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OPAI DPAT Oo O PINT 0 PANTO PALO PANTO PAT ONAN OPIN OLANLO TACO O LALO OPAL OTAALO ALIPAY SIO.
) dialogue, you can also accept his faith.” They gave complete 4
6 independence to the women in acceptance ofreligious faith of their ¢
3 choice and always held them in respect. ‘
3) THE CUSTOM OF SLAVERY i
a In that period, the tradition of keeping servants was common.
Some persons had hundreds of servants—both male and female. %
4 But in the ideal code ofconduct ofShravaks, it is mentioned that they K
2, were notcruelto the servants. They were not trading them. They were
% meticulously careful in looking after their servant community, the €¢
3 cattle, and the birds dependent on them. They discharged faithfully (
*\ the duties towords their proper nourishment and safety. It was a taboo . (or
for the Shravakstosell the servants. r
5 In that period, the colonies in the town were not so congested.
§ There were large gardens outside the town where the ascetics, who}
; had renounced the household, used to come and stay. Their stay was &
¥ only in the gardensat the outskirts ofthe towns.
4 Shravaks had independent Paushadhshalas of their own in order {
jo perform spiritual practices. On the eighth, fourteenth and other a9
important days in the fortnight, they used to go to a lonely place away a
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from their home and engage themselvesin spiritual practices.
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The life-stories of the ten Shravaks point out that agriculture and
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+ cattle breeding were the primary professions during that period. ¥
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This profession was considered highly respectable. Fifteen prohibited
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trades indicate that the professions involving violence, cruelty to °
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5 others or the one encouraging social evils were prohibited for a o
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Shravak. The ideal of a Shravak was a judicious living and trade
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based on moral conduct.
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o THE TURBULATIONS FACED BY SHRAVAKS :
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A DISPLAY OF THEIR MENTAL VIGOUR ¥1y
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“Gold is tested on a stone called Kasauti.” According to this
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G quotation, a person treading the religious path ofspiritual austerities, ¥
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rs has to face disturbances, calamities and turbulations. So to reach the ¥
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4 purest stage, gold has to face flamesof fire. That gold which reaches
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DELO RYZO TORY AO O NWS OMA ON KO RIVA O NUL O Mira OLA OBITS Op ta OIG O bind Ona OYA Ona mya O
