Balbodh Pathmala 2

Here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Balbodh Pathmala 2" by Hukamchand Bharilla, based on the provided pages:

Overall Purpose and Audience:

"Balbodh Pathmala 2" is designed as an educational text for young learners, aiming to impart fundamental principles of Jainism. The language is relatively simple, employing a dialogue format between a father and son or teacher and student to explain complex concepts. The book's goal is to foster ethical conduct, spiritual understanding, and devotion to Jain principles.

Key Themes and Content Breakdown:

The book is structured into several "lessons" (Paath), each focusing on a specific aspect of Jain philosophy and practice:

• Lesson 1: Dev-Stuti (Praise of the True God)

  • Definition of True God: The text defines a true God as one who is Vitaraag (free from attachment and aversion), Sarvagya (omniscient), and Hitopdeshi (one who gives beneficial teachings).
  • Prayer: The prayer expresses a desire for the destruction of ignorance (mithyatva) and the attainment of true knowledge (samayagyan).
  • Ethical Aspirations: The devotee pledges to cultivate compassion, avoid falsehood, theft, improper conduct, and greed. They aspire to live a life of contentment, service to the Jindharma, and promotion of good customs and mutual harmony.
  • Inner Qualities: The prayer also emphasizes the importance of equanimity in pleasure and pain, adherence to the path of righteousness, and continuous self-improvement.
  • Goal: The ultimate aim is the purification of the soul, freedom from the "dirt" of sins, and the advancement of both worldly and spiritual knowledge.

• Lesson 2: Paap (Sins)

  • Hierarchy of Sins: The text clarifies that while greed (lobh) is called the "father of sin," the greatest sin is Mithyatva (false belief or wrong faith).
  • The Five Great Sins: The five primary sins are identified as:
    1. Himsa (Violence): Initially defined as hurting or killing, it's further expanded to include internal violence like attachment, aversion, and delusion.
    2. Jhooth (Untruth/Lying): Not just speaking falsely, but also the need to understand the truth before speaking.
    3. Chori (Stealing): Includes taking anything not given, even the intent to take.
    4. Kusheel (Unchastity/Improper Conduct): Broadly defined, including looking at others' mothers and sisters with lustful intent.
    5. Parigrah (Possession/Attachment): Not just accumulating possessions, but the attachment and sense of ownership towards them.
  • Root Cause: The discussion highlights that Mithyatva and Kashayas (passions) are the root of all sins.
  • Conclusion: To avoid sins, one must first abandon Mithyatva and Kashayas.

• Lesson 3: Kashaya (Passions)

  • Definition: Kashayas are defined as afflictions that bind the soul to suffering and are a second name for attachment (raag) and aversion (dvesh). They are considered vibhav (unnatural states) rather than the soul's true nature (swabhav).
  • The Four Kashayas: The four main kashayas are:
    1. Krodh (Anger): Arises from the belief that someone has harmed us.
    2. Maan (Pride/Arrogance): Stems from the belief of ownership and pride in external possessions.
    3. Maya (Deception/Deceit): Involves hypocrisy and acting differently from one's intentions.
    4. Lobh (Greed): The intense desire to possess something upon seeing it.
  • Origin and Mitigation: Kashayas arise primarily from perceiving external objects as either favorable or unfavorable due to Mithyatva. Cultivating true knowledge (tattvajnan) helps to see external objects as neither favorable nor unfavorable, thereby mitigating kashayas.

• Lesson 4: Sadachar (Good Conduct)

  • Focus: This lesson uses a narrative of a children's assembly to illustrate good conduct.
  • Story 1 (The Stubborn Child): A child's stubbornness, greed for sweets, anger, and pride lead to him being bitten by a scorpion after throwing away his food. This highlights the negative consequences of these traits.
  • Story 2 (The Serpent in the Food): A story about a wedding feast where poisoned food (due to a snake falling into it) causes people to fall ill. Those who abstained from eating at night were saved. This emphasizes the importance of avoiding night-time meals.
  • The Chairman's Reflection: The chairman of the assembly shares his personal experience of seeing microorganisms in unfiltered water through a microscope, leading him to vow to always drink filtered water. This promotes the principle of Himsa (non-violence) in daily life.
  • Key Takeaways: The lesson stresses avoiding anger, pride, greed, and stubbornness, and refraining from eating at night. It also emphasizes the importance of filtering water to prevent himsa.

• Lesson 5: Gati (Realms of Existence)

  • Concept: Gati refers to the different states or realms of existence that a soul transmigrates through in the cycle of birth and death.
  • The Four Realms:
    1. Manushya (Human): The realm where one is born with a human body.
    2. Tiryangcha (Sub-human/Animal): Includes animals, birds, insects, plants, etc.
    3. Naraka (Hellish Being): Realms characterized by intense suffering, heat, cold, hunger, and thirst.
    4. Deva (Heavenly Being): Realms of enjoyment, often associated with possessing pleasurable objects.
  • The Fifth Realm (Moksha/Siddhashila): This is the state of liberation, the ultimate goal, achieved by overcoming the suffering of the four realms through self-realization and spiritual practice.
  • Causes of Rebirth: The text briefly touches upon the karmic causes for rebirth in different realms, linking excessive indulgence and attachment to hellish states, deceit to sub-human realms, and simpler living and lesser attachment to human births. Righteous conduct and devotion lead to heavenly births.
  • True Happiness: The underlying message is that all four realms are filled with suffering. True, eternal happiness is found only in the liberated state (Moksha).

• Lesson 6: Dravya (Substances)

  • Definition of Dravya: A dravya is defined as a collection of qualities.
  • The Six Dravyas: The fundamental substances that constitute the universe are:
    1. Jeev (Soul/Consciousness): Characterized by knowledge.
    2. Pudgal (Matter): Possesses touch, taste, smell, and color. It is the only form that can be perceived by the senses.
    3. Dharma (Principle of Motion): Acts as a medium for the movement of souls and matter.
    4. Adharma (Principle of Rest): Acts as a medium for the rest of souls and matter.
    5. Aakash (Space/Ether): Provides space for all substances.
    6. Kaal (Time): Facilitates the transformation and change in all substances.
  • Ajeev Dravyas: All dravyas except the soul are considered ajeev (non-living).
  • Perception: Only Pudgal is perceived by the senses because it is material and has color, taste, etc. The soul and other dravyas are formless and beyond the reach of the senses.
  • Universe (Lok/Vishva): The collection of these six dravyas forms the universe. It is eternal and self-created, with no external creator.
  • God (Bhagwan): God is defined not as a creator but as one who knows the universe, its past, present, and future, and all its constituents.
  • Causality: Each dravya is the doer of its own modifications (paryay). There is no external controller; ultimate freedom lies in the inherent nature of each substance.

• Lesson 7: Bhagwan Mahavir (Lord Mahavir)

  • Biography: This lesson introduces Lord Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankar. It explains that "Mahavir" means "great hero," and he was named Vardhaman (meaning "one who increases"). He was also known as Veer, Ativeer, and Sanmati.
  • Birth and Early Life: Born approximately 2580 years ago, he was a talented, insightful, and fearless child.
  • Renunciation: He did not marry and renounced worldly life at the age of thirty to become a naked ascetic (digambar sadhu).
  • Enlightenment: After twelve years of intense spiritual practice and austerities, he attained Keval-gyan (omniscience) at the age of 42.
  • Teachings: He preached for 30 years, imparting wisdom through his divine discourse (divya dhvani).
  • Liberation: He attained liberation (Mukti) at the age of 72 in Pavapuri on Diwali.
  • Key Teachings Highlighted:
    • All souls are equal.
    • Gods are not external creators but beings who attain divinity through spiritual effort.
    • The soul's nature is to know and see, not to experience passions.
    • Avoid hurting others' feelings.
    • Lying and the intention to lie are sins.
    • Stealing and the intention to steal are wrong.
    • Live with restraint, avoid anger, and do not be arrogant.
    • Deceit and crookedness in thoughts are very bad.
    • Greedy people are always unhappy.
    • We suffer due to our own mistakes and can become happy by correcting them.

• Lesson 8: Jinavani-Stuti (Praise of the Jinavani/Sacred Scriptures)

  • Praise of Jain Scriptures: This lesson is a hymn praising the Jinavani (the sacred scriptures of Jainism).
  • Qualities of Jinavani: The Jinavani is described as the sun that dispels the darkness of ignorance (mithyatva), reveals the true knowledge of the soul and other substances, and guides beings across the ocean of existence to true happiness.
  • Devotion: The singer expresses deep devotion, chanting day and night and seeking refuge in the Jinavani, which grants peace and leads to the understanding of the entire universe.

Key Jain Concepts Explained:

• Vitaraag, Sarvagya, Hitopdeshi (True God)
• Mithyatva (False Belief)
• Samayagyan (Right Knowledge)
• The Five Great Sins: Himsa, Jhooth, Chori, Kusheel, Parigrah
• Kashaya (Passions: Krodh, Maan, Maya, Lobh)
• Dravya-himsa vs. Bhav-himsa (Physical vs. Mental Violence)
• Four Realms of Existence: Manushya, Tiryangcha, Naraka, Deva
• Moksha (Liberation)
• Six Dravyas: Jeev, Pudgal, Dharma, Adharma, Aakash, Kaal
• Keval-gyan (Omniscience)
• Tirthankar
• The Nature of the Soul (knowing and seeing)
• Karma (implied in the causes of rebirth)

Educational Approach:

The book employs a question-and-answer format, dialogue, stories, and hymns to make learning engaging and accessible for children. It breaks down complex philosophical ideas into manageable concepts, reinforcing them with summaries and "principle sentences."

In essence, "Balbodh Pathmala 2" serves as a foundational text for young Jain students, guiding them towards an understanding of their faith's core tenets, ethical responsibilities, and the path to spiritual liberation through the life and teachings of Lord Mahavir and the wisdom of the Jain scriptures.