For a Jain mendicant (sadhu/sadhvi), it is definitely better not to own or use a cellphone.

In simple Jain dharmic terms:

1. Mahāvrat of Aparigraha (non‑possessiveness)

- A mendicant vows to give up all possessions, comforts, and worldly tools. - A phone is a strong form of parigraha (possession) and creates dependence and attachment.

1. Control of senses (indriya‑nirodh)

- Phone brings sound, images, messages – all stimulating the senses. - This easily leads to curiosity, distraction, and subtle passions (kashāya) like anger, pride, deceit, greed.

1. Ideal of complete vairāgya (detachment)

- Jain munis are meant to live with maximum simplicity: pāduka / muhapatti / rajoharaṇa / kamandalu etc., as per their tradition. - Adding modern gadgets pulls life towards the world, not away from it.

1. Anuvrata vs. Mahāvrata

- For householders, limited, careful use of phone can be adjusted with small vows. - For a sadhu/sadhvi on mahāvrata, the standard is much stricter; even small attachments are to be avoided.

1. Current practice (Digambar / Shvetambar)

- Digambar tradition: in principle, very strongly against such possessions; many ācāryas clearly discourage any personal gadgets, even if some management‑level laypersons around them use phones. - Shvetambar tradition: in some sanghs, limited or supervised phone use may be seen (e.g., through sevaks) for organizational or health reasons, but even there the ideal repeatedly taught is: sadhu should not be personally attached to such things, and better to avoid them altogether.

1. If ever used in some setups

- It should be: - Not owned by the sadhu, - Used only for strict dharmic or safety reasons, - With great alertness that no entertainment, gossip, social media, etc. is involved. - But from the viewpoint of the highest ideal, even this is a compromise, not the goal.

Conclusion: According to the spirit of Jain monastic vows, it is better for a mendicant not to own or use a cellphone, and to live with minimum external objects, so that inner sādhanā (swādhyāy, dhyān, gupti, samiti) remains pure and undisturbed.