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Essence of Jainism
Q. : What is the nature of Ācārya, Upādhyāya and Sadhu from
the worlaly and uitimate standpoints ? A. : From the ultimate standpoint the nature and personality of
all the three are just similar. In all the three the anxiety to propitiate liberation is the same; external and internal Nirgra. nthahood is similar; the ultimate standpoint and the absolute nature are similar. However, there is some difference in the worldly nature of the three. From the practical point of view, the Ācārya is the most qualified. This is because on his head lies the responsibility of ruling over the Gaccha and preserving the glory of the Jain order. The Upādhyāya is expected to acquire some more virtues to attain to the status of Ācārya. These may not be found in the Sadhu.
Purpose and Types of Sulutation
Q. : Wby are the Parameșth is saluted ? What are the types of
salutation ? A, : They are saluted for the acquirement of virtues. They are
themselves virtuous and one acquires these virtues by suuting them. This is because the aim-dhye va and the person a mingdhyātā become similar. One who nourishes a spirit of theft day and night can never become honest. In a similar way, one who loves learning and the learned does earn some learning or other. Salutation is expression of ones own humility before the great and a conduct which acknowledges their greatness. This salutation is dual-dvaita and non-dual-advaita, i.e., twofold. When the fact is that specialised type of higher steadi is not attained and the individual feels and experiences that he is a devotee and someone else is the object of devotion, it is dvaita salutation. Once the options of attachment and jealousy are anojbilated, the miod becomes so steady that the Ātmā looks upon its own self as an object of devotion, and concentrates only on its owo form. This is advaita salutation. of these two, naturally advaita salutation is superior because dvaita salutation is only a means to the advaita salutation.
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