Religious Quest of India

SR No.: 011031
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: J N Farquhar, Griswold
Publisher: J N Farquhar Griswold
Total Pages: 365
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 25 MB

Page 175

FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS
149
ever warm himself at a fire, or light a fire. In the same way he must endure heat (Uşna p.), without fanning himself, going to a river side to cool himself, or longing to pour cold water over his body. If when a monk is meditating, a mosquito or a hornet sting him (Darsa p.), he must not brush it away nor be irritated by it, but must remain un. disturbed, and by self-control conquer his internal foe, as an elephant at the head of the battle kills the enemy.1 A monk must also endure anything in the way of clothing (Vastrap.?), being content either to be without it or to receive dirty, old and torn garments. He must also be absolutely indifferent to the sort of lodgings (Aroti p.) he may be given in the different villages. To the Jaina, woman was always the temptress, never the helpmate, and the ascetic is warned to renounce all liking for women's society (Strī p.), remembering that they are 'a slough'. An ascetic is bound also cheerfully to keep the rules about changing his lodging (Caryā p.): he must never stay longer in a village nowadays than a month in fine weather, or four months in the rainy season, but the shorter time he stops the better (if possible only one night), lest he should grow fond of any one and form a friendship however innocent.
All monks must perform their meditation either sitting or standing, keeping the eyes and limbs absolutely im. movable. The more disagreeable a place one chooses to meditate in the better, so the holiest monks choose the most unpleasant spots (Naisidhikī p.). Every Indian believes that the place where corpses are burned is haunted by all sorts of hideous evil spirits, so that by going to meditate in such a spot, or in a jungle haunted by tigers or lions, a monk very effectually endures hardness, and shows his indifference to fear by remaining immovable even when attacked by evil spirits or wild beasts! If a monk be benighted on his peregrinations, he must gladly endure such hardships
1 Uttaradhyayana, S. B. E., xlv, p. 11. Or Acela p. 3 Or Naişedhiki p.