Acharang Sutram Shrutskandh 01

The provided text is the first Skandha (Shrutskandha 01) of the Achārāṅga Sūtra, a foundational Jain scripture. This particular edition is annotated with an "Aksharagamanikā" by Pūjya Pandit Shri Kulachandra Vijayji M. S. and edited by Pūjya Pandit Shri Padmasen Vijayji M. S.

Here's a comprehensive summary of the content presented in the provided pages, focusing on the core themes and structure:

Overall Purpose and Significance:

• The Achārāṅga Sūtra is presented as the foremost and most important scripture in Jainism, primarily because it deals with āchāra (conduct) which is the path to moksha (liberation).
• It is considered the essence of the Jina's teachings and a vital guide for spiritual progress.
• The text emphasizes that true spiritual realization and liberation are achieved only through strict adherence to the prescribed conduct.

Structure of the Achārāṅga Sūtra (as outlined in the text):

• The Achārāṅga Sūtra is divided into two main Skandhas:
  1. Prathama Shrutaskandha (First Skandha): Consists of nine Adhyayanas (chapters).
  2. Dwitiya Shrutaskandha (Second Skandha): Consists of five Chūlikās (supplementary sections).
• Specific details mentioned:
  • The seventh Adhyayana of the First Skandha, Mahāparijñā, is stated to be incomplete or lost (vyucchinnam).
  • The fifth Chūlikā of the Second Skandha, known as Niśītha, has been separated and published independently as the Niśītha Sūtra.
• The provided pages focus entirely on the Prathama Shrutaskandha, detailing its various Adhyayanas and their constituent Uddeshakas (sections within chapters).

Detailed Breakdown of the First Skandha's Adhyayanas (Chapters):

The text provides a table of contents or subject outline for the Adhyayanas of the First Skandha:

1. Shastra Parijñā Ākhyam (Known as Shastra Parijñā):

   • Theme: Deals with the understanding and renunciation of violence (jivasaṁyama viṣayakaṁ). It emphasizes the soul's existence and the bondage that results from killing.
   • Uddeshakas (Sections): Covers the existence of different types of beings (earth-bodied, water-bodied, fire-bodied, air-bodied, vegetation-bodied, mobile-bodied) and the importance of controlling actions related to them. It concludes with the complete monastic life for those who cease harming the six life-forms.
   • Key Concepts: Explains how actions related to violence lead to bondage and the need for renunciation.

2. Loka Vijaya Ākhyam (Known as Loka Vijaya):

   • Theme: Focuses on conquering the world (lokam yathā badhyate karmaṇā tathā ca prahātavyam). It discusses how the world is bound by karma and how it should be abandoned.
   • Uddeshakas: Discusses attachment to parents and relatives, the importance of steadfastness in saṁyama (restraint), the need to avoid attachment to worldly pleasures, and the principle of living without possessiveness while engaged in the conduct for sustenance.

3. Śītoṣṇīya Ākhyam (Known as Śītoṣṇīya):

   • Theme: Deals with enduring heat and cold (saṁyāmasthitena jitakaṣāyeṇa sukhaduḥkhatitikṣā vidheyā). It emphasizes the importance of enduring pleasure and pain with controlled passions after establishing oneself in saṁyama.
   • Uddeshakas: Discusses the state of being asleep in consciousness (unrestrained), how the unrestrained experience suffering, the need for restraint which is beyond merely enduring suffering or avoiding negative actions, and the importance of subduing passions and avoiding sin for attaining enlightenment and liberation.

4. Samyaktva Ākhyam (Known as Samyaktva):

   • Theme: Focuses on Right Faith (samyaktvaprātipādanamm). It establishes the importance of Samyaktva.
   • Uddeshakas: Explains right speech as the manifestation of reality, examines the discourse of Dharma, describes virtuous penance (anavadhyatapōvarṇanam), and elaborates on saṁyama.

5. Loka Sāra Ākhyam (Known as Loka Sāra):

   • Theme: Declares Chāritra (conduct) as the essence of the world and the primary limb of liberation (pradhānamōkṣāṅgatvāt chāritramēva lōkasāraḥ).
   • Uddeshakas: States that a monk who is a wanderer and involved in violence is not a true monk. A monk who abstains from violence and other sins is detached from possessions and desires. It warns of dangers when one is unaware and discusses the characteristics of a monk (e.g., having a mind like a lake).

6. Dhūta Ākhyam (Known as Dhūta):

   • Theme: Deals with discarding attachments to worldly possessions and relationships (svajanādhi dhūtanamm). It focuses on the process of "shaking off" or detachment.
   • Uddeshakas: Discusses the detachment from one's own people, the discarding of karma, the renunciation of possessions and the body, the overcoming of the three types of pride (status, knowledge, strength), and how monks deal with insults and honors.

7. Mahāparijñā Ākhyam (Known as Mahāparijñā):

   • Theme: This chapter is marked as vyucchinnam (incomplete). It likely deals with great knowledge or profound understanding.

8. Vimōkṣa Ākhyam (Known as Vimōkṣa):

   • Theme: Focuses on right nirvana or liberation (samyaṅnirvāṇaprātipādanam).
   • Uddeshakas: Discusses the abandonment of unpleasant or undesirable knowledge/thoughts, the rejection of inappropriate actions and foods, the explanation to householders about the subtle reality of monks' practices when they exhibit signs of suffering from austerities, and different modes of death (e.g., vaidhāna death, gardhabhṛṣṭha death), and the understanding of illness and food.

9. Upadhāna Śruta Ākhyam (Known as Upadhāna Śruta):

   • Theme: The text states that the essence of this chapter and the preceding eight Adhyayanas was practiced by Lord Vardhamana Himself (śrī vardhamānasvāminā svata evāchīrṇam iti).
   • Uddeshakas: Describes the Lord's wandering, His dwelling place, the hardships He faced (pariṣahas), and His specific vows regarding obtaining food even when suffering from hunger.

Commentary and Annotations:

• The text highlights the presence of a commentary (ṭīkā) by Shri Shīlāṅkāchārya, considered a primary resource for studying and teaching the scripture.
• However, it acknowledges that Shīlāṅkāchārya's commentary, while rich, can be difficult for everyone to comprehend due to its extensive subject matter.
• The purpose of this edition, with its Aksharagamanikā (explanation of words/letters) and footnoted explanations of difficult terms (viṣamapadārtha), is to make the sutra more accessible and understandable for those who desire a concise explanation or are beginners.

Key Principles Emphasized:

• Importance of Conduct (Āchāra): The entire text revolves around the principles of right conduct as the direct path to spiritual purification and liberation.
• Renunciation of Violence: A core theme throughout the Adhyayanas is the absolute avoidance of harming any living being, from the smallest to the largest. This is crucial for accumulating good karma and progressing spiritually.
• Control of Passions: The text repeatedly stresses the need to control desires, anger, pride, deceit, and greed (kāma, krodha, māna, māyā, lobha).
• Endurance of Hardships: Monks are expected to endure physical discomforts like heat, cold, hunger, thirst, and external afflictions with equanimity and steadfastness.
• Detachment: The importance of non-attachment to worldly possessions, relationships, and even one's own body is consistently highlighted.
• Self-Control and Discipline: The pursuit of spiritual goals requires rigorous self-discipline, introspection, and constant vigilance.
• Wisdom and Understanding: True understanding (prajñā) of the nature of reality, karma, and the soul is essential for correct conduct.

Overall, the provided pages offer a structured introduction and a detailed overview of the first Skandha of the Achārāṅga Sūtra, emphasizing the fundamental principles of Jain monastic conduct as the direct means to achieve spiritual liberation.