Shree Acharang Sutra

1ST AṄGA SŪTRA

GUIDANCE TO INNER JOURNEY:

FROM SOUL TO SUPREME SOUL

The Āgamas unveil the secrets and doctrines of the omniscient, Lord Mahāvīra. Śrī Ācārāṅga Sūtra is the first Āgama that illustrates the path to attain freedom from misery and pain by following a peaceful lifestyle that leads us towards spirituality. Lord Mahāvīra had spent twelve and a half years in deep meditation and gained complete control over all his senses like mind, body and speech, thus attaining enlightenment. The knowledge that he experienced during the course of his meditation are illustrated in the Ācārāṅga Sūtra.

The first sermon delivered by Lord Mahāvīra for the welfare of the people, after enlightenment was through the Ācārāṅga Sūtra. There is an in depth description about how the soul is a different entity from the physical body. This book is highly recommended for those who want in-depth study about the soul. This Sūtra provides guidance on how the human nature leads us to worldly life, and how to free ourselves from this bond.

The Ācārāṅga Sūtra has nine divisions. It gives an insight on how to detach from the worldly life, become an ascetic and about the life of an ascetic. By reading the Ācārāṅga Sūtra, we get inspired to awaken our inner-self. The Ācārāṅga

Sūtra is the first sermon given by Lord Mahāvīra and is the root or foundation to omniscience.

Without introspection of the soul, all the other kinds of awareness are futile. Therefore, it is essential for all spiritual seekers to study the Ācārāṅga Sūtra thoroughly.

The ultimate aim of the soul which is to realize itself is known as ĀCĀRĀṄGA. ĀCĀRĀṄGA is the pillar on which resides a sādhu or sādhvi. It gives a narration about the conduct and behavior of a sādhu (monk). How one conducts oneself is known as behavior and to observe the rules of conduct is ĀCĀRĀṄGA.

Scientists have proven that plants have life. In the Ācārāṅga Sūtra, Lord Mahāvīra has proved that not only plants but also earth, water, fire, air have life. The sensation of water is similar to the sensations of plants. The sense of touch that humans have is similar to that possessed by water and the earth. The size of a mountain changes because the earth is living. Geologists have proved that the height of mountains vary from time to time. An article on “Mountains that grow” in the magazine FORNET describes the factors responsible for the external and the internal growth of mountains. It is a proven fact that only living beings can grow.

People are content when they have all the luxuries, but the happiness and contentment that comes without possessing these luxuries gives supreme bliss to our soul. The Lord has stated that ‘Comforts give us pleasure, but the pleasure derived from spirituality is incomparable.’