Jaina Acara Siddhanta aur Svarupa

Author(s): Devendramuni
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 11

BLESSING
Conduct is the vital essence of Jainism. The body cannot subsist without vital breath. The place for a dead body is not a house but the graveyard. No special endeavour without conduct is of any use. In the Jaina eanonical literature the highest position has been reserved for conduct. Acārānga is the most notable annotation on conduct. The second place has been accorded to the reasoning faculty. Sūtrakrtānga is its greatest exposition. No advance in spirituality is possible without right vision. Its perfection is clearly visible in the fourth stage of spiritual development whereas the perfection of right knowledge is noticable in the thirteenth stage. But even their perfection does not ensure liberation. There is no emancipation in the absence of right conduct.
- From the earliest age to modern times the wise Jainas have elucidated the significance of conduct. During the times of Lord Mahāvira there were num
e numerous philosophical doctrines. The Jainas subscribed to activism which is nothing but proper conduct.
The Jaina conduct is not based on blind beliefs or superstitions. It is neither imitation nor a representation of public stupidity. It is based on right faith and right knowledge. Without knowlede right conduct will ever remain a chimera. Perverted knowledge is false and misleading. It leads only to degradation. Indian philosophies like Nyaya, Sāmkhya, Buddhism etc., gave importance to knowledge alone. Mimānsā has stressed activism alone. Jainism, however, emphatically says that knowledge and conduct alone can lead to the coveted release from the mundane thraldom. The two together can ensure permanent release.
Many books have been published on ethics and philosophy in general but there was no comprehensive book on Jaina conduct. I had always felt this want and expressed my desire to my disciple Devendra Muni. He has written this book exactly as I wanted him to. I am confident that it will be of great use to those interested in the Jaina conduct which is ever fresh being essentially original. Serious and well-meaning research scholars, 100, will derive great benefit from it.
Devendra Muni is talented, yet modest. He has unbounded faith in his teachers. This has stood him in good stead. I wish him god speed in serving Jainism sincerely. May he augment its glory by maintaining his health and winning cheer.
Upădhyāya Puskara Muni June 1, 1982