Adhyatmagyan Praveshika

Here's a comprehensive summary of "Adhyatmagyan Praveshika" (Fundamentals of Spiritualism) by H. H. Shri Atmanandji Maharaj, based on the provided text:

Overall Purpose and Audience:

"Adhyatmagyan Praveshika" is a foundational text designed for beginners and intermediate spiritual seekers. Its primary aim is to awaken the soul and impart fundamental spiritual tenets, encouraging further study and practice. The book is presented in a question-and-answer format for clarity and logical exposition.

Core Message:

The central theme of the book is the pursuit of eternal happiness through Self-Realization. It emphasizes that true happiness is spiritual, supersensuous, incomparable, unique, infinite, and uninterrupted, distinct from fleeting sensual pleasures.

Key Topics and Concepts Covered:

The book is structured into ten chapters, each addressing a crucial aspect of spiritual life:

1. Human Life:

   • Defines human life as the soul's existence in a body with five senses and a mind.
   • Highlights human birth as supreme due to its greater opportunities for developing discriminative power.
   • States that beatitude (true happiness/salvation) is attainable only by those who sincerely strive to know their True Self through the guidance of a right preceptor or scriptural knowledge, leading to Right Faith, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct.
   • Warns that laziness, sin, and lack of noble company lead to misery and an ocean of suffering in the next life.
   • Emphasizes the rarity of human life compared to other life forms, making it precious and a divine instrument for salvation.
   • The mission of human life can be fulfilled by "Be good and Do good," achieved through the company of the noble, devout scriptural study, and right conduct.

2. Attainment of True Happiness:

   • Distinguishes between conventional, short-lived sensual happiness and true spiritual happiness.
   • Sensual happiness is fleeting, dependent on external objects, and ultimately leads to restlessness and sorrow in old age.
   • True happiness is described as spiritual, supersensuous, incomparable, unique, infinite, and uninterrupted, experienced through the development of virtues like forgiveness, contentment, and truthfulness.
   • Practical ways to attain true happiness include:
     • Seeking and associating with a 'Sadguru' (true preceptor).
     • Associating with the noble, studying scriptures, and cultivating inner virtues.
     • Purifying and concentrating the mind through remembrance of the divine and meditation on the absolute self.
   • True happiness is attainable through a combination of true conviction, constant practice, dispassion, association with the noble, and iron determination.

3. A True Householder:

   • A true householder is one who follows the path of truth in all aspects of life – financial, vocal, and social.
   • This involves surrender to the Lord, Preceptor, and Religion, and a ceaseless pursuit of self-upliftment and self-realization.
   • A true householder balances life activities (Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha) with honesty and justice.
   • Daily religious practices include devotion, spiritual study, and meditation.
   • They foster family unity, practice forgiveness, and display humility and politeness.
   • They emphasize truthfulness in business, keeping promises, and promoting good reading and fine arts.
   • Key virtues of an enlightened householder include worship, devotional attitude towards saints, affection for the virtuous, regular donations, scriptural study, firmness in conduct, and firm faith.
   • They observe vows like the five Anuvratas, three Gunavratas, and four Shiksha vratas, and eleven progressive vows (Pratimas) for spiritual upliftment.
   • The householder's dharma enhances self-control, potentially leading to ascetic vows and complete emancipation.

4. Charity – Dana – Dharma:

   • Charity is defined as giving wealth to support noble activities.
   • It reduces greed, enhances worthiness, accumulates merit, and benefits spiritual progress.
   • Discriminated charity can lead to social welfare through the establishment of institutions like orphanages, hospitals, and schools.
   • Main types of charity include food, medicine, residence, knowledge, and security.
   • Qualities of a donor include faith, contentment, devotion, discrimination, lack of desire for reward, forgiveness, and ability.
   • Charity should primarily be extended to the worthy, those engaged in knowledge and self-control.
   • Compassion-induced charity to the needy is also essential.
   • Charity of knowledge (Vidya-Dana) is considered the highest form as it can lead to eternal happiness and cease transmigration. This can only be performed by self-realized spiritual masters.
   • Charity performed by a wise householder leads to prosperity, peace, and emancipation.

5. The Enlightened Preceptor:

   • Differentiates between preceptors who guide others to salvation (like a log of wood), those who do some good but don't cross themselves (like paper), and those who lead others to ruin (like stone).
   • Enlightened preceptors are those with the real and all-round ability to guide seekers on the path of salvation.
   • Their qualities include self-realization, equanimity, observance of vows, inspiring others, and mastery of scriptures.
   • While saints may attain self-knowledge, a true preceptor requires additional guiding qualities.
   • Self-knowledge cannot be attained without precepts from a Guru, though past life impressions can aid the process.
   • A Guru dispels ignorance through experiential teachings, dispels doubts like the sun dispels darkness, and inspires through their divine personality, equanimity, and selfless nature.
   • In the absence of such a preceptor, one should ceaselessly search for truth, associate with the noble, study scriptures, maintain ethical conduct, and search during pilgrimages.
   • Total devotion to the Guru is justified as it keeps the disciple engaged in sublime activities, leading to the rise of self-knowledge.

6. Study of Scriptures:

   • Divine scriptures are the literary works of enlightened souls, originating from omniscient Lords.
   • Genuine scriptural study focuses on peace and is characterized by peaceful attributes.
   • While the knowledge of the omniscient Lord and a spiritual guide is similar in quality, the quantity differs (unlimited vs. limited).
   • Recommended scriptures counsel dispassion, detachment, quiescence, are devoid of sectarianism, depict truth through direct/indirect methods, uphold Syadvada (Theory of Relativity), propound self-knowledge and conduct, and guide rectification of shortcomings.
   • Scriptures should be studied attentively, with clarity sought from knowledgeable persons, pondered upon, memorized, and explained systematically.
   • Methodical, regular study under guidance is crucial for spiritual growth.
   • Scriptures serve as a shelter in the absence of a guide and are a unique source of inspiration, annihilating doubts and revealing real elements.

7. Real Knowledge and Real Faith:

   • True spiritual knowledge involves knowing all elements in their original form and complexion, consonant with Right Faith.
   • Knowledge associated with attachment and defilement is unreal. True knowledge, from an absolute viewpoint, is the knowledge of the true Self; all else is ignorance.
   • An enlightened soul with self-knowledge discriminates between the real and unreal, the sensual and supersensuous, and the mortal and immortal. Attachment may exist to a lesser degree, but its presence indicates some lack of knowledge.
   • Self-realization is attained when one knows "I am distinct from this mortal body, and my real nature is pure knowledge and bliss" at verbal, conceptual, and experiential levels.
   • Minimizing body-consciousness and enhancing self-consciousness through continuous practice is vital.
   • Knowledge that understands bondage but doesn't withdraw from it is ignorance. True fruits of knowledge are realized when indifferent to worldly thoughts and activities.
   • Self-knowledge is inferred when extroverted thought processes subdue, detachment dawns, and life shines with sublime virtues.

8. Good Conduct:

   • Good conduct defines a true gentleman, characterized by plain living and high thinking.
   • Gross vices, falsehood, intentional sin, blind sensual craving, and injustice prevent the attainment of self-realization.
   • Key principles for good conduct include:
     • Avoiding breach of trust, false allegations, malpractices, and cheating.
     • Abstaining from gambling, non-vegetarian food, alcohol, hunting, adultery, illicit relations, and theft.
     • Being regular and honest in tax payments.
   • Following this code enhances worthiness for spiritual sadhana and, when combined with a saint's precepts, leads to self-knowledge.
   • Without this foundational conduct, true religion cannot be attained.
   • A householder must regard this code with reverence, as listening to sermons without it is useless. Truthfulness in livelihood is crucial, fostering dispassion and understanding the master's power.
   • Good manners, gentlemanliness, universal friendship, boldness, and devotion to sacred deeds automatically lead to good conduct.

9. Austerity and Its Practice:

   • Austerity is defined as the control of desires.
   • There are six external austerities (fasting, reduced diet, special food restrictions, giving up delicacies, lonely habitation, self-mortification) and six internal austerities (repentance, humility, service to saints, scriptural studies, meditation, non-attachment).
   • In the present times, scriptural studies (Swadhyaya) deserve special attention due to their maximum utility and minimum distress. It provides knowledge about the soul, bondage, salvation, and the real vs. unreal, making the path easier.
   • All austerities are useful and should be practiced as per ability. Internal austerities are more important as they relate to thought processes and soul purification, which is directly linked to liberation.
   • Austerity is a crucial component of salvation, along with Right Faith, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct.
   • Austerity should be practiced with a pure intention for self-purification, not for ego, fame, or to please others.
   • Religious ceremonies and scriptural studies should aim to unite with the divine and forget the mundane. If this aim is lost, spiritual practices become fruitless.

10. Enlightened Death:

    • An Enlightened Death is the divine departure of self-realized souls, carrying their divine knowledge and bliss to their next abode.
    • Only Self-Realized souls can accomplish this.
    • A "noble death" (Sugati Marana) is when an average sadhaka departs with remembrance of God, carrying their sadhana's embellishments, but it's not a "Real Enlightened Death" without self-realization.
    • The text outlines various types of death, including Super-Super Death (omniscient souls), Super-Death (self-realized with renunciation), Enlightened Death (self-realized without renunciation), Noble Death (average sadhaka with faith), and Mundane Death (common man without spiritual inclination).
    • Sallekhana (an enlightened death) should be undertaken during incurable illness, extreme old age, famine, or insurmountable obstacles, prioritizing spiritual vows over the body.
    • The procedure involves curtailing attachments, reducing desires, donating generously, giving up belongings, purifying the mind, forgiving others, gradually giving up food, taking shelter in the divine, and facing death with firmness and patience.
    • The fruit of an Enlightened Death is the fulfillment of the human life's mission, drawing beatitude near, and ensuring the sadhana is not fruitless. Sincere preparation for this death is crucial.

Publisher and Author:

The book is published by Shrimad Rajchandra Adhyatmik Sadhana Kendra, Koba, Gujarat, India. The author, H. H. Shri Atmanandji Maharaj, is recognized as a spiritual leader.

In essence, "Adhyatmagyan Praveshika" serves as a practical guide for spiritual seekers, outlining the path to eternal happiness and liberation through self-knowledge, ethical conduct, devotion, and the wisdom of enlightened masters and scriptures, all within the framework of Jain philosophy.