________________
Ātmānuśāsana
आत्मानुशासन
152, 158-161, 166, 167, 189, 198 and 250 (10 verses)
Don'ts particularly for the saints (see also the precautions listed under Table-1)
Standards urged in education, books, Muni sangha, etc. For any society, quality education is a must. The education must make a person better in attitude, behaviour and character. The learning ecosystem is pivotal towards these goals. Many modern institutions are striving to set such standards. The revered Acārya Sri Gunabhadra devoted space in advocating standard if not the best practices in teaching, learning and books. His prescriptions (rendered in the musical verse 5 with prefixes of 'pra' (u) in order to become teachers par excellence are as relevant today as they were in his times:
प्राज्ञः प्राप्तसमस्तशास्त्रहृदयः प्रव्यक्तलोकस्थितिः प्रास्ताशः प्रतिभापरः प्रशमवान् प्रागेव दृष्टोत्तरः । प्रायः प्रश्नसहः प्रभुः परमनोहारी परानिन्दया ब्रूयाद्धर्मकथां गणी गुणनिधिः प्रस्पष्टमिष्टाक्षरः ॥५॥
Equally relevant are his standards for good students interested in the path of excellence as enunciated in verse 7. The description of the excellence and relevance of books can be seen in nine verses (170 to 176, 212 and 213). Good books are possibly the best friends. Similarly, he was concerned with standard practices as per the Jaina āgama in the Muni sangha. He was compassionate to guide the saints in leading fruitful sādhanā (verses 139, 142, 144, 146, 150, 158-161, 190) and he had the highest regards for such noble saints (verses 66-68, 97, 98, 108, 109). His advice to train the minds by engaging in reading noble books is amazing (verses 170-171). He likens the mind to the fickle-headed monkey! Considering the alarming instances of malpractices in this area, various religious institutions will do well to set self-regulation standards lest the public turn a disdainful eye. A judicious combination of right judgment, skills, knowledge and just practice is akin to invaluable gems, light to carry and enlightening, unlike uncoordinated action which is akin to carrying a load of rock over one's head (verse 15).
(XIV)
