Agama

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Āgama: An Introduction" by Namramuni and Gunvant Barvalia, based on the provided pages:

Overall Purpose and Vision:

The book, "Āgama: An Introduction," is a project inspired by Pujya Gurudev Shree Namramuni M.S. Its primary goal is to introduce and translate the preachings of Bhagwan Mahavira, known as Āgamas, into English. This initiative aims to make these profound teachings accessible to a global audience, particularly the youth, fostering a deeper understanding of Jain philosophy and its relevance in the modern world. The mission is driven by a dream to spread Mahavira's message of non-violence, restraint, and self-purification.

What are Āgamas?

• Divine Messages: Āgamas are the collective scriptures that document the divine preachings of Lord Mahavira, originally conveyed through the "Tripadi" (Uppaneīvā, Vigameīvā, Dhuveīvā).
• Preservation of Knowledge: Historically, to prevent the teachings from being lost over time due to human memory deterioration, Acharya Shri Devardhigani organized a council of 500 monks who transcribed Mahavira's preachings from memory over thirteen years.
• Foundation of Jainism: Āgamas are considered the core values of Jain perception, embodying wisdom, reflection, and character. They are seen as a code of conduct for Jain philosophy.
• Path to Liberation: Āgamas provide a mapped path to attain salvation and liberate the soul from the cycle of birth and death, guiding individuals towards spiritual enlightenment.
• Ocean of Knowledge: Beyond spiritual guidance, Āgamas are vast repositories of worldly wisdom, covering diverse subjects such as Material Sciences, Biotechnology, Geography, History, Politics, Mathematics, and Astrology.

Key Concepts and Principles:

• Ahimsa (Non-violence): This is presented as a fundamental requisite for achieving spiritual objectives.
• Soul Purification: A central theme is the process of cleansing the soul from accumulated karmic dust, leading to self-realization and liberation from suffering.
• Karma Theory: The text emphasizes that karmas are the cause of suffering, and understanding their nature is crucial for spiritual progress.
• Righteous Conduct (Achar): The importance of virtuous conduct and adhering to the rules of Jainism is highlighted, particularly in the Ācārānga Sūtra.
• Introspection and Self-Awareness: The book stresses the necessity of looking inward and understanding the true self for spiritual growth.
• Scientific Analysis: Lord Mahavira's teachings are presented as being scientifically balanced, integrating principles of Psychology, Biology, and Environmental Studies. The Āgamas are lauded for their detailed and often scientifically prescient explanations.
• Anuyoga: The scriptures are structured into four types of Anuyoga (planning, preaching, adjustment, relationships, finding meaning) that help in understanding and applying the teachings:
  1. Charakarana Anuyoga: Focuses on character development and the actions of monks.
  2. Dharmakatha Anuyoga: Includes religious stories and the conduct of spiritual individuals.
  3. Ganita Anuyoga: Deals with subjects clarified through mathematics and calculations.
  4. Dravya Anuyoga: Pertains to life sciences and the description of nine substances.

Structure of the Āgamas:

The Āgamas are broadly categorized:

• Anga Sūtras (12): The primary scriptures, with the Dhristiwāda Sūtra being lost. The book introduces the first 11 Anga Sūtras in detail.
• Upanga Sūtras (12): Supplementary scriptures designed to make the Anga Sūtras more accessible.
• Mool Sūtras (4): Fundamental or basic scriptures.
• Cheda Sūtras (4): Scriptures focused on eradicating vices.
• Āvaśyaka Sūtra (1): Essential rituals for soul purification.

Key Āgamas and Their Focus (as introduced in the provided pages):

The book provides brief introductions to many of the primary Āgama Sūtras, highlighting their core messages:

• Śrī Ācārānga Sūtra: Guidance for the inner journey, emphasizing detachment from worldly life and the conduct of ascetics. It also touches upon the concept of life in elements.
• Śrī Suyagadānga Sūtra: A judicious description of Jainism, distinguishing it from other philosophies, and detailing the stages of salvation. It stresses the importance of inner purification over external cleansing.
• Śrī Thānānga Sūtra: An encyclopedia of numerical knowledge, covering subjects like mathematics, geography, and psychology. It also discusses the influence of stars on knowledge and methods for soul protection.
• Śrī Samavāyānga Sūtra: Provides insights into various subjects, including handling controversial topics and maintaining mental balance. It discusses the eight types of ego and touches upon scientific topics like the dual suns and moons.
• Śrī Bhagavati Sūtra: Contains 36,000 questions posed by Gautama to Lord Mahavira, covering universal topics. It details the progression from hearing doctrines to achieving liberation and offers scientific explanations on atoms, molecules, and even climate.
• Śrī Gnātādharmakathā Sūtra: An anthology of short stories conveying moral values and the art of living. It highlights the power of positive thinking, social behavior, and the psychological aspects of desire and suffering.
• Śrī Upāsakdaśānga Sūtra: Focuses on the lives of ten devout lay followers (shravaks), offering guidance for business ethics, duties, and living a spiritual life while engaged in worldly affairs.
• Śrī Antagada Sūtra: Discusses the journey from tolerance to success, detailing the efforts of spiritual seekers and the power of mantras. It emphasizes patience and tolerance for achieving liberation and provides examples of individuals overcoming hardships.
• Śrī Anuttarovavāi Sūtra: Offers a glimpse into the lives of spiritual people, particularly Dhanna Anagaar, and the penances performed for self-realization. It suggests that survival isn't solely dependent on food and highlights the detachment from the body.
• Śrī Praśnavyākaraṇ Sūtra: Explores the path to attaining supernatural powers through virtues like truth and non-violence. It touches upon the science of incantations but notes that certain knowledge is concealed to prevent misuse.
• Śrī Vipāka Sūtra: Explains that karmas are the cause of suffering and details how pleasant and painful karmas shape experiences. It emphasizes kindness, detachment, and performing good deeds.
• Śrī Uvavāi Sūtra: Teaches that karmas, not God, determine one's next birth. It also covers the art of gardening and the devotion of disciples.
• Śrī Raipaseniya Sūtra: Illustrates the enlightened state of a spiritual person, using the example of King Pardeshi's journey from ignorance to self-realization under a Guru's guidance.
• Śrī Jīvāīvābhigama Sūtra: Focuses on "Living Science," providing in-depth knowledge about various types of living beings, their formation, nature, and lifestyles.
• Śrī Pannavaṇā Sūtra: A treasure of knowledge covering material science, biology, and spiritual energy. It details concepts like leshyas, aura, and the causes of anger.
• Śrī Jambūdvīp Prajñapti Sūtra: Covers geography, astronomy, and history, describing the Earth, universe, and the lives of ancient individuals.
• Śrī Candra-Sūrya Prajñapti Sūtra: Focuses on mathematics and astrology, explaining the orbits, cycles, and phenomena related to the sun and moon.
• Niryāvalikā Pañcam Set (Niryāvalīka, Kalpāvatamsika, Puṣpīkāh, Puṣpacūlikāh, Vrsnidaśāh): These Āgamas offer stories with psychological viewpoints, analyzing human desires, mental states, and the influence of mentality on happiness.
• Śrī Dasavaikalika Sūtra: A primer for ascetics, summarizing the essence of all Āgamas and providing guidance on conduct, speech, and self-realization.
• Śrī Uttarādhyayana Sūtra: Bhagwan Mahavira's final discourse, offering guidance on emancipation, the transient nature of life, and the consequences of unrighteous actions.
• Śrī Nandi Sūtra: Describes rational knowledge and devotion to the Sangha. It explains the journey of the soul from spiritual knowledge to omniscience and the importance of intelligence.
• Śrī Ānuyogdwār Sūtra: Focuses on the system of associating meaning with words to advance knowledge, emphasizing correct interpretation and the depth of understanding.
• Cheda Sūtras (Śrī Nishitha, Śrī Daśāśrutskandha, Śrī Bruhatkalpa, Śrī Vyavahāra): These scriptures deal with the eradication of vices and soul purification through penance and repentance. They lay down rules for ascetics' conduct, limitations, and the path to rectifying mistakes.
• Śrī Āvaśyaka Sūtra: Details essential daily rituals for soul purification, emphasizing faith, compassion, humility, and the process of repentance (pratikraman) to mitigate karma.

Connecting Āgamas to Science:

A significant portion of the book is dedicated to drawing parallels between Jain Āgama teachings and modern scientific understanding, including:

• Psychology: Concepts like unconscious mind, karma theory, intentions (bhāvnão), psychological impact of rituals (like bowing), and the study of human psyche.
• Biology and Physiology: Life in elements, human physiology, reproductive cycles, and the concept of karmic bodies.
• Environment: The importance of protecting life in earth, water, fire, air, and vegetation, advocating for necessity over enjoyment, and waste management.
• Cosmology: The shape of the universe, existence of infinite suns and moons, and the concept of the cosmos as a giant computer.
• Energy: Micro magnetic energy in living beings, aura (leshyas), and electromagnetic energy.

The book suggests that modern science can find validation and deeper insights by researching ancient Jain scriptures.

Call to Action:

The publication encourages readers to join Pujya Gurudev's mission by contributing knowledge, time, or financial support for the translation and dissemination of Āgamas. The compiled scriptures are intended to be distributed to libraries, universities, Jain centers, and made available online and in various digital formats.

In essence, "Āgama: An Introduction" serves as a gateway to understanding the rich tapestry of Jain philosophy as laid out in the Āgama scriptures, aiming to make these ancient, yet highly relevant, teachings accessible and applicable to contemporary life.