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during the cãturmãsa itself Lord Mahāvīra moved elsewhere and took the following vows:
SPIRITUAL PRACTICES OF LORD MAHĀVĪRA
1. "Now onwards I shall not stay in such places where people feel uneasy by my presence.
2.
I shall be constantly engrossed in meditation.
I shall observe silence of speech.
Use my hands only as the bowel and eat from my hands only.
I shall not do any favours to any house
holders."
From the above incident in the life of Lord Mahāvīra, a monk is instructed not to stay in those places which cause uneasiness to the people of that place. He is advised to abandon that place even before the landlord asks him to vacate it. If the place is favourable for him as well as for others he may stay there and continue his spiritual practices bearing all trials and tribulations.
3.
4.
९५
5.
V. POSTURE
Lord Mahāvīra was not adamant and particular about any single posture. Most of time he stood and meditated in the Kayotsarga posture. He also experimented with postures like Vīrāsana, Goduhikāsana, Utkutāsana, etc. He attained Kevala Jñana in the Goduhikāsana. He adopted those postures which were conveniet and suitable for spiritual progress.
VI. REFLECTION ON BEING ALONE i.e. EKATVA BHĀVANĀ
When a person is alone, only then he can realize the truth, We can see the manifestation of the above fact, in the life of Lord Mahāvīra and so the commentators of the Agamas have, called him 'Agatigate' (f) which means a person who knows that no one belongs to him and he too belongs to none. Lord Mahāvīra reflected upon this truth, before renouncing the world. He did not entertain any friends and was never found in the company. He was all alone and always engrossed in meditation.
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