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342
The Unknown Pilgrims
Control of words and thoughts, vigilance in movements, in the way in which one handles objects and in which one scrutinises
food and drink (before accepting them].29 In the context of the sādhvis' life each of these has a very precise meaning. 30
The vow of ahińsă involves radical consequences that impart to the life of the sādhvis a very particular character.
- Fire contains jivas and is a source of destruction; the wood or charcoal used often contain living beings; so, one never lights a fire or does any cooking. Furthermore, when one goes in search of food, one never announces one's presence, one accepts only a small amount of food from that which the hosts have prepared for themselves.31
- Water contains jivas, so, one never takes a bath and one only drinks boiled water. 32 - The carth swarms with jivas, so, one does not wear sandals for fear of striking, crushing or trampling undersoot living beings, insects or plants, and one always goes barefoot.
29 vāk-manogupti-iriya-ādānaniksepaņasamiti-alokitapānabhojanäni pañca. TS VII, 4; cf. ADh IV, 34; MA V, 140; TS IX 5; YSas I, 26; P 353.
30 Cf. P 496 ff.; 529 ff.
31 Cf. DS VIII, 8; X, 4; US XXXV, 10-12.
32 Cf. DS VI, 60-62; X, 2. The sādhvis beg for water just as they do for food and only accept boiled water. At first sight one is tempted to object that the śråvikās who boil this water are committing a fault involving himsā. Infact, however, this is not so, for during some 8 hrs after the water is boiled, no organism can develop, whereas in unboiled water living organisms are constantly doing so. Hence one imbibes infinitely more living organisms if one drinks unboiled water than if one drinks boiled water; cf. Baid, 1980, pp. 104-105. The sādhvis keep boiled water in the upăśraya for about 8 hrs and then renew it. The Murtipujaka sadhvis who keep the water overnight put in it a pinch of lime with the precise aim of preventing the development of any organism.
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