Bodhidurlabh Bhavna - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary in English of the provided Jain text, "Bodhidurlabh Bhavna":

The text, "Bodhidurlabh Bhavna" by Ramanlal C. Shah, emphasizes the profound significance of cultivating pure thoughts and emotions (Bhavna) in Jainism, particularly for achieving liberation (Moksha).

The Nature of Bhavna:

Definition: Bhavna is defined as that which refines or cultivates the soul ("Bhavyate' anaya iti Bhavna"). It is intimately connected to the soul through the mind, which has two aspects: the material mind (dravya man) and the mental mind (bhav man). The bhav man is directly linked to the soul.
Importance in Jainism: Bhavna is considered superior to other virtues like charity (dan), ethical conduct (shil), and penance (tap). The text "Manonushasan" defines Bhavna as the special cultivation of consciousness for purity of mind, eradication of delusion, and steadfastness in vows like non-violence.
Impact: Bhavnas have a direct impact on the mind, face, body, and ultimately, the soul's inner states. They can either be auspicious (shubh) or inauspicious (ashubh).

Understanding "Bodhi":

Origin: The word "Bodhi" originates from the Sanskrit root "budh," meaning to know or be aware. Wise individuals who discern between right and wrong are called "budh."
Jain Interpretation: In Jainism, "Bodhi" is a technical term referring to the soul's inherent nature of knowledge and spiritual illumination. It is often symbolized by a jewel due to its preciousness.
Equivalence to Samyakattva: "Bodhi" is primarily used to signify Samyakattva, which comprises Right Faith (Samyakdarshan), Right Knowledge (Samyakgnan), and Right Conduct (Samyakcharitra). Attaining these is crucial for Moksha, as without them, liberation is impossible.
Prayer for Bodhi: The text highlights that even in revered Jain scriptures like the "Logas Sutra," "Uphasargahra Stotra," and "Jay Viyaray Stotra," prayers are offered for the attainment of Bodhi, underscoring its supreme value.

Types of Bhavnas:

General Classification: Bhavnas are broadly classified into two categories: auspicious (sanklishta) and inauspicious (asanklishta).
Inauspicious Bhavnas: These include emotions related to lust (kandarp), sin (kibishi), pursuit of worldly affairs (abhioyagiki), gifting (danvi), and delusion (sammohi). They are associated with contemplation of wrathful (raudra) and worldly (ardha) meditations.
Auspicious Bhavnas: These are considered divine or superior Bhavnas. They include:
- Four Bhavnas: Maitri (friendliness), Pramod (joy in others' virtues), Karuna (compassion), and Madhyasth (equanimity).
- Sixteen Bhavnas: These are considered "cause Bhavnas" and include virtues like purity of vision (darshan vishuddhi) and humility (vinay sampannata).
- Twelve Bhavnas (Anupreksha): These are considered the most important Bhavnas for self-reflection and spiritual growth, leading to detachment, self-awareness, and equanimity. They are also called "adhyatma" or "vairagya" Bhavnas. The text lists them as:
  1. Anitya (Impermanence)
  2. Asharan (Helplessness)
  3. Sansar (Transmigration)
  4. Ekatva (Oneness)
  5. Anyatva (Otherness)
  6. Ashuchi (Impurity)
  7. Asrava (Influx of Karma)
  8. Samvara (Cessation of Karma)
  9. Nirjara (Shedding of Karma)
  10. Lok (The Universe)
  11. Bodhidurlabh (Rarity of Bodhi)
  12. Dharma (Dharma/Righteousness) (Note: The order of the last four Bhavnas may vary in different texts.)

The Rarity of Human Birth and Bodhi (Bodhidurlabh):

Journey of the Soul: The text emphasizes the immense difficulty and time it takes for a soul to ascend through various life forms, from single-sensed beings to achieving a human birth. This progression is considered very rare.
Rarity within Human Birth: Even within a human birth, attaining a favorable birth in an Arya country (civilized land), in a cultured family, developing a curiosity for Dharma, having the opportunity to hear the Dharma, gaining spiritual understanding, and having the conducive circumstances for spiritual practice are progressively rarer.
Bodhi is Rarer than Kingdoms: The text explicitly states that attaining the "seed of Bodhi" is rarer than achieving kingship or even becoming a Chakravarti (universal emperor) in a human life.
The Four Main Rarieties: The text quotes a verse stating that four things are extremely rare for beings: human birth, hearing the Dharma (Shruti), faith in Dharma (Shraddha), and valor in restraint (Sanyam mein Viryam).
Stages of Rarity (Uttardhyayan Sutra): The text elaborates on this rarity by quoting teachings from the Uttardhyayan Sutra, illustrating how successive attainments become rarer: human birth is rare, then birth in an Arya country, then possession of all senses, then hearing the true Dharma, and finally, having faith in it.
Umaswati Maharaj's Explanation: Umaswati Maharaj, in "Prashamrati," details the sequence of rarities: human birth, Karma-land, Arya country, noble family, good health, and long life – even after achieving all these, developing faith in the Dharma preacher and attaining Bodhi is exceptionally rare.
The True Rarity of Bodhi: The text stresses that merely stating that Bodhi is rare is superficial. True realization of its rarity comes from contemplating the continuous cycle of beings in the universe and their spiritual progress.

Obstacles to Bodhi and its Preservation:

Four Inner Enemies (Sanjnas): The four primary internal enemies that hinder the attainment and preservation of Bodhi are: food craving (ahara sanjna), fear (bhaya sanjna), sexual desire (maithun sanjna), and possessiveness (parigraha sanjna). Overcoming these requires significant effort.
Losing Bodhi: Even after attaining the jewel of Bodhi, it is not easy to preserve and can be lost due to delusion, attachment, exposure to incorrect paths, and ego.
The Value of Bodhi: The text uses analogies like losing a ship for a small nail or breaking a valuable necklace for a trifle to illustrate the foolishness of neglecting Bodhi for fleeting worldly pleasures.

Attaining and Cherishing Bodhi:

The Fruit of Bhavna: The text quotes from the Uttaradhyayan Sutra, stating that through "Bhavasaty" (truth of emotions), one achieves purity of mind (bhav vishuddhi). A purified soul, like a boat reaching the shore, escapes all sorrows and reaches its destination.
Analogy of the Boat: A purified soul, through the practice of Bhavna, navigates through the waters of life like a boat reaching its destination, free from all suffering.
The Medicine of Bhavna: The text quotes Muni Sundar Suri advising the mind not to abandon the "medicine of Bhavna," lest it be deceived by the demons of misfortune.
Recommendation: The text concludes by encouraging the reader to understand the extreme rarity of Bodhi, achieve their own welfare through proper practice, and stop their descent into lower states of existence with their own inner strength. It recommends cherishing the jewel of Bodhi and partaking in the nectar of tranquil rasa (peaceful emotion) through profound humility and grace.

In essence, "Bodhidurlabh Bhavna" is a profound spiritual discourse that elucidates the paramount importance of cultivating auspicious thoughts and emotions in Jainism, particularly the realization and preservation of "Bodhi" (Samyakattva), emphasizing its extreme rarity and the diligent effort required to attain and retain this precious spiritual attainment.