Agam 01 Ang 01 Acharang Sutra Chayanika

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Acharang Sutra Chayanika," based on the scanned pages:

Book Title: Acharang Sutra Chayanika (आचारांग - चयनिका) Author: Dr. Kamalchand Sogani Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy, Jaipur Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/010767/1

Overview:

This book is a compilation and study of selected verses (sutras) from the Acharang Sutra, one of the foundational scriptures of Jainism. The primary goal of this selection is to make the core philosophical and ethical teachings of the Acharang Sutra accessible to a wider audience, particularly those who may not be fluent in Prakrit or have the time to study the entire voluminous text. The compilation includes the original Prakrit sutras, their Hindi translations, and detailed grammatical analysis.

Key Sections and Themes:

The book is structured to provide a holistic understanding of the Acharang Sutra's teachings, covering:

1. Editorial and Prefatory Notes (प्रकाशकीय, प्राक्कथन, प्रस्तावना):

   • Editorial (प्रकाशकीय): Highlights the importance of Prakrit Agam literature for understanding Indian life and culture, emphasizing its guidance for individual and social upliftment based on non-violence (Ahimsa) and equanimity (Samata). It expresses the Academy's commitment to making this literature accessible.
   • Foreword (प्राक्कथन): Explains the significance of the Acharang Sutra as the first Anga (limb) of the Jain canon (Agam). It underscores that all Tirthankaras, past, present, and future, have preached and will preach 'Achar' (conduct) as the primary teaching. The foreword also lists ten alternative names for the Acharang Sutra and briefly describes its structure (two Shrutakandhas, studies, and sections). It emphasizes that the Sutra initiates with self-inquiry and expounds on non-violence, equanimity, detachment, mindfulness, self-control, penance, mental purity, and a pure life. It also mentions that the Acharang Sutra contains lost aspects of Lord Mahavir's life during his ascetic period.
   • Introduction (प्रस्तावना): The author, Dr. Kamalchand Sogani, articulates the human consciousness's journey from sensory perception and material possession towards ethical and spiritual values. It explains how initial self-centeredness and the desire to possess others leads to tension, which eventually gives way to respect for equality and freedom, fostering a desire for service and universal welfare (Sarvodaya). The Acharang Sutra is presented as a strong expression of this value-consciousness, aiming to build a non-violent society based on equality, peace, and prosperity. The introduction provides a subtle critique of violence, defining it broadly beyond physical harm to include the infringement of freedom. It emphasizes the importance of experiencing others' suffering as one's own for the inception of Ahimsa. The Sutra's commencement with the principles of past and future births is explained as a foundation for ethical and spiritual values and for establishing belief in actions and their consequences.

2. Selected Sutras and Hindi Translation (आचारांग चयनिका के सूत्र एवं हिन्दी अनुवाद): This is the core of the book, presenting 129 selected sutras from the Acharang Sutra. Each sutra is followed by its Hindi translation. The translations aim to be literal and convey the philosophical depth of the original Prakrit.

3. Key Themes Explored in the Sutras:

   • Past and Future Births (पूर्वजन्म और पुनर्जन्म): The Sutra begins by addressing the fundamental human question of existence's continuity. It argues that understanding past and future births is crucial for establishing beliefs in self, the world, karma, and actions, which in turn form the basis for moral and spiritual values.
   • Nature of Actions (क्रियाओं की विपरीतता): The text laments the human tendency to act without understanding the correct direction of actions (mind, speech, body). This misunderstanding leads to a cycle of suffering across lifetimes. The Sutra analyzes the motivations behind actions (life protection, praise, future birth, fear of death, attainment of peace) and highlights how, to achieve these, humans resort to violence, either directly, indirectly, or by approval, leading to their detriment and spiritual stagnation.
   • Impact of Actions (क्रियाओं का प्रभाव): Actions shape one's personality and lead to karma-bandhan (bondage of karma), which forms the basis of one's happiness and suffering. Violent actions corrupt the individual and cause suffering to self and others, while non-violent actions foster development and happiness. Violent actions oppose nature and divert energy destructively, whereas non-violent actions align with nature and channel energy constructively.
   • State of the Deluded Person (मूच्छित मनुष्य की दशा): Delusion (Murchha) is defined as the forgetfulness of one's true self. Such individuals are engrossed in sensory pleasures, lack peace and equanimity, find it difficult to grasp value-based principles, and fail to understand spirituality. They are attached, cunning, and often preach non-violence while practicing violence. They are unaware of the paradoxical nature of pleasure and pain. Their attachment leads to accumulating enmity and repeated rebirths. Deluded people are described as spiritually asleep, blind to the path, enslaved by desires, and resorting to violence to fulfill them. They are filled with fear and mental stress.
   • Spiritual Inspiration (आध्यात्मिक प्रेरक): Despite the deluded state of the world, it offers experiences that can inspire spiritual awakening. Old age, death, and the impermanence of wealth can compel individuals to seek the world's truth. The Acharang Sutra emphasizes the waning of life, youth, and the inadequacy of relationships for support, urging individuals to seek spiritual development before their senses weaken. The inevitability of death and the perishable nature of the body should motivate detachment. The loss of wealth can also serve as a spiritual catalyst. The company of enlightened beings can also aid in overcoming delusion.
   • Sources of Inner Transformation and Sadhana (आन्तरिक रूपान्तरण और साधना के सूत्र):
     • Self-Reliance: "You are your own friend" (66). Control your mind.
     • Abandoning Desire and Hope: Desires and hopes are the cause of mental stress, unrest, and suffering (39).
     • Detachment from Sensory Pleasures: Attachment to sensory objects keeps one extroverted, preventing the removal of karma-bandhan and the dissolution of negative emotional states (78). Detachment is essential for sadhana.
     • Overcoming Káshayas (Passions): Moha (delusion) is the king of passions. Destroying moha destroys many other passions. Pride (Ahankar) is an enemy of social relations and self-development (91).
     • Equality and Non-Violence: There is no high or low in human society; all should be treated with equanimity. Dharma resides in samata (equanimity) (88). All beings desire happiness and fear suffering. Violence is defined broadly to include oppression, subjugation, and causing distress. The principle of "What you consider to be killed, that is you" (94) highlights the intrinsic equality of all beings.
     • Truthfulness: Practice truth in thought, word, and deed (59, 68).
     • Non-Possession (Aparigraha): Accumulation creates economic disparity. One should remain detached from possessions (42).
     • Following the Enlightened (Arhat): The teachings of the Arhat (one who has achieved self-realization) are crucial for spiritual progress, especially in areas beyond intellectual grasp. Obedience to the Arhat is presented as essential for spiritual development (96, 99).
     • Detachment from Worldly Praise: A seeker of values should not desire praise from the world for their revolutionary actions (73).
   • Perfection of Sadhana (साधना की पूर्णता): The Sutra describes the characteristics of a perfected being (Mahatma) who is a beacon for individual growth and social progress. These individuals are described as seers, vigilant, aware, detached, brave, skillful, free from bondage and liberation, beyond dualities, experiencing unparalleled joy, free from karma, and guiding the world. Their experience is indescribable, beyond logic and intellect, and can only be described as the state of being a knower-seer.
   • Sadhana-filled Life of Mahavir (महावीर का साधनामय जीवन): The text provides detailed accounts of Lord Mahavir's ascetic life, highlighting his renunciation of worldly dependence for self-dependence, his deep meditation, his detachment from household life, his unwavering focus on meditation even amidst obstacles, his avoidance of trivial pursuits like entertainment and conflict, his careful regulation of food, his self-control, his practice of not scratching his body or rubbing his eyes, his tolerance of various living conditions, his ability to remain awake through sleep, and his endurance of immense physical and mental suffering (e.g., from the people of Laad). His practice of fasting, acceptance of pure food, freedom from passions, and consistent vigilance are presented as inspirational examples for any seeker.

4. Grammatical Analysis and Word Meaning (व्याकरणिक-विश्लेषण एवं शब्दार्थ): This section is vital for understanding the linguistic nuances of the Prakrit text. It provides detailed breakdowns of words, their roots, inflections, parts of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb, pronoun), and their specific meanings in context. The author's methodology in this analysis is highlighted as unique and helpful for even novice learners of Prakrit.

5. Notes (टिप्पण): Four crucial notes are included to clarify key philosophical concepts:

   • Dravya-Paryaya (द्रव्य-पर्याय): Explains the Jain concepts of substance (Dravya), qualities (Guna), and modes/states (Paryaya). It distinguishes between the eternal nature of Dravya and the transient nature of Paryaya. It also relates this to the Acharang's emphasis on recognizing the true self (Dravya-drishti) over superficial appearances (Paryaya-drishti).
   • Jiva or Atma (जीव अथवा आत्मा): Discusses the nature of the soul, its eternal essence, its incarnated forms, its capacity for knowledge, action, and experience, and the concept of individual souls. It also classifies living beings based on the number of senses.
   • Loka (लोक): Describes the Jain cosmological view of the universe, composed of six eternal substances (Jiva, Pudgala, Dharma, Adharma, Akash, Kala). It explains the functions of these substances and the classification of Pudgala into atoms and aggregates.
   • Karma-Kriya (कर्म-क्रिया): Details the Jain theory of karma, explaining how actions (Kriya) driven by passions (Kashayas) lead to the influx of karmic matter (Karma-pudgala) that binds the soul. It differentiates between Bhavakarma (mental states) and Dravyakarma (karmic matter).

6. Outline of Topics of Acharang Chayanika (आचारांग चयनिका के विषयों की रूप-रेखा): This section provides a structured overview of the book's content, categorizing the sutras into six thematic areas for better comprehension.

7. List of Auxiliary Books and Lexicons (सहायक पुस्तकें एवं कोश): A bibliography of reference books and dictionaries used in the preparation of this selection, aiding further study.

Overall Contribution:

"Acharang Sutra Chayanika" by Dr. Kamalchand Sogani serves as a valuable resource for students and scholars of Jainism. By carefully selecting, translating, and analyzing key sutras, it demystifies a complex and ancient text, making its profound teachings on ethics, philosophy, and spiritual discipline accessible to a broader audience, thereby promoting the values of Ahimsa and Samata. The book's detailed grammatical analysis is particularly beneficial for those seeking to understand the Prakrit language itself.