhood was deemed to be prestigious Shramanic tradition put a premium on monkhood It had an influence on Vedic tradition also The latter began to treat sanyasa or renunciation of householdership with utmost respect
There were thousands of sadhus in different sects then A hallowed practice naturally evokes a widespread couriosity Monkhood fascinated everybody But monkhood is not easy to practise It is an odyssey to vanquish the senses, the mind and the thoughts Only such rare aspirants succeed in the venture who are resolute and devoted to self-exploration
Lord Mahavira observed that a number of shramana and Vedic saints were leading a virtually householder's life albeit in a monk's garb
They lacked a thirst for knowledge, a aesire for realisation of truth, an enterprize to realize the self and an inborn urge for spiritual escalation How could they be dubbed as saints? He revealed the shortcomings of the monastic order Said he
'Tonsuring won't make one a shramana, Chanting ''Om' won't make one a Brahmin jungle sojourn won't make one a hermit'
'Equanimity makes one a shramana, continence makes one a Brahmin, knowledge makes one a monk, austerities make one a hermit 1
'Just as an empty palm and a spurious coin are worthless, similarly a monk without observances has no merit A glittering piece of glass cannot deceive the experienced eye of a gemmologist who can instantaneously distinguish it from a gem
1
2 lbid 20/42
'Uttarajjhayanı 25/29, 30.
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