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566
The Unknown Pilgrims
wrapped in cloth. Despite the scorching dust-storms of summer, these archives are in a perfect state of preservation. From time to time, sadhvi volunteers come for the pratilekhana of the manuscripts and inspect and dust them carefully. They constitute a great treasurehouse of historic documents going back over more than two hundred
years!10
C - Mahāprasthāna: The Great Departure
It may happen at any age, at any time, at any place.11 However, unless struck down, as if by lightning, by some grave illness or accident, one may usually foresee the approach of this Departure. The śrăvakas and śråvikās spare no pains in their efforts to prolong the life that is precious to the samngha. They summon one or more doctors and procure the remedies. 12 If the sick or aged sådhvi is no longer fully conscious, the other sådhvis are at her side to aid and uphold her. The śramani, who all her life has been exerting herself, working at her own purification, must continue this effort up to the very end. She can, if she has the strength, choose certain forms of pratyakhyāna, but what matters most of all is the inner cleansing from every trace of fault, so as to depart in rectitude of heart and intention. She makes a final ālocană and recites the pratikramana-sutra and other sūtras. She may renew her commitment by repeating the formula of the mahāvratas, reaffirm her faith in the dharma taught by the arhats by saying once again the Namaskāra-mantra. When the sādhvi, already on the threshold of departure, is too weak to pronounce these sūtras distinctly, another sadhvi utters them in an audible voice s may unite herself to the act or perhaps murmur them under her breath.
10 Cf. P 246 ff.
11 Tradition distinguishes 2 types of death: bāla-maraņa, that of those who have no reasoning-powers, are puerile, ignorant; and: pandita-maraņa, that of the sages; cf. US V, 2-3.
12 Cf. e.g. Hukamadevi, pp. 319-321.
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