Acharya Mahaprajna
Gurudeva’s third directive was that our Dharam Sangh should flourish and make strides. It was a great expectation from us. The progress is satisfactory but I am also aware of the problems. Terapanth religious order was born in the soil of Mewar at village Kelva. Rajsamand also became an instrument for its birth. The legacy of the precepts of discipline that we inherited from Acharya Bhikshu is unique. Pujya Gurudeva (Acharya Tulsi) was having his Chaturmas at Kanpur. The eminent writer Jainendra Kumar had just returned from the world tour and came to pay obeisance to the Acharya. He said, “Acharya Shree! I have visited many countries of the world. I had the opportunity to meet many people there but I have no hesitation in saying that nowhere did I come across a group which is so unique and disciplined as the Terapanth Jain Religious Order.”
It is a matter of great satisfaction for me that our monks, nuns, shravaks (laymen) and shravikas (laywomen) are scrupulously following the rules of discipline prescribed by Acharya Bhikshu. Pointing to a specific feature Jainendraji remarked further, “I have taken note of a strange thing here. I visited several religious leaders and what I saw there was that they longed for the favour of wealthy persons and looked to them for support. You are the only religious leader I have come across for whose compassionate look and blessing even the wealthiest persons eagerly wait. I consider it a singular characteristic of Terapanth Dharm Sangh.”
Acharya Shree replied, “We only bring the work to their attention. It is up to them if they want to do it or not do it. We never pursue them, nor remind them. We do not think even in a dream of seeking their favour. This tradition of adhering to righteous conduct is the basis of the progress of our Dharam Sangh. Secondly, we are not involved in financial matters. Not to speak of possessing an inch of land even a desire for owning a house does not arise in our hearts in the remotest sense. We are staying in Terapanth Bhawan at present but when we embark on the next phase of our journey, we are not bothered what will happen to it. This is the worry of the local workers. I derive great satisfaction from the fact that neither we own an inch of land nor possess a single penny. We are completely free from all these worldly temptations.”
