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 191

FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS
165
by bodily austerity (Käyakleśa), such as sitting to do meditation in summer on heated stones in the full glare of the sun, or in winter in the coldest places that can be found, without wearing sufficient clothing. There is one such austerity which is peculiar to Jaina ascetics, Loca, or pulling out the hair by the roots. It is said to be most profitable, as showing to the ascetic how hard a life he will have to undergo, and at the same time proving to others that he has strength of mind enough to endure it. If the sädhu is ill, the following words are quoted to him: Ločevă mundevā kattevā, i.e. if the pulling out of the air cannot be endured, hair cutting or shaving may be employed."
There is another austerity which might almost be de. vi. Sam scribed as the avoidance of temptation by control (Saiz- linatā. linatā) in four ways: first by governing the senses (Indriya sarılīnată) and not allowing the eyes, for instance, to look at anything beyond a certain distance; then by controlling anger, deceit, pride and greed (Kaṣāya sailīnată); or by refraining as much as possiblc from the exercise of intellect, speech, or body (Yoga sailinatā), sitting silent, for instance, in a cramped position; and lastly, by being very careful where one goes to stay, and previously ascertaining that no woman lives near (Viviktaċaryā). Karma is also dried up by the right use of six interior The six
interior or spiritual austeritics.
austeri. The first of these, confession and penance (Prāyaśćitta), is ties. binding on both ascetics and laity. The ascetic must con- i. Prāyaśfess to the chief guru, and the layman to whatever sadhu citta he chooses; and they must perform the penances allotted to them, according to the rules laid down in the sacred books. Also every morning and every evening when they engage in Padikamaņuṁ 2 they must confess their faults generally in the following Māgadhi formula: Miċċhāmi dukkadain,
Dr. Jacobi (S.B. E., xxii, p. 308, note 1) says he is not aware that removing the hair is resorted to in the case of nuns, but the writer knows as a fact that it is regularly done. 2 Sanskrit Pratikramana.
S Sanskrit Mithyāme duskritam.