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themselves to be possessing high status by practising part of religious rituals.
MOKSHA MARG PRAKASHAK
Here someone says- "Some appropriate fruit will be reaped by whatever religions one has followed?"
Answer: As someone having accepted the vow of Upavasa (observing complete fast) eats even a particle of food then he is a sinner and if by taking the vow of Ekaashana (taking pure meal only once in a day) takes some quantity of food even then he is a religious person. Similarly, if someone by assuming high spiritual status violates it even slightly, he is a great sinner and if by accepting the vow of lower spiritual status practises even some part of religion then he is a religious person. Hence, one should practise religion according to one's capacity, no fault lies in this; but if someone proclaiming one-self to be possessing high spiritual status indulges in mean practice then he is assuredly a great sinner. The same is described in Shat-Pahuda by shri Kund-Kund Acharya :
जहजारूवसरिसो तिलतुसमेत्तं ण हिदि हत्थेसु
जह लेइ अप्पबहुयं तत्तो पुण जाइ णिग्गोदम् ॥18॥ ( सूत्रपाहुड़ )
i.e., the bodily posture of a true saint (muni) is found to be always naked just like the naked state of a child at his birth. He does not accept the slightest material possession; but if a saint accepts even the slightest material possession he assuredly goes to Nigoda (the lowermost one-sensed state of downfall of Jivas existence where one dies and rebirths 18 times per respiration of time).
Let it be kown that- "In the householder's status, if someone keeping a lot of possessions, makes some limitation (with a vow not to increase it any further) then also he deserves the right of attaining the heaven and subsequently liberation; but by adopting monk's status if one keeps the slightest possession even then he attains Nigoda state. Hence, keeping big name and practising lower order of conduct is not correct.
It is to be known that in Hundaavasarpini1 aeon this the present running time is Kalikala2 In Jina's religion the characteristics of a
1.
2.
The aeon of descendency in all respects.
The period of ill-conduct and religious downfall is called 5th era in Jaina scripture.
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