Cha Avashyakna Rahasyo - Book Summary

Here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Cha Avashyakna Rahasyo" by Narvahanvijay, based on the provided pages:

The book, "Cha Avashyakna Rahasyo" (The Secrets of the Six Essential Duties), authored by Muni Shri Narvahanvijay, delves into the profound meaning and practice of the six essential daily duties in Jainism. It begins by defining "Avashyak" as something that is necessarily to be done. The text then elaborates on "Pramad" (negligence or indulgence), which hinders spiritual progress. Pramad is categorized into five types:

Madh (Addiction/Intoxication): This refers to any habit or addiction where one craves a particular substance or activity to feel refreshed or happy.
Vishay (Sensual Pleasures): This involves engaging the senses with favorable objects (touch, taste, smell, sight, sound) and withdrawing from unfavorable ones.
Kashay (Passions): These are anger, pride, deceit, and greed, arising from the pursuit or denial of worldly pleasures.
Vikatha (Idle Talk): This includes engaging in discussions and conversations unrelated to spiritual matters, finding enjoyment in them.
Nidra (Sleep): This is considered the fifth pramada, occurring when one becomes tired or loses interest in the other four types of pramada and seeks rest.

The text explains that beings engrossed in these five types of pramada neglect auspicious activities that cultivate spiritual qualities and instead engage in inauspicious ones. To break free from these inauspicious activities and strive for auspicious ones, the effort made is called Pratikraman (repentance or turning back). Pratikraman means to repeatedly turn back from inauspicious activities and engage the soul in auspicious ones.

A crucial aspect highlighted is the need to engage the soul in auspicious activities without "Shalya" (thorns or impurities). Engaging in auspicious activities with Shalya does not lead to liberation. Shalyas are categorized into three types:

Maya Shalya (Deceit): Performing religious actions with deceit or trickery, often observed in some practices, particularly among women, does not lead to the intended spiritual benefit.
Niyana Shalya (Vows with Desires): Performing religious acts with the motive of obtaining worldly or otherworldly pleasures, even if considered auspicious, does not lead to liberation. Such actions increase worldly attachments.
Mithyatva Shalya (False Belief): Performing religious acts contrary to the teachings of the enlightened ones, such as developing a desire for things that should be renounced and aversion to things that should be embraced.

Actions performed with any of these three Shalyas, even if performed excellently and without transgression, do not lead to liberation and instead cause an increase in worldly existence, leading to the accumulation of "Papānubandhi Punhya" (meritorious deeds that lead to sin) and "Akām Nirjara" (unintentional shedding of karmas). Therefore, the wise emphasize performing religious duties without these Shalyas.

The text then details the six essential duties (Avashyakas), which collectively form Pratikraman:

Samayika (Equanimity/Meditation): This involves abstaining from sinful activities (Savadh Yoga) with mind, speech, and body for a specific duration. It cultivates inner joy and the desire to renounce all sinful activities. True Samayika leads to spiritual growth. The joy derived from abstaining from sinful activities makes remaining sinful activities of the day less appealing. This joy helps in the development of spiritual qualities.
Chauvisthuti (Praise of the Twenty-four Tirthankaras): This involves praising the virtues of the Tirthankaras, which helps in cultivating similar qualities within oneself and performing efforts like the Tirthankaras did to overcome obstacles and attain spiritual progress. Praising them leads to the reduction of intense negative karmas and the binding of milder positive karmas, aiding in purification.
Vandan (Salutation to the Guru): Reverencing the spiritual preceptor (Guru) is essential, as they guide towards spiritual qualities and away from sinful thoughts. Saluting the Guru leads to the cessation of inauspicious thoughts and the proliferation of auspicious ones, aiding in spiritual progress and detachment from worldly concerns. The example of Krishna's reverence for the 18,000 Sadhus is given, highlighting the transformative power of sincere salutation.
Pratikraman (Repentance): This involves recalling and regretting all inauspicious actions (thought, word, or deed) performed throughout the day, confessing them to the Guru with sincere remorse, and resolving not to repeat them. It is a process of turning back from sins and striving for pure actions. The text further breaks down Pratikraman into five types:
- Mithyatva Pratikraman: Repentance for mistaken beliefs or wrong perspectives.
- Avirata Pratikraman: Repentance for the twelve types of indiscretions (related to senses, mind, and the six types of life-forms).
- Kashay Pratikraman: Repentance for the four passions (anger, pride, deceit, greed).
- Yoga Pratikraman: Repentance for inauspicious activities of mind, speech, and body.
- Samsara Pratikraman: Repentance for actions that increase the cycle of birth and death, like excessive attachment or materialistic endeavors.
Kaussagga (Self-Reflection/Meditation): This involves observing and reflecting upon oneself by steadying the body and mind, detaching from the physical form, and contemplating spiritual truths. It is a practice of deep meditation aimed at breaking attachment to the body and cultivating mindfulness. The text provides detailed instructions on how to perform Kaussagga using scriptures like "Logassa" and "Navkar," emphasizing the importance of concentration and the correct number of breaths. It also explains that Kaussagga helps reduce negative karmic influx and develop virtues.
Pachchakkhan (Vow/Renunciation): This involves voluntarily renouncing certain foods, activities, or desires for a specific period. It is a practice of controlling sensory impulses and cultivating detachment. The text explains how Pachchakkhan leads to the development of three qualities: renunciation, tolerance, and contentment, which in turn foster detachment and spiritual progress. It highlights the importance of sincere intention and the progressive nature of renunciation.

The book concludes by discussing the eight special qualities or aspects of performing these essential duties, including having a focused mind (Tachitta), complete concentration (Tamana), pure intentions (Tallya), determined endeavor (Tadgat Adhyavasa), intense endeavor (Tateevra Adhyavasa), use of scripture for understanding (Tarth Upayukt), following the prescribed rituals (Arpita Karan), and cultivating auspicious thoughts (Tadbhava Bhavit). It stresses that these practices, when performed with pure intention and focus, lead to the reduction of negative karmas, increase in auspicious karmas, and ultimately to spiritual purification and liberation.

Overall, "Cha Avashyakna Rahasyo" serves as a guide to understanding and implementing the six essential duties in Jainism, emphasizing the importance of sincerity, detachment from worldly pleasures, and the cultivation of inner purity for spiritual liberation.