ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 02

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 357

INTERNATION
SCHOOL
OF
1
SELF STUDY IS THE
SUPREME AUSTERITY
साध्याय परम
The oldest description treatise on Acaränga is Niryukti written by Bhadrabahu-ll (in 6
vikrama Samvat). This is followed by curni written by Jinadāsa Gani Mahattara. The third treatise is tīkā or commentary written by Silanka. Later on a number of other treatises were written by a large number of ācāryas with the latest being written by Mahaprajna Commentaries give detailed description of each concept written in the original text.
Subject of Acārānga
The subject of Acaränga is the conduct of the practitioner of the path of purification and discuss the progress of the faithful to the highest perfection i.e. mokşa or liberation. It starts with the inquisitiveness of the soul and its nature. It is a complete text of the entire Jain path of spiritual purification and hence it is claimed to be the essence of all the other Jain canons. Acārānga is the basic texts for the ascetics to start his /her ascetic life, to the extent that a new ascetic entering the order was first examined by his guru about his knowledge of this text. Only after reading Acārānga, the other texts of ethics, life sketches, karma etc are read by the ascetic.
Acārānga is divided in nine chapters as indicated below.
Sastra Panja1
Lokavijaya?
Sitosniya Samyaktva.
Lokasāra
Dhyûtavāda
Vimoksa
Acaranga (Ayāro) Sūtra, 1-177 (Jaina Vishva Bharati, Ladnun, V.S. 2031
2 Ibid, Sūtra, 1-186
3 Ibid, Sutra, 1-87
4 Ibid, Sūtra, 1-53
5 Ibid, Sutra, 1-140
Ibid, Sutra, 1-113
Weapons or arms of destruction or giving pain to living beings. Six types of living beings according to their body form, (şativanikāya). Conquest of the world i.e. gives up the pride /attachment of the family and non self objects.
Hot and cold. Winning over the bodily afflictions (parişaha-jaya). Righteousness. Knowing the universal truth and to practice the same. Essence of the world i.e. non violence, laziness, non possession, self study, carefulness and giving up the wrong beliefs.
The cleaning i.e. methods to dissociate the karmas from the soul, service to the ascetics.
Liberation i.e. methods of performing austerities /penance.
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0