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Niyamasara
ācārya Sambhavasāgara (आचार्य संभवसागर )
- the epitome of renunciation (tyāga)
नियमसार
Muni Sambhavasagara (b. 3 May, 1941) had adorned Jaina asceticism (muni dīkṣā) on 9 July, 1967, in Hummaca Padmavati, from Acārya 108 Mahāvīrakirti. Acārya 108 Mahāvīrakīrti, at the time of his 'samadhi' (the stage of meditation while embracing death), adorned Muni Sambhavasāgara with the title 'sthavira', meaning 'steadfast' or 'unswerving'. On 9 January, 1987, as per the instruction of Acarya 108 Vimalasagara, Muni Sambhavasagara was accorded the title of ‘'Acārya'.
The Jaina Doctrine highlights that the body and the soul are two entirely distinct substances; modifications that our body undergoes are not the modifications of the soul. The body is made up of the sense organs but the soul is devoid of the senses. The body is devoid of the knowledge but the soul is the knowledge, besides other attributes. The body is perishable but the soul is imperishable. Only the body experiences origination, survival and extinction. The body has a beginning and an end, but the soul has neither beginning nor end.
Acārya Pujyapāda discourses in Iṣṭopadeśa:
न मे मृत्युः कुतो भीतिर्न मे व्याधिः कुतो व्यथा ।
नाहं बालो न वृद्धोऽहं न युवैतानि पुद्गले ॥२९॥
I do not die; what should I fear death for? I do not suffer from disease; what can cause me pain? I am not a child; I am not an old man; I am not a young man. All these are attributes of the physical matter (pudgala).
The conduct (căritra) of the true ascetic (muni) must conform to the Doctrine mentioned above. The subject of his inclination, attention and concentration must be the soul and not the body. A difficult proposition, indeed! Acārya Sambhavasagara follows such exalted conduct (căritra) in letter and in spirit. Since 1998, he has renounced all cereals (anna - food grain). Further, he has renounced six kinds of 'rasa' - the toothsome victuals. His food (āhāra) does not include milk, curd, sugar, salt, oil and clarified-butter (ghee). Green leafy vegetables, too, are excluded. I make obeisance humble to the Lotus Feet of Acarya Sambhavasagara.
(xlii)
