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Aptavani-2
mahavrats are resting on the foundation of ego. If you maharaj,
are resting on the foundation of ego, then the great vows are
resting on the same foundation, are they not? He replies, “I had
never thought it that way.” And just because you have not
thought about it in this way does not mean that Lord Mahavir
is going to be fooled or that this path to liberation can be fooled.
Is the Lord likely to be fooled? Many claim, “We are
panchmahavratdhari”, and people believe them because people
care about money and sex and nothing else. They have no
awareness of what anuvrat, mahavrat or aropit bhaav is. And
people like us who know, will not say anything because it is
wrong to speak against what is contrary to people’s belief.
What is contrary to worldly belief? It is that which is
contrary to the prevailing system of worldly interactions. It is not
right to establish a system of panchayat (five respected village
elders that adjudicate) in a village of thieves. If your pocket is
picked in such a village and you tell the people, “I was robbed”,
they will say, “How do we know? Let us go to the panchayat.”
But the panchayat too is made up of thieves. So you should not
speak against the people. If someone asks you then only you
may say, “This is an ego based (aropit) panchmahavratdhari
(follower of the five great vows). This panchmahavratdhari will
give results just as Mahavir here (Lords idol) is likely to give you
liberation.” If a person does not have anything to eat, even
rotten wheat will do in the end. He has to eat, does he not?
Otherwise he will wither and die. Hence that is what people are
doing elsewhere; they are eating rotten wheat. They have no
choice.
You had no idea that the holder of the five vows
(panchmahavratdhari) was on a false foundation, did you? It is
only when the Gnani Purush elucidates this that you understand.
The Lord has said, “Do not be the holder of these five great
vows on the foundation of ‘I am Chandulal’. Worship the idols
of tirthankaras and study the scriptures on these bases. Do not