Acharya Tulsi
This world is a confluence of diversification. Many religious cultures took birth and grew in its yard. Religion is life's eternal expectation. Man has being accepting this since increate time and will continue till eternity like this only. One of the reasons for this is, indeed a very important reason is, man wants happiness and peace. The deep desire for happiness and peace is eternal. This was present in past, is present in present and will be present in future. There is no such period, when there is an end to this deep desire. The only means to achieve happiness and peace is religion. Other than this there is no other option, no other means, which can fulfil this deep desire of man, which can make him experience happiness and peace. But religion cannot become a means of happiness, cannot give peace until, man does not imbibe it in his life.
The Windows of Mind shall Remain Open
To imbibe religion into life is a matter of future. Before that it is expected that man should know and understand it in right prospect. This is possible only when the windows of heart and mind are open. Until the windows are closed how is elemental knowledge possible? In ancient time those houses were considered good that had no windows and the doors were less. The place of origin of Terapanth "AndheriOri" was like this only. There was no window in those eaves for sunlight to come. So it named "AndheriOri" The people of Kelwa told about the same place to teacher Bikshu for his stay of four months. He willingly stayed there. There he met darkness. It seems as if he had chosen that place to understand the deep mysteries of darkness. Because to end any enemy, it is necessary to know his deep secrets. Undoubtedly teacher Bikshu found out effective ideas to eliminate darkness.
Maybe at that time there was a value for that kind of houses. But today they have devalued. Standard for good house has been changed. Today those houses are considered to be good, where sufficient light can come, sun rays can enter, and there is proper flow of air. So windows, doors and ventilators are expected in the house. They are expected to remain open. To know/understand/recognize religion, this is expected. If the windows of mind will be open than only man will understand religion.
Comparative Analysis is Necessary
With respect to religion the true meaning of keeping the windows open does not mean to control one's faith. People should continue to have faith in the religion in which he has faith. But there should be vacancy for listening to and understanding other topics. He should know the opinions of other people and if these opinions are better than the previous one then without any prejudice they should imbibe them. Until and unless there is comparative analysis of opinions how can it be said that our opinion is the best? To have proper knowledge about anything it is necessary to have knowledge about its all dimensions.
In Jain philosophy there is discussion about three words- on one's own time practice, practice on other person's time, practice based on one's own as well as other's time. Here the word time is synonym for principle. One's own time means one's own principle. Those principle on whom we have faith and whom we are practicing, those principles are one's own time. Other person's time means principle of other person. For some Vedic Veda is one's own time and Pitak and Aagam are other's time. In the same manner for a Jain Aagam is his own time and Pitak and Veda are other's time. One's own as well as other's time include all the principle.
For appropriate study, the first condition is that any principle should not be read with any prejudice because every principle has its own importance. If we will do their comparative analysis by being unbiased then we will see many similarities. This is not a rumour but a fact proven with experience.
The editing and research of Aagam is happening at our place. These volumes are thousand years old. Our previous teachers have encrypted them. Today we are studying them in the light of modern knowledge and science. This makes clear so many things about which we were not able to understand till now. Though we are left with work like a profound sea in this field, we have done just a little bit of work. But from one aspect we can say that those work which were not done in past thousand years, we got the opportunity to complete them.
We have tried to make the research process of Aagam more scientific. Though we have used Buddhist volumes for vivid explanation of the sources vivid sources, but we have not sided from Upanishad. Veda and Smiriti volumes are also included in our research work. Without having thorough knowledge of Buddhist and Vedic volumes, right knowledge about Jain religion is not possible. These three volumes are contemporary. Many of the concerns and explanations in these volumes are similar. That is why similarity between many words, meanings, concerns in these books are not unnatural.
Difference between Professor and Pundit
Lord Mahaveera has said that- First look into your principle then look into other's principle. After that do their comparative study. One is Pundit and one happens to be Professor. There is a big difference between the two. The mindset of Pundit is attached to old beliefs. To accept new things his mind remains closed. Just opposite to this the mind of a professor always remains open. He is not hesitant to accept any new thing. The difference between an apothecary and a doctor is also the same. Though Ayurvedic technology has its features in the medical field then also it is narrowing. Opposite to this Allopath is widening. The basic reason for this is the narrow and liberal mindset of its user/officer. Where there is narrow mindset, there is an obstacle in development. Where there is generosity, there is new opportunity for development.
In the following reference one thing needs to be understood. Comparative study is very important, but before that it is necessary to create its background. In order to do this it is very important to have a serious study of our culture and important landmarks. After a profound study till a specified limit only, a line of considerable limit can begin. What is today's problem? The Vedic scholars do not have the complete knowledge of the Vedas. The Jain and the Buddhists are not familiar with their huge literature. Many people as such are not even aware of the religion that they follow. They are not aware as to with which philosophical tradition they have an uninterrupted relation. They are Jain from birth, Vedic from birth, and Buddhist from birth. But they are not a Jain, Vedic or Buddhist by the knowledge that they have or the deeds that they commit. Therefore, one who keeps information regarding one's religious philosophy and a follower of sincere and ethical behaviour is a true Jain, Vedic or a Buddhist. This fact can become clearer by means of a story.
Capitalist Swinging in a Cradle
A sage came to the capitalist's house to beg. The daughter-in-law of the capitalist was at home. She offered food to the sage. After consuming the food the sage asked a question before going.
'kitavarsh me tujhpati, kitavarsh me poot? susrokitravarsh me, tujhgharkedo soot?'
The daughter-in-law immediately replied to the sage-
'charvarshromujhpati, barahvarshropoot. susrojhulepaalnai, mujhgharaido soot.'
After listening to the reply, the sage quietly walked away. The father-in-law was sitting in the courtyard outside. He heard this talk. He became extremely angry. He at once came inside the house and started abusing the daughter-in-law. He also started abusing the poor sage. The daughter-in-law understood that he has heard of her communication with the sage and she started pleading - 'I did not communicate anything that could hamper the reputation of our family. But I would not offer you an explanation for this. You should go and demand a clarification from the sage regarding our talk.' The capitalist mumbling with anger and holding a stick in his hand went to the location of the sages and asked the leader of the sages - 'Where is your young sage? One who goes to various houses with the excuse of begging and talks haphazardly there?'
The leader called the young sage. The capitalist flared up as soon as he saw the sage - 'First you need to take education from your leader and then you can go the houses to beg for alms. ‘The leader heard the capitalist and then asked for an explanation from the sage. The sage said - 'I did not ask for any objectionable question.' The capitalist said - 'What could be more objectionable than this?' The sage said - 'I asked only one question in order to understand the situation at your house. Your daughter-in-law gave me the information regarding the situation at your house.' The capitalist said - 'The cucumber is of nine hand spans and the seed of thirteen hand spans, what is this conversation. How can the husband be of four years and the son of twelve years? Do not fool me. ‘The sage said-'Respected capitalist! There could be two kinds of state. One can be from the point of view of age and one in terms of the character. Your daughter-in-law told that your son is of four years. This means that he was entangled in dissipated habits. He was drowned in immorality. He was very far from moral character. Then the direction of his life changed. Then he has gained moral character by doing spiritual preaching in these four years. He has become a true human. Your grandchild was mentioned to be of twelve years in age. This means that he has received inspiration from his mother in terms of moral character and human values from his very childhood. As a result of this, he is following the correct path of moral behaviour since he has started understanding things as a child. As far as you are concerned your daughter-in-law told that you are swinging in the cradle, the reason for this is that even after attaining eighty years you have still not started offering prayers to the god. You have not tried to live by moral values or even try to know about these morals. Now you tell me how this conversation is wrong?'
After hearing all that the sage had to say his head bowed with shame. He had never come under the contact of sages before. Today when he received a chance, his life completely changed. He started flowing in the soft currents of morals.
Everyone should start searching for themselves just like the old man. How much is everyone immersed into water? The one who is known to be a Jain since seven generations should not be swinging in a cradle. It is my speculations that hardly will any person prefer to be like this. Now it is my expectation that every person should study one's own time management and have the correct information from all the aspects and they should lead their lives with moral values.
