Aapno Sanskar Varso - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Aapno Sanskar Varaso" (Our Cultural Heritage) by Param Shraddhey Shri Atmanandji Maharaj, published by Shrimad Rajchandra Sadhna Kendra Koba, based on the provided pages:

Overall Theme:

"Aapno Sanskar Varaso" is a collection of practical guidance and reflections aimed at enriching human life and fostering a deep connection with Indian cultural and spiritual values. The book emphasizes the importance of living a life aligned with righteousness, ethical conduct, and inner growth, moving beyond mere material pursuits. It seeks to guide readers towards a balanced, fulfilling, and meaningful existence.

Author's Perspective (From Pages 4-6):

Early Aspirations: The author, Atmanandji Maharaj, recounts a lifelong aspiration since childhood to attain something unique, rare, and eternal. This pursuit, initially vague, became clearer with age and was further nurtured by the worship of Saraswati and surrender to the Supreme Soul and Sadguru.
Life's Journey and Experience: He acknowledges the challenges faced in life but attributes the joy experienced in his 68th year to the grace of saints, their divine words, and blessings. For the past 45 years, he has dedicated himself to writing, reading, self-study, devotion, discourses, and pilgrimages.
Relevance to the Present: Atmanandji observes that in contemporary times, neither the general public nor the genuinely curious are fully prepared to digest true spirituality. Consequently, the book focuses on practical aspects useful in daily life rather than abstract philosophical or spiritual knowledge.
Content Focus: The book aims to present:
- General purification of life.
- Principles of good conduct and virtues.
- The art of harmonious interaction in family, social, and institutional life.
- Awareness while engaged in work, business, farming, or employment.
- Appropriate interaction with children and the new generation.
- Foundational approaches and behaviors for life development to cultivate worthiness.
Universal Appeal: While acknowledging the influence of Indian sanskars and upbringing, the author stresses that the underlying principles are universally human and spiritually inspiring. The book's message is intended for all progressive humans worldwide, transcending boundaries of country, attire, language, religion, time, caste, creed, or social status.
Core Message: The book aims to inspire readers to integrate good sanskars into their lives, fostering peace, harmony, affection, broad-mindedness, mutual influence of thought and action, universal friendship, the utility of devotion, and purity of emotions. This, in turn, is expected to cultivate an appreciation for true spirituality, making the book beneficial for all ages.

Publisher's Statement (From Page 7):

Purpose: The publisher expresses joy in adding this "gem" to their tradition of offering impactful and life-enriching literature.
Milestone: The book is described as a "milestone" that resonates with the reader's own experiences. It offers guidance for daily life and aims to bring about real-life changes.
Distinctive Quality: The book is praised for its lack of ostentatious language or mere scholarly facts. Instead, it serves as a "Friend, Philosopher, and Guide" for personal and collective life transformation, truly becoming "Our Cultural Heritage."
Author's Authenticity: Atmanandji's consistent life of practice, thought, and action makes his words deeply touching. Following his advice is believed to transform lives and bring about holistic enlightenment.

Author's Notes on Editions (From Pages 8-9):

Fourth Edition: Originally written in about five days in March 1998, it aims to present life-enriching insights from multifaceted experiences from a practical viewpoint. The first edition of 5,000 copies sold out in five months, leading to the second edition.
Fifth Edition: The continuous demand following the fourth edition's 2,000 copies prompted the fifth. The book highlights important aspects of Indian culture, such as detachment, family love, national love, finding happiness in others' well-being, environmental protection, regularity, keeping promises, duty, sacrifice, and dispassion.

Foreword by Dr. Kumarpal Desai (From Pages 10-12):

The Need for Life Guidance: The foreword begins with an anecdote about Maxim Gorky, questioning the focus on external achievements (flying in the sky) versus the fundamental need for understanding "how to live" on Earth.
Objective of the Book: The book's core purpose is to "make humans truly human" by emphasizing noble character, as true religiosity and spirituality can flourish on the foundation of virtuous character.
Spirituality's First Step: Purity of life, loftiness of thought, awareness of duty, and the worship of virtues are presented as the initial steps towards spirituality. The book embodies the spirit of beneficial Indian culture and the necessity of a holistic perspective.
Practical Life Aspects: It covers crucial aspects like time utilization, retirement planning, the influence of effort, health maintenance, character elevation, and politeness in speech. The author offers the essence of his life's experience rather than superficial solutions, emphasizing eternal values.
Role of a Saint: A saint is described not as someone detached from society but as someone who understands societal realities and struggles. True saints contribute to societal upliftment, spreading positivity and generating new inspiration. This book stems from such care for society and culture.
Action over Preaching: The foreword highlights that one act of practice is worth more than mountains of advice. Atmanandji's life journey, from nationalistic to spiritual aspirations, serves as a guide. Saints throughout history, like Narsinh Mehta, Tukaram, Swami Vivekananda, and Vinoba Bhave, observed society and showed the true path of life.
Comprehensive Perspective: The book is a bouquet of four decades of a saint's experience, combining reality with a positive outlook to elevate society. A saint, unlike specialists in education, economics, or politics, possesses a holistic view, making this book a guiding light.

Table of Contents (From Page 13):

The table of contents reveals the wide range of topics covered, including:

Satyam Shivam Sundaram (Truth, Goodness, Beauty)
Progeny, Wealth, and Culture
Problems of the New Generation
Importance of Duty
Think and Move Forward
Breadth of Heart
The Significance of What?
Nationalism through Inter-Provincial Travel
Duty and Rights
Indian Women, Society, and Culture
Education Should Not Be Solely for Livelihood
The Magic of Speech!
Educational Problems!
True Character
Indian Agriculture
True Identity
Proper Use of Time
Retirement
Take Care of Your Health
What Should Be Our Attire?
Simple Living and High Thinking
Ten Keys to a Meaningful Life
Oh Gujaratis!
Gurukul and its Utility
Twelve Great Mantras for Life's Advancement

Key Chapters and Their Summaries (Based on provided excerpts):

Satyam Shivam Sundaram (Page 18-19): Emphasizes that the foundation of Indian culture is based on eternal truth. The decline in adhering to these principles has led to societal degradation, as seen in family breakdown, rising suicides, accidents, indiscipline, corruption, and anti-national activities. Blind imitation of Western culture, adopting its vices (alcohol, meat, violence, licentiousness) instead of its virtues (discipline, ethics, diligence), has made people selfish and materialistic. The call is to return to natural living and follow the guidance of wise individuals.
Progeny, Wealth, and Culture (Page 20-22): Contrasts modern materialistic pursuits with the traditional Indian emphasis on balanced living. While earning wealth is necessary, it should be done ethically and without neglecting family and societal responsibilities. A singular focus on wealth leads to marital stress, health issues, strained relationships, and a lack of true happiness and reputation. True wealth lies in virtuous progeny and a life lived with righteousness.
Problems of the New Generation (Page 23-25): Addresses issues like children going missing, defiance, substance abuse, immodest fashion, and lack of focus on studies. It attributes these problems partly to a disconnect from spirituality, saints, and scriptures, and a failure to present traditional values in a relevant context. It calls for the guidance of enlightened figures like Shrimad Rajchandra, Swami Vivekananda, and Vinoba Bhave. The author warns against blind imitation of modernity, urging youth to embrace Indian traditions for a fulfilling life, both in this world and the next.
Importance of Duty (Page 26-27): Highlights the fundamental human nature as social beings and the importance of fulfilling duties in all relationships – parent-child, husband-wife, employee-employer, student-guru. Fulfilling duties with love and dedication leads to a harmonious society, akin to "Ram Rajya."
Think and Move Forward (Page 28-30): Encourages proactive engagement with life, viewing it as a continuous journey, a battle, and a challenge. It stresses the importance of effort and the ability to shape one's destiny, not just be a passive recipient of fate. The author advocates for practical wisdom gained from experienced guides and emphasizes that a life built on clear thought, action, and determination leads to success, peace, and harmony. It also critiques the current education system for its overemphasis on rote learning and lack of practical application.
Breadth of Heart (Page 31-32): Defines a broad heart as one built on true understanding, intellectual generosity, and tolerance. This leads to acceptance, friendship, affection, and a lack of enmity. It explains that a person holds multiple roles and perspectives simultaneously, and embracing these different viewpoints fosters harmony. Patience and the ability to endure hardship are presented as essential for growth, just as gold is refined through fire and diamonds polished.
The Significance of What? (Page 33-34): Urges readers to strive for something valuable, extraordinary, and eternal that brings joy to all. Life should not be spent merely on selfish pursuits or animalistic instincts. The ability to think, discern right from wrong, and use language effectively is what elevates humans. Cultivating a vast, pure heart allows for divine presence and leads to eternal realization.
Nationalism through Inter-Provincial Travel (Page 35-37): Discusses India's vast diversity and the need for national unity. It emphasizes meeting people from different regions, learning their languages, and fostering a sense of "Indian first, then regional identity." Travel, pilgrimage, and cultural exchange are crucial for this. It calls for communal harmony, discouraging religious fanaticism and forced conversions. The future of India is linked to preserving its spiritual and cultural heritage, embracing its great figures and philosophies.
Duty and Rights (Page 38-40): Addresses the modern tendency of seeking more and giving less, leading to societal crises. It urges introspection on fulfilling duties towards parents, employers, students towards teachers, and the general responsibility towards society. It stresses the importance of balancing rights with duties for personal and collective progress.
Indian Women, Society, and Culture (Page 41-45): Highlights the pivotal role of women in shaping society and the impact of maternal influence from conception onwards. It underscores the importance of motherhood and the need for men to respect, protect, and support women. It advocates for preserving Indian traditions and values, noting that women have often embraced these more readily than men. The text also calls for improving the status and education of women.
Education Should Not Be Solely for Livelihood (Page 46-47): Critiques the modern trend of pursuing education solely for financial gain. It points to historical figures who achieved greatness without specialized technical degrees. It encourages students to balance career aspirations with contributing to family and society, and to cultivate virtues through Indian culture, history, and languages.
The Magic of Speech (Page 48): Emphasizes the power of human speech as a unique gift. It advises speaking slowly, lovingly, respectfully, and only when necessary. The author shares his guru's mantra: "Speak slowly, speak with love, speak with respect, speak when necessary."
Educational Problems (Page 49-52): Discusses the expansion of education but the disconnect from practical life and employment. It laments the decline of the guru-shishya relationship, the rise of private tuition, commercialization of education, and the neglect of health and physical activity among students. It suggests incorporating yoga, moral education, and exposure to inspirational lives and historical places to foster holistic development and national unity.
True Character (Page 53-55): Defines true character through regularity, proper organization, keeping promises, pure and loving behavior, fulfilling duties with patience and perseverance, gratitude, humility, and sharing success. It emphasizes that setbacks are temporary and should be viewed as part of the process towards achieving goals.
Indian Agriculture (Page 56-58): Highlights India as an agrarian country but laments the disparity between landowners and landless laborers, and the increasing gap between the rich and the poor. It suggests solutions like eco-friendly farming, financial aid for small farmers, cooperative farming, and organized marketing to uplift the rural population and create a more equitable society.
True Identity (Page 59): Defines true identity as being sensitive to the suffering of others and actively trying to alleviate it, even at personal sacrifice. This compassion cultivates higher human values and leads to a successful life.
Proper Use of Time (Page 60): States that timely use of every moment is the best way to lead an improved and successful life. Diligence and utilizing each minute productively are key to achieving goals.
Retirement (Page 61-63): Advocates for proactive planning for retirement, not just financially but also mentally, by engaging in spiritual practices, service, and meaningful activities. It connects retirement planning to the Indian concept of Ashramas, aiming for spiritual realization and liberation.
Take Care of Your Health (Page 64-67): Stresses that a healthy body is essential for success in any field. It identifies modern urban life's excesses and irregularities as causes of stress and various ailments. It provides practical advice on diet (regularity, moderation, vegetarianism), sleep, physical exercise, balanced work, and avoiding harmful habits and substances.
What Should Be Our Attire? (Page 68-70): Discusses the role of clothing in protecting the body, maintaining modesty, and reflecting social status. It criticizes the spread of vulgarity and exhibitionism in the name of fashion, urging women's groups and society to control such trends. It emphasizes that modesty is a woman's greatest ornament and warns against the erosion of Indian traditions. It calls for collective effort from institutions, educators, saints, and the community to promote virtuous living.
Simple Living and High Thinking (Page 71-72): Presents this lifestyle as the foundation of spirituality, characterized by selflessness and service. It involves simple, sattvic food, modest attire, diligent use of time, self-reliance, limited indulgence in external entertainment, controlled desires, and engagement in service or spiritual activities. This approach brings peace and purpose to life.
Ten Keys to a Meaningful Life (Page 73-75): Offers practical principles for a successful and enjoyable life:
1. Respect elders, scholars, and saints; maintain everyone's self-respect.
2. Choose companions wisely; associate with noble individuals.
3. Live with love and harmony in family and society, providing due respect and opportunity to all.
4. Embrace "wearing down with pleasure" (self-sacrifice) for growth; endure hardship for achievement.
5. Value every moment; progress towards your goals daily.
6. Cultivate a love for good books and learn from the lives of great people.
7. Be disciplined in thought, word, and deed; think of everyone's welfare; speak with kindness and respect.
8. Maintain an optimistic attitude, persevere through difficulties, and seek cooperation.
9. Avoid addictions like alcohol, meat, gambling, and licentiousness.
10. Cultivate a calm and healthy mind through relaxation techniques.
Oh Gujaratis! (Page 77-80): Addresses the Gujarati community, acknowledging their entrepreneurial spirit but urging them to strive for higher values beyond business. It calls upon the younger generation to set noble goals, work diligently, avoid vices and superficial entertainment, and draw inspiration from the great figures of Gujarat's history and culture.
Gurukul and its Utility (Page 81-81): Describes the institution's effort to run a Gurukul to impart good sanskars to children, integrating daily prayers, respect for teachers, and absorbing virtuous stories and teachings.
Twelve Great Mantras for Life's Advancement (Page 82): A concise list of principles, reiterating themes of: righteous work, spending less than earning, using time wisely, nurturing progeny with sanskars, associating with good people, maintaining cleanliness, faith in God, polite speech, reading scriptures, perseverance, determination, and seeing divinity in all beings.

In essence, "Aapno Sanskar Varaso" is a guide for living a life grounded in Indian traditions, emphasizing ethical conduct, self-discipline, spiritual awareness, and selfless service as the path to true fulfillment and societal well-being.