Chapter-24 - Acharya Parmeshthi

1. 1. Who is Acharaya Parmeshti ?

One who himself observes “Panchachar”, (i.e. conduct of right faith, conduct of right knowledge, observation of right conduct, conduct of penance and conduct with spiritual strength). and makes other ascetics to observe, is called Acharaya Parmeshti. He is the head/ leader of the congregation and accord initiation to disciples and gives them expiation.

2. How many basic virtues/ attributes are there of Acharaya Parmeshti ?

There are 36 basic virtues of Acharaya Parmeshti - 12 penances, 10 forgiveness, etc.right virtues (Dasa Dharma), five types of special right conduct (Aachar), 6 essential duties and 3 self controls (Gupti).

3. What is penance ?

“Karmakshyartham tapyat iti tapah”, i.e. self-mortification (inflicting sufferings on one's own body) for destroying Karmas, is called penance. Basically the penance is of two typesexternal penance& internal penance.

4. What is called external and internal penance ?

External penance-the external penance is observed with the support of external substances and is visible by others, therefore it is called external penance. Internal penance - There is no expectation of external substances in expiation ,etc. in internal penance, there is prominence ofinternal thought activities and they are sensed on their own. These are not visible and these can not be adopted by non-Jain persons, hence expiation, etc. have been regarded as internal penance.

5. How many external penances are there?

External penances are six - fasting (Ansana), reduced diet (Avmaudaraya), resolution of certain vow while going to take food (Vrattiparishankhyan), renouncing one or more six kinds of taste (Rasparityaga), isolated place for sleeping or solitary habitation(Vivikta Sayyashana)and enduring physical suffering (Kayaklesha).

6. What is fasting penance ?

The Hindi word 'Ashan' means food and the meaning of Hindi word ‘Anshana’ denotes renunciation of all the four types of food. It is observed for one day till many days.

7. Why the fasting penance is observed ?

The fasting penance is observed for controlling one's own senses and for dissociation of Karmas.

8. What is penance of reduced diet?

Taking less food than hunger, is reduced diet (Avmaudaraya) penance. The natural intake of the human being is 32 morsels and out of them taking one or more morsels less, is the penance of reduced diet. One morsel has been regarded consisting of 1000 grains of rice. The natural intake of morsels of female is 28 morsels. The morsel is of three types, viz. maximum (highest), medium and lowest (minimum).

9. Why the penance of reduced diet is observed ?

The penance of reduced diet is observed for keeping the restraint awakened, i.e. vigilant, for soothing away the faults and for the accomplishment of contentment and religious readings

happily.

10. Why 'Vrattiparishankhyan tapa' (Resolution of certain vow while going to take food), is observed ?

When the Muni goes for taking food then he starts with some or the other resolution which you call Vidhi ,(i.e. manner/procedure or rule,as the condition for taking food) for example, ‘if there will be invocation(calling) with one or two pitcher only then I will go for taking food otherwise not. I will go only up to two localities (Mohalla), this is Vrattiparishnkhyan tapa. There is no such rule that he should necessarily take such resolution. There is also no rule that he should take such resolution daily.

11. Why Vrattiparishankhyan tapa is observed ?

Vrattiparishankhyan tapa is observed for abstaining from expectation, for testing one's own virtue and for dissociation of Karma.

12. What is Rasprityaga tapa. (giving up taste / stimulating savour) ?

To give up one or more or all savours out of the six savours ,viz. Ghee, curd, milk, sugar, salt, oil, is Rasparityaga tapa or to give up green vegetables, pulse, almond, pistachio nut, etc, is also Rasparityaga tapa.

13. Why Rasparityaga tapa is observed ?

The Rasparityaga tapa is observed for subjugating the sense of taste, for conquering sleep and negligence, for the accomplishment of religious readings and for dissociating Karmas.

14. What is Vivktashaiyyasan tapa( Solitary habitation)?

To sleep and to take a particular squatting posture in a solitary place for the accomplishment of religious readings, meditation, etc., is Vivktashaiyyasana tapa.

15. Why Viviktashaiyyasan tapa is observed ?

The Vivktashaiyyasan tapa is observed for mental peace, for gaining victory over sleepness and for dissociation of Karmas.

16. What is Kayaklesh tapa ?

To give up the feeling that my body may get happiness and pleasure, is Kayaklesh tapa or to adopt/ observe meditative relaxation beneath the tree in the rainy season, in the sun-light in the hot season, on the bank of the river in the winter season, is Kayaklesha tapa.

17. Why Kayaklesh tapa, is observed ?

The capacity of enduring the pains/ sufferings/ troubles, is gained by Kayaklesh tapa, the Jina order (Jinashashan) is promoted and dissociation of Karmas ,is attained.

18. How many internal penances are there?

The internal penances are of six types, viz.-Expiation (Prayaschitta), Reverence (Vinaya), Relieving saint's discomforts (Vaiyavratti), Scriptural study (Swaddhaya), Renunciation of egoism and feeling of ownership (Vyutsarga) and Meditation (Dhyan).

19. What is Prayschitta tapa ?

1. To eliminate negligence generated faults, is Prayaschitta tapa.
2. By which the adept becomes blameless/ faultless from his earlier faults attached to his adopted vows, is Prayaschitta tapa.

20. What is reverence (Vinaya) penance ?

1. To show suitable respect/ reverence towards faith, etc. virtues which are means to attain salvation and towards the adepts who follow them.
2. “Pujyesvadro vinya” (पूज्येष्वादरो: विनय:), i.e. To accord hospitable/respectable treatment to venerble persons, is Vinaya tapa.

21. What is Vaiyavratta tapa ?

To serve Muni and adepts observing renunciation with one's own body and pure faultless things and to avert the calamities fallen on them, is Vaiyavratta tapa.

22. What is called Swadhyaya tapa ( scriptural study)?

1. “Jñãnbhavnalasyatyagaha swadhayaya,” i.e. To adore the right knowledge abandoning indolence, is Swadhayaya tapa.
2. Reading, questioning, reflecting, recitation and preaching of Anga and Angbhaya canon, i.e. old & second part of scriptural knowledge, is Swadhayaya tapa.

23. What is Vyutsarga tapa ?

1. To renounce the resolution of egoism and attachment precisely, is Vyutsarga tapa.
2. To renounce the external and internal passions, is Vyutsarga tapa.

24. What is Dhyana tapa ?

To withheld the mental disposition by the person of best body structure (Samhanana) in one subject for one Antarmuhurta, is Dhyana tapa.

25. Which are the ten right virtues (Das Dharma)?

Uttam Kshama ,i.e.supreme forbearance, Uttam Mardava ,i.e.supreme modesty, Uttam Arjava .i. e. supreme straightforwardness, Uttam Sauch ,i.e. supreme greedless-ness, Uttam Satya, i.e. supreme truth, Uttam Samyama ,i.e. supreme restraint, Uttam Tapa ,i.e. supreme austerity, Uttam Tyaga ,i. e. supreme renunciation, Uttama Akinchanaya ,i.e. supreme non-attachment and Uttam Brahmacharya, i.e. supreme celibacy.

1. Supreme forbearance - Not to be angry in spite of occurrence of calamity, on hearing of abusive language or in the presence of the cause for anger, is Uttam Kshama Dharma.
2. Supreme modesty - Not to be proud of best/ superior pedigree, knowledge, strength, etc., is Uttam Mardava Dharma.
3. Supreme straightforwardness - To tell exactly the same thing by words, the thought of which is in the mind and act according to that very by the body ,i. e. not to behave deceitfully, is Uttam Arjava Dharma.
4. Supreme greedlessness - To make the soul pure by renouncing the greed, is Uttam Sauch Dharma.
5. Supreme truth - To speak full of restraint, righteous and sweet words to good person, is Uttam Satya Dharma.
6. Supreme restraint - To control one's own senses and mind and to protect the living beings of all the six types, is precisely Uttam Samyama Dharma.
7. Supreme austerity - To practice twelve types of external and internal austerities for the dissociation of Karma, is Uttam Tapa Dharma.
8. Supreme renunciation - To donate knowledge ,etc. suitable to the living beings full of restraint or to renounce attachment-aversion, is Uttam Tyaga Dharma.
9. Supreme non-attachment - Nothing is mine in the world except my soul, remaining free from such type infatuation/of attachment, is Uttam Akinchanya Dharma.
10. Supreme celibacy - Renouncing relations with women, to remain absorbed in one'sown pure form, is Uttam Brahmcharaya Dharma.

26. What is meant by 'Aachar’, i.e. religious demeanour and which are they?

To observe the religious rules himself according to canon and make disciples follow them, is Aachar, i. e. religious demeanour/ manner of conducting religious affairs. These religious demeanour are of five kinds -

1. Darshanachar (observation of right perception) - To observe doubtlessness about the preaching of Lord Jina ,etc. eight limbs of right belief faultlessly, isDarshanachar.
2. Jñãnachar (Right practice of right knowledge) - To adore right knowledge along with its time, modesty ,etc.eight limbs and to know the reality of self and others according to canon, is Jñānachar.
3. Charitrachar - Observance of right conduct - To observe right conduct faultlessly, is Charitrachar.
4. Tapachar - Observance of austerity - To practice twelve kinds of penances faultlessly, is Tapachar.
5. Viryachar - Conduct with spiritual strength- To strive towards religious ends/accomplishment enthusiastically with patience on occurrence of calamity without hiding one's own strength. is Viryachar.

27. Which are six essentials (of Acharya ) ?

Equanimity, eulogical prayer, hymning/praising, expiatory recitals, determination not to commit faults and meditative relaxation/detachment with body, these are six essentials like that of

ascetics.

28. What is Gupti (Self control) and how many are they?

Protecting the soul from causes of transmigration, is Gupti. Gupti is of three kinds

1. Manogupti - Controlling the mind, restricting it from attachment and averson.
2. Vachan gupti - To control one's own words.
3. Kaya gupti - To control one's own body.

29. Which couplet Acharya Vidyasagarji has written on Acharya ?

ज्ञायक बन गायक नहीं, पाना है विश्राम ।

लायक बन, नायक नहीं, जाना है शिवधाम ।।8।।

Be knower, not the singer, has to get relaxation,

Be wiser, not the leader, has to attain salvation.