Digambara monk explained

A Digambara monk or Digambara Sādhu (also muni, sādhu) is a Sādhu in the Digambar tradition of Jainism, and as such an occupant of the highest limb of the four-fold sangha. Digambar Sādhus have 28 primary attributes which includes observance of the five supreme vows of ahimsa (non-injury), truth, non-thieving, celibacy and non-possession. A Digambar Sādhu is allowed to keep only a feather whisk, a water gourd and scripture with him.

In Jainism, those śrāvakas (householders) who wish to attain moksha (liberation) renounce all possessions and become an ascetic. According to the Jain text, Dravyasamgraha:

Digambar Sādhus are also called nirgranth which means "one without any bonds". The term originally applied to those of them who were on the point of attaining to omniscience, on the attainment of which they were called munis.

Rishabhanath (the first Tirthankar) is said to be the first Digambar Sādhu of the present half cycle of time (avasarpini). The presence of gymnosophists (naked philosophers) in Greek records as early as the fourth century BC, supports the claim of the Digambars that they have preserved the ancient Śramaṇa practice. Āchārya Bhadrabāhu, Āchārya Kundakunda are two of the most revered Digambar Sādhus.

Mūla Guņas (Root virtues)

Every Digambara monk is required to observe 28 mula gunas (lit. twenty-eight primary attributes) compulsory. These are also called root-virtues, because it is said that in their absence other saintly virtues cannot be acquired. They are thus like the root, in the absence of which stems and branches tuneless come into being. These twenty-eight primary attributes are: five supreme vows (mahāvrata); five regulations (samiti); five-fold control of the senses (pañcendriya nirodha); six essential duties (Şadāvaśyaka); and seven rules or restrictions (niyama).

Mahavratas

According to Acharya Samantabhadra's Ratnakaraņdaka śrāvakācāra:

Strict control of five senses

Panchindrinirodh

This means renouncing all things which appeals to the mind through the senses. This means shedding all attachment and aversion towards the sense-objects pertaining to

Seven rules or restrictions (niyama)

Dharma

According to Jain texts, the dharma (conduct) of a monk is tenfold, comprising ten excellencies or virtues.

• Forbearance: The absence of defilement such as anger in the ascetic, who goes out for food for preserving the body, when he meets with insolent words, ridicule or derision, disgrace, bodily torment and so on from vicious people.
• Modesty (humility): Absence of arrogance or egotism on account of high birth, rank and so on.
• Straightforwardness: Behaviour free from crookedness.
• Purity: Freedom from greed.
• Truth: Using chaste words in the presence of noble persons.
• Self-restraint: Desisting from injury to life-principles and sensual pleasures while engaged in careful activity.
• Supreme austerity: Undergoing penance in order to destroy the accumulated karmas is austerity. Austerity is of twelve kinds.
• Gift- Giving or bestowing knowledge etc. appropriate to saints.
• Non-attachment: giving up adornment of the body and the thought ‘this is mine’.
• Perfect celibacy: It consists in not recalling pleasure enjoyed previously, not listening to stories of sexual passion (renouncing erotic literature), and renouncing bedding and seats used by women.

The word 'perfect' or 'supreme' is added to every one of the terms in order to indicate the avoidance of temporal objectives.

Twenty-two afflictions

Jain texts list down twenty-two hardships (parīşaha jaya) that should be endured by an ascetic who wish to attain moksha (liberation). These are required to be endured without any anguish.

1. kşudhā – hunger;
2. trişā – thirst;
3. śīta – cold;
4. uşņa – heat;
5. dañśamaśaka – insect-bite;
6. nāgnya – nakedness;
7. arati – displeasure;
8. strī – disturbance due to feminine attraction;
9. caryā – discomfort arising from roaming;
10. nişadhyā – discomfort of postures;
11. śayyā – uncomfortable couch;
12. ākrośa – scolding, insult;
13. vadha – assault, injury;
14. yācanā – determination not to beg for favours;
15. alābha – lack of gain; not getting food for several days in several homes;
16. roga – illness;
17. traņasparśa – pain inflicted by blades of grass;
18. mala – dirt of the body;
19. satkāra-puraskāra – (absence of) reverence and honour;
20. prajñā – (conceit of) learning;
21. ajñāna – despair or uneasiness arising from failure to acquire knowledge;
22. adarśana – disbelief due to delay in the fruition of meritorious deeds.

External austerities

According to the Jain text, Sarvārthasiddhi, "Affliction is what occurs by chance. Mortification is self-imposed. These are called external, because these are dependent on external things and these are seen by others."

Several Jain texts including Tattvarthsutra mentions the six external austerities that can be performed:

1. 'Fasting' to promote self-control and discipline, destruction of attachment.
2. 'Diminished diet' is intended to develop vigilance in self-control, suppression of evils, contentment and study with ease.
3. 'Special restrictions' consist in limiting the number of houses etc. for begging food, and these are intended for overcoming desire.
4. 'Giving up stimulating and delicious food' such as ghee, in order to curb the excitement caused by the senses, overcome sleep, and facilitate study.
5. Lonely habitation: The ascetic has to 'make his abode in lonely places' or houses, which are free from insect afflictions, in order to maintain without disturbance celibacy, study, meditation and so on.
6. Standing in the sun, dwelling under trees, sleeping in an open place without any covering, the different postures – all these constitute the sixth austerity, namely 'mortification of the body'.

Jain monks and advanced laypeople avoid eating after sunset, observing a vow of ratri-bhojana-tyaga-vrata. Digambara monks observe a stricter vow by eating only once a day.

Āchārya

See main article: article and Acharya (Jainism). Āchārya means the Chief Preceptor or the Head. Āchārya has thirty-six primary attributes (mūla guņa) consisting in:

• Twelve kinds of austerities (tapas);
• Ten virtues (dasa-lakşaņa dharma);
• Five kinds of observances in regard to faith, knowledge, conduct, austerities, and power. These are:
  • Darśanācāra: Believing that the pure Self is the only object belonging to the self and all other objects, including the karmic matter (and no-karma) are alien; further, believing in the six substances, seven Realities (tattvas) and veneration of Jina, Teachers, and the Scripture, is the observance in regard to faith (darśanā).
  • Jñānācāra: Reckoning that the pure Self has no delusion, is distinct from attachment and aversion, knowledge itself, and sticking to this notion always is the observance in regard to knowledge (jñānā).
  • Cāritrācāra: Being free from attachment etc. is right conduct which gets obstructed by passions. In view of this, getting always engrossed in the pure Self, free from all corrupting dispositions, is the observance in regard to conduct (cāritrā).
  • Tapācāra: Performance of different kinds of austerity is essential to spiritual advancement. Performance of penances with due control of senses and desires constitutes the observance in regard to austerities (tapā).
  • Vīryācāra: Carrying out the above-mentioned four observances with full vigour and intensity, without digression and concealment of true strength, constitutes the observance in regard to power (vīryā).
• Six essential duties (Şadāvaśyaka); and
• Gupti: Controlling the threefold activity of:
  • the body;
  • the organ of speech; and
  • the mind.

See also

• Ethics of Jainism
• List of Digambar Jain ascetics