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364
The Unknown Pilgrims
The anupreksās help one not to be vague nor leave to one side the real. They offer a direction and a stimulant. When we examine them closely, we observe their very positive side, that of always leading the mind back to the essential.23
e) Parişaha-jaya: Victory over the twenty-two afflictions
Before considering tapas, voluntary austerity, we must first take a look at the parişahas, the daily sufferings and trials common to all human beings, which, whether in an acute or less acute form, persist and must be borne with courage and in remembrance of the jinas who won jaya, the victory, over them, never allowing themselves to be overcome by any of the following adversities:
i) Kșudhā: hunger.
ii) Trşā (pipāsā): thirst.
iii) Śita: cold.
iv) Uşna: hcat.
v) Daṁsamaśakas: insect-bites.
vi) Nagnatva: nakedness. 24
vii) Arati: lack of comforts and resultant discontent.
viii) Stri: woman (man, if the reference is to sādhvis) and the distractions occasioned by her.
ix) Caryā: the itinerant life with its attendant hardships.
x) Nişadyās: certain seated postures, when maintained for a long time.
23 Cf. on the subject of the anuprekṣās: ADH VI, 57-82; TS IX, 7; US XXIX, 22; Y Sas IV, 57-110.
24 This in the case of the Digambara munis.
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