A lot of Jains are often confronted with this dilemma owing to their worldly pursuits. A Jain is one who believes that such pursuits, aimed at the attainment of only temporary pleasure, are subordinate to spiritual pursuits which are aimed at attaining eternal, unhindered and extreme bliss. It is thus that they always think: what do the Tirthankars say in this regard?

The scriptures Updeshmala, authored by Bhagwan Mahavir Swami’s disciple Shri Dharmadas Gani, and Panchashak Prakaran, authored by Acharya Shri Haribhadrasuri, unequivocally describe where a Shravak should reside. Let’s have a look:

निवसेज्ज तत्थ सड्ढो, साहूणं जत्थ होइ संपाओ। चेइयहराइँ जम्मि य, तयण्णसाहम्मिया चेव।।

A Shravak lives *only in a place:* - which is frequented by Sadhus, - ⁠which has Jin Mandirs, and, - ⁠where Sadharmiks live.

Why? The commentator Acharya Shri Abhaydevsuri answers, ‘To increase one’s virtues’ in pursuit of Moksha. He then cites Gathas 340-342 of Shravak Pragnapti to elaborate the abovementioned:

• By doing vandan to Sadhu Bhagwants, one inculcates a respect for the Guru Bhagwant’s virtues, thus obliterating one’s bad karma. Upon listening to their Deshna, one becomes free of any doubts pertaining to any of the 9 Tattvas such as the Jiva etc. By donating Achitta items to them, one sheds karma, as such daan leads to the enrichment of the Sadhu’s knowledge and other qualities.
• ⁠By doing Chaityavandan, Jinpooja etc. as per the Vidhi laid down in the scriptures, Mithyatva is destroyed and Samyaktva becomes more refined: thus say the Arihantas.
• ⁠By dwelling among Sadharmiks, a Sadharmik stabilises one in the faith, showers affection on one. Affection towards the Sadharmik is the essence of Shasan. A Sadharmik by way of praise, encouragement, etc. helps one on the Mokshamarga, and ensures that one does not stray away from the Jina Dharma.

May the words of the scriptures guide us in our life and career choices!

[A perusal of these lines also makes it amply clear that while a Shravak may have to live in regions apart from the regions prescribed above due to sheer necessity, it is inappropriate to endorse or justify living in such regions.]