Read more about Shri Acharanga Sutra by Parasdham

1. By Parasdham
http://parasdham.org/

2. The Agamas unveil the secrets and doctrines of the
omniscient, Parmatma Mahavira. Shri Acharanga
Sutra is the first Agama that illustrates the path to
attain freedom from misery and pain by following a
peaceful lifestyle that leads us towards spirituality.
Parmatma Mahavira had spent 12 ½ years in deep
meditation and gained complete control over all his
senses i.e. mind, body and speech, thus attaining
enlightenment. The knowledge that he experienced
during the course of his meditation are illustrated in
this sutra.

3. The 1st sermon delivered by Parmatma Mahavira for
the welfare of the people after enlightenment was
through this sutra. There is an in depth description
about how the soul is different entity from the
physical body. This sutra helps one to differentiate
between the physical body and the soul. It provides
guidance on how the human nature leads us to
worldly life and how to free ourselves from this
bond. This sutra has 9 divisions. It gives an insight
on how to detach from the worldly life, become an
ascetic and about the life of an ascetic.

4. This sutra inspires one to awaken his inner-self. It
is the 1st sermon given by Parmatma Mahavira and
thus it is the root or foundation of omniscience.
Without introspection of soul, all the other kinds of
awareness are futile. The ultimate aim of the soul
which is to realize itself is known as ACHARANGA.
It is the pillar on which resides a sadhu or sadhvi. It
gives a narration about the conduct and behaviour of
a monk (sadhu).

5. How one conduct oneself is known as behaviour and
to observe he rules of conduct is ACHARANGA.
Researches prove that plants have life. In this Sutra,
Parmatma Mahavira had 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 earth. The size of a
mountain changes because the earth is living.
Geologists have proved that height of mountains
vary from time to time.

6. 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 Parmatma has stated that
‘Comforts gives us pleasure (physical body), but
the pleasure derived from spirituality (soul) is
incomparable’.

7. Thank You