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Philosophy of Acārānga Sūtra
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F4. An expert Muni, at proper time, should go to places where food etc. are available without any complex or aversion and carefully beg the permissible food, clothing, bowl, blanket, cleaning cloth, broom and mat necessarily required with no idea of accumulation. Without having a preconditioned adamant or committed attitude, he takes the things in the ordinary course. He should not feel elated if successful or sorry if unsuccessful in getting alms. Never quarrel with the donor -- adjust to his behaviour. The Muni should not accept anything which is living-the permissibility to use live water cannot be justified as correct by monks of other schools. He should not be a seeker of tastes, his clothing, mat, cot, etc. should be of a poor variety and fewer in number so as to be easily portable while going from place to place. He should put on the clothes as received without washing, dying, and mending. He cannot accept food prepared or brought for him or use the fire lit for him-should forbid in advance if comes to know of it. A Muni should never prove to be a hinderer for other beggars, birds, hermits, menials etc.-better walk away from there. He should not partake in purchasing operations for him. He can stay in burning-ghāts, grottos, way-side places, or even under the trees.
G. UTTARAVADA GI. “What has been preached by the Lord is my dharma" is a good precept for ordinary people. Such faith is Uttaravāda i. e. the last word. Never act contrary to his preachings. Besides, we should follow the Lord also in his actions and abstainments. Always be engrossed in the philosophy inunciated by him, concentrate your mind on it; contemplate, perceive and understand it, try to follow it and assert for liberation with faith in these right fundamentals. Undoubtedly, the way of Jina Mahāvīra is the best for annihilation of the kārmic bondage. Like an island we can feel safe in it. What is uttered by a Jina is truth alone and should not be doubted but believed as correct and acted upon. Bhagavān preached what he heard, perceived, contemplated and directly realised; and he himslf verified the same for he was always vigilant and alert. No further proof is needed for the words of an omniscient. People who have faith in this philosophy shall on due contemplation understand everything whether right or wrong in the proper perspective and cannot go astray whereas people with perverted faith shall misunderstand everything and cannot achieve selfconciliation.
H. ANEKĀNTAVĀDA Hi. Knowledge can be gained by self-contemplation or through preceptor to preceptor-generation or by asking or hearing from omniscients and others. The enlightened ones know this entire universe from all sides and parts. Unless one knows all, we cannot know one comprehensively; in other words full, knowledge of one object means omniscience. Neiscients cannot know the dharma. Save yourself from people with false knowledge, know the truth alone and then only your efforts would be in the right direction leading to moksa. Vowless men with perverted faith advo
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