A legacy of ahimsa
July 2010
Acharya Mahapragya, the 10th head of Jain Shwetamber Terapanth group left for his heavenly abode on May 9, 2010 at Sardar Shahar, where he was spending his pre-chaturmas time.
At the age of 90 he exuded strength and confidence. A day before his death he met with anuvrat workers and asked them to work hard for peace, reconciliation and interfaith harmony. Even on the fateful day, he continued with this usual discourses right up to the moment he left. He expressed a feeling shunyata or emptiness and within a few seconds he left his body.
Acharya Mahapragya: A legacy of respect and tolerance Acharya Mahapragya will be remembered for his contribution to humanity. To him science and spirituality were not contradictory but complimentary. What the world needs today is a new human being who combines in him both spiritual and scientific outlook. He relentlessly worked for the reconciliation between the two and promoted scientific research in his religious order. He was of the view that all religions seek truth and the experiences of truth seekers, irrespective of their religions, cannot be dubbed as false or true. Everyone is right from his point of view. This is the quintessence of anekantvad, the non-absolutist outlook on life which enjoins us to respect all religious beliefs. In his discourses he didn’t talk of his religion but talked only of human values and universal aspect of religion. He said that the main cause of conflict is impulsive impetuosity or what we call uncontrolled emotions.
He was of the view that each one of us has an inner world which is full of bliss. To fathom it he developed Preksha Meditation. His three-dimensional programme of human regeneration in the form of Anuvrat, Preksha Meditation and Jivan Vigyan became his only mission of life. His successor Acharya Mahashraman along with his monks and nuns are now continuing his legacy of ahimsa.
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