न्याय मारग चालणी: चारित्र चोखो पालणो
Summary
This text is a speech by Acharya Tulsi, the head of the Terapanth Jain sect, delivered on the occasion of the bicentennial of the sect's founding. He expresses joy and solemnity as the Terapanth enters its third century. The speech emphasizes the sect's unwavering commitment to its core principles, particularly the strict observance of ethical conduct (achar), which has remained unchanged for two hundred years despite significant religious, social, and political changes. Acharya Tulsi attributes the sect's strength and organization to its unique structure, where no individual monk is allowed to have personal disciples, thereby preventing fragmentation and fostering unity under a single Acharya. He distinguishes between a sect (sampradaya) as a dynamic tradition and sectarianism (sampradayikta) as a rigid, stagnant mindset, affirming his commitment to the former. The speech highlights the Terapanth's system of equitable distribution (sambhag) of all resources among its monks and nuns, which he describes as a developed form of socialism. Acharya Tulsi calls for a focus on the present, not just the past, and expresses satisfaction that the Terapanth remains a living example of the "tripadi" (threefold path). He acknowledges the challenges of the modern age of rationalism but insists that faith, humility, and discipline must be preserved. He advocates for a broader vision of Jainism, urging all Jain sects to adopt a spirit of coordination to maintain the integrity of the Jain tradition, reiterating five points of harmony he had proposed five years earlier. The speech concludes with a call to preserve the rich intellectual and ethical heritage received from the past while enriching it with new ideas.
Conclusion
This document’s implications are profound for the Terapanth sect, affirming that its two-century-long commitment to core ethical conduct (achar) and discipline remains unbroken despite immense social, religious, and political change. The outcome is a unique organizational stability: a unified, non-fragmented monastic order under a single Acharya, free from the divisive guru-disciple lineages that plague other traditions. This structure, rooted in voluntary submission and shared labor (samvibhag), fosters both contentment and spiritual focus. Critically, the text argues that this disciplined tradition enables, rather than restricts, a broader, non-sectarian vision—allowing the Acharya to champion universal values like non-violence (ahimsa) and reconciliation among all Jain sects. The ultimate implication is that rigorous internal discipline is not opposed to, but is the very foundation for, a dynamic, outward-looking spirituality capable of addressing modern challenges.