Agam 30 Prakirnak 07 Candavejjhayam Sutra

Author(s): D S Baya
Publisher: Agam Ahimsa Samta Evam Prakrit Samsthan

Page 34

PREFACE : XXXIII
difficult to find as the masters who are the givers of all types of education. (14 - 20) In Mūlācāra, a text of the Yāpanīya tradition also, highlighting the quality of humility, it has been said that even if a scriptural knowledge, studied with humility, is forgotten due to negligence, it is regained in the next birth and becomes instrumental in achieving omniscience (Kevala Uñāna)'.
Basic qualities of a Master (Ācārya Guņa):
While discussing the basic qualities of a Master, it has been said that the masters, who are tolerant like the earth, stable like a mountain, steadfast in their duties, endowed with coolth and brilliance like the moon, unperturbed like the ocean and have the proper understanding of the time and the place (contemporary situation), are respected and venerated everywhere. (21-31)
Thirty-six fundamental characteristics of the masters have been described in this work. Like-wise, many other Jaina scriptures describe the masters' thirty-six characteristics; however those thirtysix characteristics are different from the ones described herein.
Bhagwatī–ārādhanā says – the master ought to be the observer of the right-conduct (Cāritravāna), supporter of the faith (Ādhāravāna), practical (Vyavahāravāna), active (Kartā), and the exponent of the methods of gaining and losing of the tri-gem (Ratnatraya), famous (Prasiddha) and glorious (Kīrtiśalī)?. Further, it has been said that the master practices eight cognitive conducts (Iñānācāra), eight conative conducts (Darsanācāra),
Mūlacāra, verse 286. 2 Bhagawatī Ārādhanā, verses 419, 420.