Traverses on Less Trodden Path of Indian Philosophy and Religion

Author(s): Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 189

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Traverses on less trodden path...
the highest goal of life. These virtues are the basis of religion and are essential for a monk. Practice of these virtues roots out the attachment, aversion, deceit and green within a short period and leads to the final deliverance of a monk, 90 Umāsvāti gives prominent place to these ten kinds of virtues and dedicates thirteen verses to elaborate them.21 The ten kinds of virtues which are to be cultivated by a monk are-supreme forgiveness (kşama), modesty (mārduva), straightforwardness (ār java), purity (sauca), self-control (sar yama), renunciation (tyāga), truthfulness (satya), austerity (tapas), chastity of celibacy (brahmacarya) and nonacquisition 2 2 (akiñcanya).
Compassion towards all beings is called supreme forgiveness. It is the root case of religion.23 Modesty is the basis of humility. It is the main source of all good virtues. It controls and reduces egoistic tendencies of a monk.94 Straight forwardness consists in eschewing crookedness in thought, word, and deed and never concealing one's own faults. It is the main cause of self-purity which is very essential for realisation of pure self.: B Purity is of two kinds, internal and external. External purity consists in maintaining cleanliness and purity of food, clothes, drink etc. and internal or spiritual purity (bhāvasauca) consists in annihilation of passions.26 Self-control (samyama) is of seventeen kinds, viz. abstaining from five types -āstava, control over five senses. victory over four kinds of passions and control of mental, vocal and physical activities. 87 Renunciation consists in renunciation of all worldly attachments. relations, wealth, pleasuses and T-ness and Mine'-ness. An ascetic who has abandoned all worldly objects, is called nirgrantha, free from all sorts of worldly knots of attachment.98 Truthfulness is speaking in conformity with the words of jinas and avoiding lies even in worldly transaction. It consists in ever-abandoning all forms of falsehood and even talks which hurt others. It is of four kinds, viz. speaking in con. formity with the scriptures, and straightforwardness in deeds, thoughts and words.99 Austerity implies the renunciation and rejection of all kinds of desires, indifference to pleasures of this world and quietly enduring various physical troubles. Austerity is of two kinds-external and internal. The former emphasises on the outer aspect while the latter does on inner aspect. External austerity is of six kinds, viz. anasana, unodarata, vịttisamkṣepana, rasaparityāga, kāyakleśa and samlinata. 8 0 Anasana consists in fasting either for a limited period of time or till the 20. Ibid-179.
24. Ibid-169.
28. Ibid - ) 73. 21. Ibid-167-179.
25. Ibid-170.
29. Ibid-174, 22. Ibid-167.
26. Ibid-171.
30. Ibid-175. 23, Ibid-168.
27. Ibid-172.