Adhyatmatattva Prashnottari

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Adhyatmatattva Prashnottari" by Atmanandji Maharaj, based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Adhyatmatattva Prashnottari (Spiritual Truths in Question and Answer) Author: Pujya Shri Atmanandji Maharaj Publisher: Shrimad Rajchandra Sadhna Kendra Koba

This book is a compilation of questions and answers designed to elucidate fundamental Jain spiritual principles. It aims to provide guidance for spiritual seekers, building upon previous publications by the Kendra, such as "Adhyatmajnana Praveshika" (Introduction to Spiritual Knowledge). The book is structured into three main sections, although the provided pages primarily focus on the first two.

Overall Purpose and Structure:

The book aims to:

• Explain eternal spiritual truths.
• Present the core philosophy of Lord Mahavir in a simple and accessible language.
• Offer basic cultural and historical information about the Jain religion.

Key Content Areas and Concepts:

The text is organized into a question-and-answer format, covering a wide range of spiritual and Jain-specific topics. Here's a breakdown of the major themes and concepts discussed:

Part 1: Fundamental Spiritual Truths (Questions 1-36)

This section lays the groundwork for spiritual understanding, addressing core concepts:

• The Nature of Soul and Karma:

  • The relationship between the soul (Jiva) and karma is discussed, noting their beginningless nature.
  • The human body is considered superior because it's the only path to liberation (Moksha), unlike the bodies of gods, animals, or hell beings.
  • The concept of karma is explained as a chain that needs to be broken to escape suffering.

• The Importance of Sat-sang (Good Company/Association):

  • Sat-sang is defined as the association with the excellent, those who color the soul with truth and show the path to liberation. This includes associating with virtuous people, studying scriptures, and reflecting on the lives of the enlightened.
  • Ideal sat-sang involves discussions on scriptures, meditation, virtuous characters, and philosophical inquiry.
  • Sat-sang is considered a potent medicine for the soul.

• Ahimsa and Universal Love (Vishwa Maitri):

  • Vishwa Maitri is defined as a state of non-enmity towards all beings, treating all creatures as one's own, with love and sincerity.

• The Four Bhavanas (Meditative Dispositions):

  • Pramoda Bhavana: Rejoicing in the virtues of others.
  • Karuna Bhavana: Feeling compassion for those suffering from worldly afflictions.
  • Upeksha Bhavana: Detachment from worldly concerns, focusing on self-welfare.

• Path to Self-Welfare (Atma Kalyan):

  • This involves reducing engagement with sensory pleasures, cultivating simplicity, obedience to gurus, pure thoughts, and compassion. It also emphasizes diligence in utilizing the human birth effectively, avoiding negligence.
  • Pramada (Negligence): Its characteristics include disrespect for religion, infatuation, laziness, and the dominance of passions (kashayas).

• The Significance of Vinaya (Humility/Respect):

  • Humility is essential for acquiring true knowledge (Sadvidya). Showing respect to gurus, elders, and learned individuals leads to one's own greatness.
  • Humility is described as the root of religion and a powerful means of control.

• Moksh-inclination (Mumukshutva):

  • Mumukshutva: A deep yearning for liberation, focusing solely on the path to Moksha amidst worldly entanglements.
  • Tivra Mumukshutva: An intense and constant pursuit of Moksha with exclusive love.
  • Mumukshutva grows as attachment to worldly possessions and ego diminishes.

• Qualities of a Seeker:

  • An ideal vessel for attaining spiritual truth possesses broad intellect, equanimity, simplicity, and control over the senses.

• Conquering Senses and Mind:

  • The mind can be controlled through consistent practice, particularly in a life of renunciation. It involves not succumbing to desires but guiding the mind towards the path of liberation.

• Cultivating Virtuous Dispositions (Samskaras):

  • Developing virtuous tendencies is challenging due to ingrained habits of unvirtuous inclinations. This is compared to a clouded mirror failing to reflect properly.
  • Overcoming these tendencies requires continuous practice and prioritizing virtuous associations over social apprehension.

• The Role of the Enlightened (Gyani/Satpurush):

  • True enlightenment is attained by those whose focus is constantly on the soul, whose words are based on inner experience rather than mere scriptural knowledge, and whose actions are pure and free from inner desires.
  • The enlightened possess undisturbed mental states, reduced mental fluctuations, detachment from senses, elimination of the causes of afflictions, and a balanced perspective (Anekant Drishti).

• Samayakva (Right Faith/Self-Realization):

  • Definition: The presence of all virtuous qualities in the soul.
  • Symptoms/Characteristics: Sham (cessation of passions), Samvega (intense desire for liberation), Nirveda (disillusionment with worldly existence), Astha (faith in the words of the detached), and Anukampa (compassion, viewing all souls as oneself). These qualities are to be contemplated, cultivated, and experienced.

• Six Fundamental Truths (Pada):

  1. The Soul Exists: Proven by its self-illuminating nature (Chaitanya Sattva).
  2. The Soul is Eternal: Unlike temporary material objects, the soul's existence is not dependent on any combination of factors, making it uncreated and imperishable.
  3. The Soul is the Doer (Karta): The soul performs actions leading to various outcomes. It is the doer of its own natural transformations, the doer of karmic actions (in a conventional sense), and the doer of external things (in a metaphorical sense).
  4. The Soul is the Enjoyer (Bhokta): Every action leads to a consequence that the soul experiences, whether pleasant or unpleasant.
  5. Liberation (Moksha) Exists: Since karma can be overcome through specific practices, the state of being free from karma and its consequences, where the soul's pure nature is manifest, is Moksha.
  6. There is a Path to Moksha: This path involves practices that counteract karmic bondage, such as knowledge, perception, equanimity, detachment, and devotion.

• Attachment to Illusory Desires (Mayik Vasana):

  • This refers to the "Anantanubandhi Kashaya" (kashayas that bind for endless cycles). It arises from disrespect towards true deities, gurus, and dharma, and from an attachment to false ones.
  • The eradication of these illusory desires comes from earnestly seeking and dedicating oneself to a true guru, and diligently following their commands.

Part 2: Lord Mahavir's Philosophy (Questions 1-23)

This section delves into the teachings of Lord Mahavir, a significant figure in Jainism:

• Core Jain Tenets:
  • Seven Tattvas (Realities): Jiva (soul), Ajiva (non-soul), Asrava (influx of karma), Bandha (bondage of karma), Samvara (cessation of karma influx), Nirjara (shedding of karma), Moksha (liberation). When Papa (sin) and Punya (merit) are counted separately, they become nine Tattvas.
  • Jiva: The soul, characterized by the eternal capacity to know and see.
  • Jiva Types: Classified by the number of senses (one-sensed to five-sensed).
  • Trasa Jiva: Mobile beings with more than one sense.
  • Sthavara Jiva: Immobile beings (earth-bodied, water-bodied, fire-bodied, air-bodied, vegetation-bodied).
  • Indriyas (Senses): Five senses: touch, taste, smell, sight, hearing.
  • Vikalatraya: Beings with two, three, or four senses.
  • Tiryanchan Panchindriya: Five-sensed animal souls, categorized as aquatic, terrestrial, and aerial.
  • Sanjni and Asanjni: Beings with and without a mind.
  • Gatis (Realms of Existence): Four realms: Narak (hell), Tiryanchan (animal), Manushya (human), Dev (celestial).
  • Human Birth: Considered the most excellent because it allows for asceticism and penance, the only means to achieve Moksha.
  • Ideal Beings: Arihant, Siddha, Acharya, Upadhyaya, Sadhu (monks).
  • Arihant vs. Siddha: Both are supreme souls, but Arihants have a physical body, while Siddhas are bodiless.
  • 18 Defects: List of 8 physical and 10 mental defects from which the supreme soul is free (birth, old age, hunger, thirst, etc.).
  • Acharya, Upadhyaya, Sadhu: Their principal qualities are described (leadership, scholarship, detachment, practice of knowledge, perception, conduct, and penance).
  • Ajiva (Non-soul): Lacking consciousness.
  • Five Ajiva Dravyā (Substances): Pudgala (matter), Dharma (medium of motion), Adharma (medium of rest), Akasha (space), Kala (time).
  • Asrava: The influx of karmas into the soul.
  • Bandha: The attachment of karmic particles to the soul.
  • Samvara: The stoppage of karmic influx.
  • Nirjara: The gradual shedding of accumulated karma, achieved through penance.
  • Moksha: Complete liberation from karmic bondage, leading to the manifestation of the soul's infinite qualities (knowledge, bliss, etc.).
  • Karma: Subtle karmic particles that attach to the soul and manifest in power, nature, duration, and intensity.
  • Eight Types of Karma: Jnanavarniya (knowledge-obscuring), Darshanavarniya (perception-obscuring), Vedaniya (feeling), Mohaniya (delusion), Ayushya (lifespan), Nama (body-form), Gotra (social status), Antaraya (obstacle-creating).
  • Ghati Karma (Obscuring Karma): Jnanavarniya, Darshanavarniya, Mohaniya, Antaraya. These veil the soul's true nature.
  • Aghati Karma (Non-obscuring Karma): Vedaniya, Ayushya, Nama, Gotra. These affect the physical body and worldly circumstances.
  • Causes of Karma Bondage: Briefly explains the actions that lead to each type of karma (e.g., disrespect to knowledge leads to Jnanavarniya, attachment to worldly life leads to Ayushya karma).
  • Namokar Mantra: Its greatness lies in devotion to the five supreme beings, destroying sins and being the foremost auspicious chant.
  • Three Jewels of Dharma (Right Path): Samyakdarshan (Right Faith), Samyagnan (Right Knowledge), Samyakcharitra (Right Conduct).
  • Samyakdarshan: The experiential conviction that the soul is knower and perceiver, or the correct faith in the seven or nine Tattvas as taught by the Tirthankaras. It has 25 flaws (8 angadosha, 3 mudhata, 6 anayatan, 8 mada).
  • Samyagnan: Knowing the true nature of reality without doubt.
  • Samyakcharitra: Renunciation of violence, falsehood, theft, misconduct, possession, and passions. In essence, abiding in the soul.
  • Types of Dharma: Shravak Dharma (layperson's duty) and Muni Dharma (monk's duty).
  • Daily Duties of a Layperson (Avashyak Karma): Devotion to the Lord, service to gurus, self-study, self-control, penance, and charity.
  • Seven Great Vices (Vyasan): Gambling, meat-eating, alcohol, prostitution, hunting, theft, and adultery.
  • Eight Primary Vows of a Layperson (Mula Guna): Renunciation of meat, alcohol, honey, and certain forest fruits; or renunciation of meat, alcohol, honey, and adoption of the five minor vows (anuvaratas).
  • Vrata (Vows): Intelligent observance of rules regarding what is to be done and not to be done.
  • Abhakshya (Unacceptable Food): Items that cause harm to living beings, increase sloth or intoxication, or are unsuitable for the body. Examples include onions, garlic, potatoes, tobacco, etc.
  • Purified Water: Drinking filtered water is emphasized for both non-violence and health.
  • Disadvantages of Night Meals: Impaired digestion, increased negligence in spiritual practice, harm to small creatures, and hindrance to celibacy.
  • Ten Characteristics of Dharma: Forgiveness, humility, simplicity, truth, contentment, self-control, penance, detachment, non-possessiveness, and celibacy.
  • Nine Puṇyasthāna (Sources of Merit): Various forms of charity (food, water, utensils, shelter, clothing), good thoughts, good speech, good actions, and showing respect in appropriate places.
  • Eleven Stages of a Layperson (Pratima): Stages of spiritual progress from right faith to renunciation of specific foods.
  • Twelve Bhavanas (Reflections): Meditations on impermanence, helplessness, the cycle of birth and death, solitude, otherness, impurity, cessation, shedding, influx, the world, rarity of enlightenment, and rarity of dharma. These cultivate detachment and focus.
  • Mithyatva (False Belief): Wrong convictions, such as identifying the body with the soul. It has five types: contrary, absolute, mistaken, doubtful, and ignorant.
  • Kashaya (Passions): Afflictions that cause suffering and perpetuate the cycle of rebirth: anger, pride, deceit, and greed.
  • Nokashaya (Minor Passions): Laughter, attachment, aversion, grief, fear, disgust, masculine/feminine/neuter dispositions. These are less severe but can lead to Kashayas.
  • 18 Sources of Sin (Pāpa Sthāna): Violence, falsehood, theft, misconduct, possession, the four kashayas, attachment, aversion, strife, false accusation, slander, gossip, harsh speech, deceitful speech, and false belief.
  • Pratikraman: A process of introspection, remembering past faults, repenting for them, and seeking to rectify them.
  • Samayika: A state of equanimity, renouncing attachment and aversion, stopping harmful thoughts, speech, and actions, and engaging in the path of liberation.
  • Pachchakkhan: Taking vows for a specific period to abstain from sinful activities.

Part 3: Cultural and Historical Questions and Answers (Questions 1-14)

This section provides historical and cultural context within Jainism:

• Tirthankaras:

  • There are 24 Tirthankaras in each time cycle.
  • Names and symbols of key Tirthankaras (Rishabhdev, Suparshvanath, Sheetalnath, Vasupujya, Shantinath, Neminath, Parshvanath, Mahavir Swami).
  • Lord Mahavir is the propounder of the current Jain tradition. His birth, parents, place of enlightenment (Rijupalika river), lifespan (72 years), and chief disciple (Indrabhuti Gautam Swami) are mentioned.

• Five Main Principles of Lord Mahavir's Teachings:

  1. Ahimsa (Non-violence)
  2. Satya (Truth)
  3. Anekanta (Multifacetedness/Non-absolutism)
  4. Aparigraha (Non-possession)
  5. Vishva Maitri (Universal Friendship)

• Historical Figures and Literature:

  • Bhadra Bahu Swami is mentioned as the last Shrutakevali.
  • Key contributors to Jain spiritual and yogic literature are listed, including Kundakundacharya, Pujyapada, Haribhadrasuri, Hemchandracharya, Amritchandracharya, and Shubhandracharya.
  • Seven prominent spiritual figures in Jainism over the last 400 years are named, including Banarasidas, Anandghanji, Chidanandji, Devchandji, Jayachandji Chhabda, Rajchandraji, and Ganeshprasad Varni.
  • Seven famous Jain pilgrimage sites are listed: Sammet Shikhar, Palitana, Rajgrihi, Pavapuri, Delwada (Abu), Shravanabelgola, and Girnar.

• Influence on Mahatma Gandhi:

  • Mahatma Gandhi was most influenced by Leo Tolstoy (morality), John Ruskin (politics), and Kavi Raychandbhai (Shri Madhva Rajchandra) (spirituality).
  • Shri Madhva Rajchandra's major works include Shri Atmashuddhi Shastra, Shri Mokshmala, and Shri Apurva Avsar.

• Lord Mahavir's 2500th Nirvana Anniversary: Key events and publications during this period are highlighted.

Other Information:

• The book is published by Shrimad Rajchandra Spiritual Sadhna Kendra, Koba, Gujarat.
• It has gone through multiple editions, indicating its popularity and utility.
• The catalog link provides access to the book, suggesting its availability for study.

In essence, "Adhyatmatattva Prashnottari" serves as a concise and accessible guide to Jain spiritual philosophy and history, presenting complex ideas in an easy-to-understand question-and-answer format, making it a valuable resource for both beginners and those seeking to deepen their spiritual knowledge within the Jain tradition.