Training in Nonviolence

Author(s): Mahapragna Acharya
Publisher: Anuvrat Global Organization

Page 29

Non-absolutist Lifestyle - An Antidote to Violence
India. We are in touch with it. We have forged an intimate and direct relationship with the five thousand year old soul of India. But the sad situation that exists today is that those who talk no end of Indian culture send their children abroad to study but do not impart to them the knowledge of our ancient vidya (wisdom).
There is no doubt that the ancient vidya, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Apbhransh etc. are responsible for the progress of our Dharma Sangha and I wish and hope that my monks, nuns, samans (semi-monks) and samanis (semi-nuns) will pay heed to the fact that the vidya that has come by is preserved. In this direction we have made some efforts this year and it is a matter of satisfaction that we have moved ahead to some extent but we have to bear in mind that our efforts do not slacken in the future and that this endeavour is sustained.
(iii) It is Essential to Become Rohini
When I think of the early days of my life I recall that I knew only one language i.e. Marwari (a dialect of the western Rajasthan) till I grew ten years old. It was a colloquial dialect. I hadn't even heard of the Hindi language. When I became a muni (ascetic) at the age of ten I began to study Sanskrit. Then I studied Prakrit. The seeds of Prakrit were sown when I was in Udaipur at that time. I remember that after being free from our daily chores we returned to our place. Acharya Kalugani was staying in Panchayti Nohara. As soon as Muni Tulsi and me went to the revered Gurudev Kalugani, he asked, "Have you studied the eighth lesson?"
I replied, "No, I haven't yet studied it."
Acharya Kalugani asked me to begin it immediately and he taught me Prakrit. I studied Hindi much later. These days I write in Hindi. Earlier I used to write either in Sanskrit or Prakrit. Even if two sentences had to be written I chose to write in Sanskrit. I didn't know Hindi at all. After some years I began to write in Hindi.
Our new monks and nuns know Hindi very well. Some of them can also speak English to some extent but not much headway has been made in the study of Sanskrit and Prakrit. We have to think over it. It is now the duty of Yuvacharya Mahashraman (successor to Acharya Mahapragya) to see that the wealth of ancient wisdom that has come to us is preserved. It is essential to become Rohini, but at least we must become preservers. We must ensure that this heritage in preserved. (iv) Non-absolutist Lifestyle
Gurudeva Tulsi used to say that Mahapragya knows the art of living and this art of living is non-absolutist lifestyle. I have had great faith in the Jain principle of non-absolutism (anekant darshan) and I have all along made it my lifestyle too. I am of the view that he who has embraced a lifestyle based on anekant darshan (manifoldness of truth) will never be entangled in any problem. If there is impeccable way of solving problems, it is the anekant lifestyle. I have adopted this lifestyle. I am the head of our Dharma Sangha. There is a tradition of just one Acharya in the Terapanth Religious Order and the Acharya is vested with all the powers. I am, therefore, independent. But on account of my anekant lifestyle I also
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