PROVISION REGARDING FITNESS FOR POST OF UPĀDHYĀYA ETC
VYAVAHĀRA SŪTRA [24 of 93]
THIRD UDDEŚAKA [2 of 7]
PROVISION REGARDING FITNESS FOR POST OF UPĀDHYĀYA ETC.
3. A monk having an experience of three years of ascetic life can be appointed as Upādhyāya if he is expert in ascetic conduct, expert in ascetic discipline, expert in spiritual discourse, expert in prajnapti, expert in collecting essentials, expert in doing upagrah, and who has unblemished ascetic conduct, the conduct without any reduction (due to prayashchit), faultless conduct, and a conduct which is free from any tribulations and who is learned in scriptures (bahushrut) and in Āgamas. In other words one who possesses at least the code of Achar-prakalp.
4. In case a monk has an experience of three years of ascetic life but is not meticulous in conduct, ascetic restrait, spiritual discourse prajnapti, collecting essentials, and in upagrah and has a conduct which is blemished, reduced in period of monkhood due to prayashchit, spotted of major fault, and derogatory and who has only a little knowledge of scriptures and Āgamas. Such a monk cannot be appointed as Upādhyāya.
5. In case a monk has a period of five years of monkhood and all the qualities of steadfastness in conduct and the like up to above-mentioned attributes and is expert in knowledge of scriptures and has studied at least Daśāśruta Skandha, Bṛihata-kalpa and Vyavahāra Sūtra (Knowledge of underlying idea of Sūtras and their meaning), he can be appointed as Ācārya or Upādhyāya.
6. In case a monk has a period of five years of monkhood to his credit but is devoid of the above-said qualities of good conduct and the like and has only a little knowledge of scriptures and Āgamas, he cannot be appointed as Ācārya or Upādhyāya.
7. A monk has a period of eight years of ascetic life to his credit. In case he has all the above-mentioned qualities of being expert in ascetic conduct and the like, has knowledge of Āgamas, at least of Sthānāṅga and Samavāyāṅga Sūtra including their meaning, he can be appointed to the posts of Ācārya, Upādhyāya or ganavahhedak.
8. A monk has a period of eight years of ascetic life to his credit. In case he does not have the above-mentioned qualities of being expert in ascetic conduct and the like or he has little knowledge of scriptures and Āgamas, he cannot be appointed as Ācārya, Upādhyāya or ganavachhedak. [note 1]
Elaboration:
There are many monks in a gachha (group) or gana (spiritual organisation). It is essential to have many responsible monks appointed to the post for making suitable arrangement for studies of monks, their leading life of a unblemished conduct and their service and the like so that everything is in order. IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO FILL THE TWO POSTS OF ĀCĀRYA AND UPĀDHYĀYA.
[The word ĀCĀRYA derives from the term ‘ācāra:
Sanskrit:
ācāra = conduct, manner of action, behavior, good behavior, good conduct; custom, practice, usage, traditional or immemorial usage (as the foundation of law); an established rule of conduct, ordinance, institute, precept; (with Buddhists) agreeing with what is taught by the teacher; the plant Hingtsha Repens L. (Monier Williams)
ācārya = knowing or teaching the ācāra or rules, a spiritual guide or teacher (especially one who invests the student with the sacrificial thread, and instructs him in the Vedas, in the law of sacrifice and religious mysteries); a Name of Droṇa (the teacher of the Pāṇḍavas). (Monier Williams)
The word UPĀDHYĀYA is a compound:
Upa + adhyāya (according to grammar in compounds when ‘a’ meets ‘a’ results ‘ā’)
Sanskrit:
upa = (a preposition or prefix to verbs and nouns, expressing) towards, near to (opposed to ‘apa’ = away), by the side of, with, together with, under, down, to go near, undergo, etc. (Monier Williams)
adhyāya = a lesson, lecture, chapter; reading; proper time for reading or for a lesson, a reader. (Monier Williams)
ādhyai = meditate on; wish or pray for anything for another. (Monier Williams)
adhyayana = education, studying (especially the Vedas, one of the six duties of a Brāhman) (Monier Williams), learning, recitation, reading, going over, repetition].
The above aphorisms lay down the qualities and capabilities necessary for these posts and in the bhashya and the commentary there is a detailed discussion on the basis of said aphorism. The sum and substance of the discussion is as follows:
[continuation next note… ]
Period of Monkhood:
The experience, capability, fitness and effectiveness develops with the seniority in initiation and longevity in the period of monkhood. The primary responsibility of upādhyāya is to extend knowledge of scriptures in the gana (group or the organisation). So his period of monkhood should be at least three years, the period of monkhood of Ācārya should be at least of five years and in case of ganavachhedak it should be at least eight years. An Ācārya is the administrator of the organization. He is also capable of teaching Sūtras and their meaning to his disciples. A ganavachhedak keeps the Acharya free from worries relating to the organization (gana). He is responsible for ensuring proper attention to the newly initiated monks, the old monks, monks observing austerities, the monks and nuns who are suffering from any disease. He is also responsible for their wanderings, the pots, clothes and the like and their proper distribution and also for awarding prayashchit and the like for committing faults in ascetic discipline. The other qualities in brief are as under:
[continuation next note… ]
1. Acharkushal: Expert in ascetic conduct. One who knows all the methods of processing knowledge and the like. One who is expert in making suitable arrangements relating to service and ensures proper respect of each other in the organization (gana).
2. Sanyamkushal: One who practices meticulously seventeen types of ascetic discipline himself and is well-trained in ensuring its practice by others.
3. Pravachankushal: One who knows well the interpretation of the word of Tīrthaṅkaras and is expert in scriptural lectures. One whose method of addressing others is capable of transmitting right knowledge to others and in spreading true Dharma.
4. Prajnaptikushal: One who has properly studied worldly texts, Vedas, Puranas and the like and also the philosophy of Jinas. He is expert in making others to discard wrong perception or faith and properly understand the right knowledge and the real philosophy such a monk is called prajnapti kushal.
5. Sangrehkushal: One who is practically expert in collecting disciples and the material needed for properly leading the ascetic life and from the real point of view is expert in enshrining scriptural knowledge, its real meaning and qualities mentioned there in his self.
6. Upagrahkushal: One who is expert in ensuring that the newly initiated, the old, the diseased, those undergoing austerities and the incapables get the bed, the bedding, the relevant material for ascetic life, the food, the medicine and the like they need. He further ensures proper arrangements of service in the organization and proper attention of every one in the fold.
7. Akshatachar: One whose ascetic conduct is totally faultless.
8. Abhinnachar: One who has not practiced any type of digression in the ascetic discipline and who meticulously practices five types of ascetic behavior in full.
9. Ashabulachar: One who does not commit any fault in practice of humility, in daily behavior, in use of language and in collecting food and the like. One whose conduct is free from major (shabal) faults.
10. Asanklishtachar: One who does not have any desire for worldly pleasures in the present life and in the life thereafter. A monk who has discarded all the passions namely anger and the like. The meaning of the word ‘Kshatachar’ should be understood as opposite to the above-said.
11. Bahushrut-Bahu Agamajna: One who has thoroughly studied many scriptures and their interpretations is called bahushrut or Agamajna. In Agams these words have been used in different contexts namely:
(1) One who possesses various qualities such as serenity, sharp intellect, wisdom and the like,
(2) One who has repeatedly studied many scriptural texts (bahu Agamajna),
(3) One who has expert knowledge of Chhed Sutras (bahu shrut),
(4) One who is expert in the knowledge about ascetic conduct and the procedure laid down for prayashchit.
One who has low intellect, who has very little experience, who is too simple and who has very shallow knowledge of Agams is called Abahushrut, Abahu Agamajna.
12. Acharprakalpadhar: This word has been used in the Āgamas frequently in different context. According the author of bhashya and Upādhyāya Shri Kanhaiyalal ji Maharaj who has reflected on it with reference to many Āgamas, its interpretation is:
“One who has thorough knowledge of Ācārāṅga Sūtra and Niśītha Sūtra. In Ācārāṅga Sūtra the code relating to ascetic conduct has been laid and in Niśītha Sūtra there is detailed description of the prayashchit for incurring fault in the practice of ascetic conduct.”
In aphorism 3 and 4 there is a provision that a bhikshu who is fit to be appointed as Upādhyāya should study them and memorise them including their meaning. In case he is not able to memorise them, he is unfit for the post of Upādhyāya.
13. Dasa-kapp-Vavahardhare: In aphorisms 5 and 6 while discussing fitness or not for the post of Ācārya, it is mentioned that he should have at least five years experience of ascetic life and the above-said qualities up to being a bahushrut. Further it is essential that he should have deep knowledge of at least three Chhed Sutras. These three sutras ara Daśāśruta Skandh (Daśa), Bṛihata-kalpa Sūtra (kapp) and Vyavahāra Sūtra (Vavahar). All these Sutras were authored by first Bhadrabahu Swami who had knowledge of fourteen pūrvas.
14. Thaan Samavayadhare: In aphorisms 7 and 8 while discussing the qualities of a bhikshu for determining his fitness or not for the post of ganavachhedak, it is clearly stated that he should have at least eight years experience of ascetic life, all the above –said qualities upto being a bahushrut and must have memorized at least Sthānāṅga Sūtra and Samavāyāṅga Sūtra.
(1) For the post of Upādhyāya, one must essentially have memorized at least five Sūtras, namely: Āvaśyaka Sūtra, Daśavaikālika Sūtra, Uttarādhyayana Sūtra, Ācārāṅga Sūtra and Niśītha Sūtra.
(2) For the post of Ācārya, it is essential that one must have memorized at least nine Sūtras namely: Āvaśyaka Sūtra, Daśaavaikālika Sūtra, Uttarādhyayana Sūtra, Ācārāṅga Sūtra, Niśītha Sūtra, Sūtrakṛitāṅga Sūtra, Daśāśrutaskandha, Bṛihata-kalpa and Vyavahāra Sūtra.
(3) For the post of ganavachhedak, it is essential that one has memorized at least eleven Sūtras namely: the nine above-mentioned, Sthānāṅga Sūtra and Samavāyāṅga Sūtra (Commentary of Vyavahāra Sūtra, pp. 315-320)
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