A sermon does not bring change as much as a mountain, but behavior as a particle brings change...

- Homage to Amrit - Acharya Vijayaratnasuri

A witty and funny observation read that "love doesn't freeze without an introduction and if it does, it's likely to fizzle out." If tested on the anvil of experience, this observation seems to be the golden proof of a hundred touches. It often happens that young people are attracted by 'love at first sight' and get married in a hurry, or the sweet manners of a stranger lead a person to confide in him and tell him private things. This often results in regret and frustration. The reason is that preet is not properly introduced before.

The same thing that applies to the individual also applies to the theocracy. The love-respect-faith-reverence shown towards it after proper introduction to its basic principles-elements is very strong. No one's false words can shake that faith. On the contrary, if it is not a deep acquaintance with the peculiarity of the theocracy, it is not often that the love-reverence is destroyed by a weak word - a weak experience.

Introduction - In order to establish the color of love based on the principles-ideology of Dharmashasha, we begin by considering the six characteristics of Jain philosophy from the previous article. Today we will consider the second and third features in it:

(2) Jain Darshan is the principal :- Among the fundamental scriptures of Jain Darshan, which are the Agamas, the eleven limbs - Agamas occupy a prominent place. Among these eleven limbs the name of the first limb is 'Acharanga'. Its name itself suggests that it contains a description of conduct. It can be easily imagined that the Jain Darshan, which gives the first place in the basic scriptures to ethics, will be a leader of ethics.

In the same scripture a line is interrogatively rendered "Anganam kin saro ? Ayaro." It means that the essence, if any, of Angashastras-agamas is conduct. Knowledge without conduct is like a nut without a single unit which has no special value. In a scripture, the importance of conduct has been described in a very strict style as follows:-

Jaha Kharo Chandan Bharvahi, Bharass Bhagi Na Hu Chandanass;

Evan Khu Nani Charanen Hino, Bharass Bhagi Na Hu Suggai.

It is said that a donkey carrying a heavy load of sandalwood does not feel cold, only an unbearable burden. Similarly, the unscrupulous wise man is only burdened with information, not virtue. Such a rigorous classical depiction is able to explain how Jain philosophy is an ethical practice.

One more thing. The conduct of the Jain tradition is such that the conduct of the ascetics who renounce the world and live the life of a monk is extremely exalted-austere compared to those who are disciples living a householder's life. The position of these ascetics is considered greater than that of Shravaka-grihasthas. Let all the householders salute the austerities. Now suppose that an ascetic's intellectual capacity is very limited, so his knowledge is meager, and a householder's intellectual capacity is immense, so his knowledge is vast. Even so, the Shravaka will salute the Sanyami, the Sanyami will not salute the Shravaka. What does this indicate? That is, Jain Darshan is the prime minister. It is important to know how the non-Jain class is affected by the behavior of the Jain workers who adopted the ethical lifestyle from the throat? So read this incident from our own experience:

Eighteen years ago we were wandering in Gujarat on foot. One evening we took a walk towards Napad village. As there was an ancient Jinalaya in that village, the price of darshan was ours. Since the informant indicated a distance of six kilometers, we reached the village at sunset, so we started walking and reached the village exactly six kilometers. But the trouble is that the name of that village was Napa. If you ask the villagers, they say: "Napad is another six kilometers from here." Sunset had come. Hence the new six km vihara was not possible. Anticipating a night stay in that village, we asked the villagers: "Are there any Jain houses here?" "Not one, majesty. But you will be arranged at Patel's house." The villagers said respectfully.

As shown by him, we went to Patel's house. Bhavuk Patel gave us an isolated house for overnight stay. Then say: "Speak now, what will you have for lunch?" We said: "It is sunset now. We should not take food, let alone a drop of water after sunset. Such is our conduct." "like this ?" Impressed, he said: "Then do it tomorrow morning with tea and breakfast." We laughed and said: "That will not happen either. Because one of our customs is that the house of the person we spend the night in will become a 'bed' for us and the next day we will not have any food or drink in his house." Patel spoke with awe: "Your conduct is very excellent... your religion is great..." It is remembered that preaching as much as a mountain cannot bring about change as much as conduct as a particle can bring about change...

(3) Jain Philosophy is Obedient :- Suppose there is a son who does the service-bhakti of his parents. But because of his temperament, he does not obey any command of his parents, moreover, he does not accept that he should be obeyed. Can such a son be considered a true devotee of his parents? Our 'common sense' will immediately say that it cannot be believed. Because respect for parents' words is more important than external service.

Well, on the same 'wavelength', Jain Darshan says that obeying the commandments of Lord Vitragadeva is even greater than external worship and service. Puja-seva is external bhakti-primary devotion, while ajna is internal bhakti-highest bhakti. Of course, since the field of obedience is so vast, it may not be possible to obey every commandment. But respect for every Lord's commandment is possible. Obedience to that which we are capable of obeying and reverence for that which we are unable to obey: this is called worship of commandments. The opposite state is called viradhana. Kalikalasarvajna Sri Hemchandracharya in his work called 'Vitarag Stotra' has written a wonderful line regarding the Aradhana-Viradha of Ajna that "Ajnadadraddha Viraddhacha, Sivay Cha Boya Cha." Bhavartha or ignorance of worship causes salvation and disobedience of ajna causes samsara. How wonderful the glory of Ajna is in the Jain regime is reflected in this verse.

Those who have understood this glory of obeying God, they want to know how to cultivate the goal of steadfast obedience and imbibe it with determination? So read this heart touching true story:

The great 'celebrity' of the then film world threw a grand party on his birthday and invited famous stars from various fields. Being invited to such a party was also considered 'status', so all those stars were present there. After the 'celebration', the film star himself started serving high quality liquor to everyone. Everyone was sloshing the cup. There, a similar celebrity from another field politely refused to drink. The film personality was surprised and a little insulted. He insisted and tried to give alcohol, but the dignitary in front of him firmly refused. Finally, the film star said to the dignitary: "For the sake of my honor, I have to drink some wine. If not, I swear." The nobleman replied: "You are taking an oath to drink wine now. While I have taken an oath not to drink wine since childhood. What about that?" Finally the film star had to give up his stubbornness. That film personality is Raj Kapoor and the great person who refused alcohol is the great magician K. Lal. Born in a Jain family, K. Lal took this rule of abstinence for life in compliance with the Lord's order.

Finally, a funny point: 'Ame kahe e thay' is the insistence of today's puritanical age, while 'Prabhu kahe e thay' is the submissive attitude of the devotional Jain regime.