In the introductory gatha, we saw Upadhyayji M. requesting SImandhar Swami to grant him the true, pure path, to describe which he first starts to describe the ashuddha maarg:

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चाले सूत्र विरुद्धाचारे, भाषे सूत्र विरुद्ध;

एक कहे अम मारग राखुं, ते किम मानुं शुद्ध रे?

जिनजी! विनतड़ी अवधारो. (२)

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Many ignoramuses are not enlightened by the scriptures (shastra, sutra) or only understand or choose to believe in parts of it, and thus do not act in the manner prescribed in the scriptures. Some even preach in a manner that contradicts the Sutras. [This reminds me of Anandghanji Maharaj's stavan of Anantnath Bhagwan, wherein he says 'There is no bigger sin that Utsutra Bhashan' (= preaching against what is said in the scriptures).] Some even go on to say, that it is only because of them that the path of God is protected and is flowing smoothly. Upadhyayji Maharaj asks Lord Simandhar Swami how one can believe the above mentioned people and their words to be pure and truthful?

Here, one might wonder what constitutes "Sutra". The famous poet monk Padmavijayji explains in his Balavabodh on this verse:
11 Ang Sutras, 12 Upang Sutras, 10 Payanna Sutras, 6 Chhed Sutras, 4 Mool Sutras, Nandi Sutra and Anuyog Dvar – these make up the 45 Aagams we have at present. Thus, these core, literal Aagams (1), and the authoritative texts and commentaries created by Purvacharyas to elaborate the meaning (in order of increasing clarification), namely, Niryukti (2), Bhashya (3), Churni (4), and Tika (5) – these five together constitute the Panchangi, and are treated as Sutra. Moreover, texts created by Purvacharyas such as those by Haribhadrasuriji Maharaj, Umasvatiji Maharaj etc. are also considered Sutra or Shastra, because they have also been created in accordance with the original Sutras.

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आलम्बन कूडां देखाडी, मुग्ध लोकने पाड़े;

आणाभंग तिलक ते कालुं, थापे आप निलाडे रे.

जिनजी! विनतड़ी अवधारो (३)

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Now, these Sadhus who do not act according to Jinagnya, are not even fully detached and only seek physical comfort, justify their actions and their words by giving false causes (aalambans), leading their deluded followers to fall into the chasm of sansar. How do they justify their practices? By saying stuff such as 'It is kaliyug now. No one today possesses the physical and mental capacity to sustain the conduct prescribed in the scriptures like our predecessors did.' By falsely reasoning this way, they attempt to violate Jinagya, and their foreheads are stained with this sin.

Though this was written almost five centuries ago, the relevance of these words seems to be ever increasing. We see too many Sadhus in several denominations who have not only compromised on their conduct, but have also attempted to justify it. In Jainism, there is an "utsarg" path which is the common path, and there is an "apvad" path for exceptional, emergency purposes. In usual cases, most "utsarg" commandments have "apvaad" commandments (e.g. eating at night).
In the Aagam called Mahanishith Sutra, there are 3 ekaants (meaning, there are strictly no exceptions to these 3 conducts – only utsarg, no apvaad) prescribed for a monk:
- directly coming in contact with teukaay/agnikaay
- directly drinking sachitta (unboiled) water
- indulging in women

My thoughts right now are primarily focussed on the first ekaant. Anyone who has studied Jeev Vichar or an equivalent knows that electricity is a form of Teukaay beings. Today, a plethora of monks have started using microphones, mobiles, laptops, ACs, fans, electric wheelchairs, and the list goes on. The Kevalgyani Bhagwants were certainly aware of the future times when one might argue that using microphones would lead to more people being able to listen and attaining Dharma, but yet they placed this aagya in the category of 'ekaant'! In this glorious Shasan, you cannot compromise your own conduct as a monk to enlighten even a billion souls!

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'विधि जोतां कलियुगमां होव, तीरथनो उच्छेद;

जिम चाले तिम चालवे जइयें', एह धरे मतिभेद रे.

जिनजी! विनतड़ी अवधारो (४)

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Now, those who do not conduct themselves according to the Sutras, may have read the Sutras and find the "vidhi" or practices shown in the scriptures difficult to practise. So, they think that if one insists only on practising the conducts as shown in the scriptures, then in the present times, in the Kalikaal, the Tirth (i.e. Shasan) will be obliterated. Why? Because if one insists on following the right conduct as shown in the scriptures, only a few handful of true monks will remain, which could end up wiping out the Jain religion (as the Shasan cannot continue in absence of Sadhus). Thus they argue that we should let things be as they are, we should let Sadhus conduct themselves as they find comfortable so that the number of Sadhus continues to increase, and the Shasan does not get obliterated.

Upadhyayji Maharaj rightly points out to the Lord that this thought of theirs differs from the scriptures.

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इम भाषी ते मारग लोपे, सूत्रक्रिया सवि पीसी;

आचरणा शुद्धि आचरिये, जोई योगनी वीसी रे.

जिनजी! विनतड़ी अवधारो (५)

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By voicing the aforementioned thoughts, these Sadhus have crushed all Sutras and the kriyas or practices shown in them. "A spiritual aspirant must endeavour to engage in pure conduct." To back his claim, Upadhyayji Maharaj offers Haribhadrasuriji Maharaja's creation which elucidate the Yoga Marga, Vinshati Vinshika (lit., twenty twenties) as proof – particularly the 17th set of 20 verses, where the purity of conduct in accordance with Jinagya is emphasised.

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(to be continued...)