Disclaimer: This translation does not guarantee complete accuracy, please confirm with the original page text.
26
If commentaries have also been written in the language (Hindi), then the above question becomes even stronger. Why does the Digambara tradition, which grants a place to texts like Mulachar and Bhagwati Aaradhaana in the scriptures, not accept Dashavaikhalik and Uttaradhyayan? Alternatively, how can the Digambara tradition, which disregards Dashavaikhalik and others, hold Mulachar and similar texts in regard? The answer to this perplexing question is both simple and difficult. From a historical perspective, it is simple, but from a sectarian viewpoint, it is difficult.
People who are unaware of history often think that the Achal or Digambara tradition considers only nakedness as an essential aspect of monkhood, or that it can only accept nakedness. Beyond nakedness, there is no place for even a little adherence to objects in Digambara-hood. Since the sentiment in the Digambara tradition has gained momentum with the Terapanth, and other Digambara factions have either become extinct or suppressed under the influence of Terapanth, the sectarian view has further strengthened that the only aspect of monkhood is nakedness; any form of attachment cannot be part of it, and due to the impossibility of attaining nakedness, a woman cannot become entitled to the monk's religion. Those with such sectarian views cannot arrive at a genuine solution to the aforementioned inconsistency. For them, the only route is to either claim that all texts asserting attachment are white-clad (Shvetambara) or authored by scholars influenced by the Shvetambaras, or that they do not intend to propagate complete Digambara monkhood. Even after saying this, they cannot free themselves from numerous confusions. Hence, for them, the true answer to the question is difficult.
However, there is no such difficulty for those studying and contemplating various aspects of Jain tradition's history. The history of Jain tradition clearly shows that there have been many Sas and Gachchha within the Achal or Digambara faction that were not entirely unanimous on whether the ultimate renunciation of attachments is essential for monkhood. Some groups accepted nakedness and the acceptance of minimal objects in practice. They were, in a way, mild or moderate Achal supporters. There were also some groups that supported only nakedness and followed it in practice. They...