Page 142 - Courage Redifined

Q. : How can Jain monks and nuns stay determined ?

A. : They can stay determined because they keep safe distance
not only from the contact of these sensual pleasures but
also from their remembrance. Otherwise, if they also use
soft clothes, delicious gochari (food) and stay in touch
with women, they will not be able to live a smooth
ascetic life. Their fondness for a pure, ascetic life will
eventually die down and the temptation for sensual
pleasures will overcome their heart and mind which will
lead to a gradual downfall.

Not only saints but householders, too cannot stay firm in such
circumstances. It is said by a famous poet,

“Rasana Rama Ne Rmaji, E Tava Pataka Moola.”

It means that, tongue, women and wealth are the root of all sins.

One who has succumbed to the temptations of his tongue
commits sins of one or the other kind. The tongue wishes to
savour various tasty delicacies and to fulfil its desires, one has
to fight or speak lies. If one does not control the tastebuds,
a little problem in the food made is bound to lead to temper
and fury.

The ever unsatisfied taste buds make one ignore religion and
scriptures too. Today, everyone has started having banana
vegetables and ripe mangoes on tithi days. What for ? Just
to satisfy the taste buds by ignoring the religious preaching
that all green vegetables and fruits should be avoided on 5
parvatithi days every month. This is due to the slavery of
the tongue, which is not satisfied after having bananas and
mangoes for 25 days a month. Hence it’s consumption for
the rest 5 days also cannot be controlled. This slavery of the
tongue has led to Ratribhojana* on holidays, ceremonies and

* Ratribhojana - Eating after sunset

132 Courage Redefined