Chitramay Tattvagyan

This book, "Chitramay Tattvagyan" (Pictorial Metaphysics) by Acharya Shri Gunratnasuri M.S., published by Jingun Aradhak Trust, aims to explain Jain philosophical concepts and spiritual development through visual representations and clear explanations. The author emphasizes the importance of understanding these principles, especially for the younger generation, as a counterpoint to Western materialism.

The book covers a wide range of Jain teachings, including:

1. Meditation and the Samavasarana:

• It describes meditation as an inner austerity that leads to omniscience.
• It highlights the importance of a stable mind for meditation.
• The book details the process of meditating on the Samavasarana (the divine assembly hall of the Tirthankaras), including visualizing the different layers of the hall, the central throne with the Arihant, and the twelve assemblies of beings listening to the discourse.
• It provides a method for chanting the Navkar Mahamantra by mentally traversing the Samavasarana, aiming for concentration and spiritual benefit.

2. The Nature of the Universe (Jain Perspective):

• The universe (Lok) is defined as that which contains the six Dravyas (substances).
• It explains the concept of Dravyas, Gunas (qualities), and Paryayas (modes/transformations).
• The six Dravyas are detailed:
  • Dharmastikaya: The medium for motion, akin to the scientific concept of ether, described as non-material and pervading space.
  • Adharmastikaya: The medium for rest and stillness, supporting the stationary souls in the Siddhashila.
  • Akashastikaya: Space, which provides accommodation for all other Dravyas.
  • Jivastikaya: The soul, characterized by consciousness, knowledge, and bliss.
  • Pudgalastikaya: Matter, which possesses qualities like color, taste, smell, touch, and has various forms.
  • Kala: Time, which brings about changes and is considered indivisible from the perspective of Keval Gyan.

3. The Fourteen Rajlok:

• It describes the structure of the Jain universe, the fourteen Rajlok, which is 14 Raj (a unit of measure) in height.
• It elaborates on the different realms within the Lok, including Urddhvalok (upper realms), Madhyalok (middle realm), and Adholok (lower realms) with their respective inhabitants (deities, humans, hell beings).
• The concept of 'Raj' as a vast distance is explained.
• It details the regions inhabited by different types of beings, including Trisnadhi (where mobile beings reside).

4. The Twenty-Five and a Half Islands (Dhai Dweep):

• This section focuses on the middle realm (Madhyalok) and the "Dhai Dweep" (two and a half islands) which is the realm of human existence.
• It describes the arrangement of continents and oceans, starting from Jambu Dweep and extending to Pushkarvar Dweep.
• It explains the division of continents into Karma Bhumi (land of action) and Akarma Bhumi (land of non-action), and the concept of Antardweeps.
• It details the geographical features and the types of human beings (Yugalika) inhabiting these regions in different epochs.

5. The Distinction Between Soul and Body:

• The book provides fifteen arguments to establish that the soul (Jiva) is distinct from the body and other material aspects.
• These arguments are based on differences in qualities, functions, consciousness, memory, and ownership.

6. Types of Souls:

• It classifies souls into three categories:
  • Bahiratma: Those who identify the soul with the body.
  • Antaratma: Those who believe in the soul's intrinsic qualities and strive for their realization. This category is further divided into Avirat Samyagdrushti, Desh Virat, and Sarva Virat.
  • Paramatma: The liberated souls (Arhants and Siddhas).
• It explains the stages of spiritual development leading to liberation, including the vows (Anuvrat, Gunvrat, Shikshavrat, and Mahavrat).

7. 563 Types of Souls:

• This section delves into the classification of souls based on their existence in various life forms.
• It categorizes souls into:
  • Mukta (Liberated): Souls that have attained Moksha.
  • Sansari (Worldly): Souls bound by karma, further divided into:
    • Sthavar (Stationary): One-sensed beings (earth-bodied, water-bodied, fire-bodied, air-bodied, and plant-bodied).
    • Trasa (Mobile): Two-sensed, three-sensed, four-sensed, and five-sensed beings.
• It details the classification of Trasa beings into Narak (hell beings), Tiryancha (animals), Manushya (humans), and Devas (celestial beings), and their respective sub-categories.

8. The Existence of Life in Plants:

• It affirms the Jain belief that plants possess life, a concept that was scientifically validated much later.
• It highlights Lord Mahavir's teachings on the sentience of plants and the karma binding associated with harming them.

9. The Cycle of Rebirth:

• It explains that souls can be reborn into different life forms (human, divine, animal, hellish) based on their karma.
• It emphasizes that no soul is permanently fixed in one realm.

10. Spiritual Development (Fourteen Gunsthanaka):

• This chapter outlines the fourteen stages of spiritual progress (Gunsthanaka) that a soul traverses on its path to liberation.
• It describes the shedding of karmic coverings and the unfolding of inherent spiritual qualities at each stage, from the deluded state (Mithyatva) to the state of omniscience and liberation.
• It details the "Charamavarta" (final cycle) of existence, where the soul begins its upward spiritual journey, characterized by increased compassion, reduced aversion to virtuous souls, and proper conduct.

11. Time Cycle (Kal Chakra):

• It explains the Jain concept of time as cyclical, divided into ascending (Utsarpini) and descending (Avsarpini) epochs.
• Each epoch is further divided into six sub-epochs (Aaras), with a progressive decline in virtue and well-being in Avsarpini and a progressive increase in virtue and well-being in Utsarpini.
• It describes the characteristics of each epoch, including human lifespan, body stature, and the general state of happiness and suffering.

12. Pudgal Paravarta:

• This section explains the concept of "Pudgal Paravarta," the immense time it takes for a soul to cycle through all the forms of matter.
• It categorizes Pudgal Paravarta into different types based on the nature of interaction with matter and time, emphasizing the vastness of this cosmic cycle.

13. The Process of Attaining Right Faith (Samyagdarshan):

• It explains that true faith (Samyagdarshan) is attained by developing unwavering belief in the teachings of the Tirthankaras.
• It describes the process of breaking the "granthi" (knot) of delusion (Mithyatva), which is characterized by intense attachment and aversion.
• It details the three stages of internal purification (Yathapravrittikaran, Apurvaakaran, and Anivrittikaran) that lead to the attainment of Samyagdarshan.

14. The Six Types of Austerities (Tapas):

• It elaborates on the twelve types of austerities, divided into external (Bahya Tap) and internal (Abhyantar Tap).
• External austerities include fasting, reduced eating, limiting desires, renouncing tastes, enduring hardship, and controlling the senses.
• Internal austerities include confession and penance, humility and respect, service to the virtuous, self-study, meditation, and renunciation.

15. Types of Meditation:

• It explains meditation as the concentration of the mind on a single object.
• It classifies meditation into auspicious (Shubh) and inauspicious (Ashubh) types.
• Auspicious meditation is further divided into Dharmadhyana (meditation on dharma) and Shukladhyana (pure meditation).
• It details the four types of Dharmadhyana and the four types of Shukladhyana, and the four types of Artadhyana (sorrowful meditation) and the four types of Raudrahyana (fierce meditation) under inauspicious meditation.
• It highlights the karmic consequences of each type of meditation.

16. The Fineness of Jain Atoms:

• It discusses the Jain concept of atoms, stating that what modern scientists consider an atom is, from a Jain perspective, a conglomerate of infinitely many true atoms.
• It contrasts the scientific understanding of atomic structure with the Jain view of the ultimate indivisible particle.

17. The Nine Principles (Nava Tattva):

• It lists and explains the nine fundamental principles of Jainism: Jiva (soul), Ajiva (non-soul), Punya (merit), Papa (demerit), Ashrava (influx of karma), Samvara (cessation of karma), Nirjara (shedding of karma), Bandha (bondage of karma), and Moksha (liberation).
• It uses a metaphorical illustration of a lake to explain the interaction of these principles.
• It classifies these principles as knowable (Jneya), abandonable (Heya), and attainable (Upadeya).

The book uses numerous illustrations and simple language to make complex philosophical concepts accessible to a wider audience, aiming to inspire spiritual growth and adherence to Jain principles.