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The Jains through Time
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will prove successful or even convenient, but remains of those who would not change gradually they prove their usefulness. Only with the times, whereas those who go with then do we give up clinging to the old the flow survive and prosper. beliefs. Similarly, just as new skin is formed underneath the flaking scales of the old, About two hundred years after Tirthankar once a new idea or observance establishes Mahavir's nirvana, circumstances in society itself, the old can be peeled away without changed and with that people's customs and any difficulty.
practices also changed. One of the things
that was affected was the timing of bhiksha History shows that whenever great Acharyas (the giving of food to ascetics). The ascetics of the past have felt the need to change the asked their Acharya, "What should we do? If observances of the times, they have done so we ask for alms in the old way, we are without any hesitation. In this manner, new unable to get food at the right time. If we principles, beliefs, and types of behaviour don't follow the rules, we will be accused of have been promulgated in accordance with defying tradition!" Shrutadhar Acharya the needs of the age. Those attached to the Shayyambhav, an ascetic of great wisdom, old ways may have aired their suspicions or replied, 'khittam kālam ca vinnāya, tahappāņam accused the Acharyas of laxity in their niumjaē' - 'O ascetics, along with the conduct, but the new ideas, proving their injunction to follow certain rituals and worth, silenced their opposition.
customs, the Tirthankars have also told you
to try to understand the needs of the times? Like the movement of time, change too is The correct behaviour for the ascetic is to inevitable. Nobody can stop it. It is perform his religious observances and other unavoidable. To resist it is to resist the most actions in accordance with the requirements fundamental principle of creation. If you of the times. He needs to look carefully at study the principle of the development of the situation and decide how he should act. human evolution, you will find not a trace This is the proper code of conduct for a
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