Page:The Heart of Jainism (IA heartofjainism00stevuoft).djvu/269

 follows the same rule as his fellow monks ; sometimes, how- ever, his little sitting-board is raised slightly higher from the ground than those of the other monks.

It must not be thought that the ordinary sadhu must gain the rank of Instructor and Superior to go to moksa, a simple ascetic can do that ; but it is generally easier for the higher ranks of ascetics to attain deliverance than for the lower, because their office helps them to develop the neces- sary qualities. An Acarya should, of course, observe with special attention all the usual ascetic discipline.

A Magadhi sloka describes the ideal Acarya as possessing thirty-six qualities : he controls the five senses ; he is chaste in the nine ways ; he keeps the three gupti ; he is free from the four kasaya ; he keeps the five great vows ; he observes the five rules of conduct ; and he maintains the five samiti : such are the thirty-six qualities of an Acarya.

The goal of every monk is to become at last an Arihanta Tirthan- or Tirthankara, the Being who has attained perfection of ^rSanta. knowledge, perfection of speech, perfection of worship, and absolute security, for no danger or disease can ever come where he is. Having become a Tirthankara, the jiva is at length freed from the dread that overshadows every Jaina, the fear in this life of suffering or sorrow, which has to be borne with no Friend at hand to strengthen and comfort, and the dreary expectation after death of the endless cycle of rebirth.

A meaning often given to the word Tirthankara is that of one who finds a ford {tlrtha) through this world [saiJisdra) to moksa, or one who attains a landing on the other side. But many Jaina say it denotes one who forms four com- munities {tlrtha) of monks and nuns and male and female lay-followers. When a new Tirthankara arises, the fol- lowers of the preceding one follow him, as the followers of Farsvanatha followed Mahavira.

We have noticed ^ the eight glories which surround a

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