Dharm Jivan Jine Ki Kala - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Dharm Jivan Jine ki Kala" (The Art of Living a Dharmic Life) by Satyanarayan Goyanka, based on the provided pages:

The book, "Dharm Jivan Jine ki Kala," authored by Satyanarayan Goyanka and published by Sayaji U. Ba. Khin Memorial Trust, Mumbai, is presented as a guide to living a virtuous and peaceful life through the lens of Jain philosophy, with a strong emphasis on the practice of Vipassana meditation.

Core Message and Purpose:

The central theme of the book is that Dharma is the art of living, the path to genuine happiness, and the way to live harmoniously with oneself and others. It argues that material progress and worldly comforts do not necessarily lead to greater happiness; in fact, increased possessions often correlate with increased anxiety and stress. Therefore, there is a growing universal need for peace and spiritual solace, leading to an increased interest in meditation.

The Nature of Dharma:

Dharma as Inner Purity: True Dharma is defined as living with a pure mind, free from defilements like anger, greed, lust, ego, jealousy, and hatred. These mental impurities are the root cause of suffering and unethical actions.
Dharma is Not Ritual or Dogma: The book strongly differentiates true Dharma from superficial rituals, blind faith, dogma, outward appearances, and sectarian beliefs. It emphasizes that Dharma is not about following specific traditions, performing external ceremonies, or adhering to rigid rules for their own sake.
Dharma is Experiential and Practical: Dharma is presented as something to be lived and experienced, not merely studied or debated. It is a practical science of self-transformation that leads to inner peace and well-being in this life.
Dharma is Universal and Timeless: True Dharma is presented as universally applicable, transcending any specific religion, caste, creed, or nationality. Its principles are rooted in natural laws that govern all beings.
The Importance of Self-Observation: A key aspect of practicing Dharma is constant self-awareness and observation of one's thoughts, speech, and actions. This introspection helps in identifying and eradicating mental impurities.

Vipassana Meditation as the Path:

The book champions Vipassana as the pure, original method taught by the Buddha for achieving inner peace and understanding the true nature of reality. Vipassana is described as:

The Art of Seeing Things as They Are: It is the practice of observing one's physical and mental experiences with equanimity, without reaction or judgment.
A Tool for Self-Discovery and Purification: Through Vipassana, individuals can understand the impermanent, unsatisfactory, and selfless nature of existence, leading to the eradication of defilements.
A Method for Developing Equanimity: Vipassana cultivates equanimity (samata), enabling one to face life's dualities (pleasure and pain, praise and blame, gain and loss) with inner balance.
A Path to Liberation from Suffering: By purifying the mind through self-observation and equanimity, one can break the cycle of suffering caused by craving and aversion.

Key Concepts Discussed:

The Four Noble Truths (Implicitly): While not explicitly numbered, the teachings revolve around the suffering caused by mental impurities and the path to their cessation through self-observation and equanimity, reflecting the essence of the Four Noble Truths.
Sila, Samadhi, Prajna: The practice of Vipassana is presented as encompassing these three core principles:
- Sila (Morality/Virtue): Abstaining from harmful actions (killing, stealing, lying, sexual misconduct, intoxicants) which purify speech and body.
- Samadhi (Concentration/Mental Discipline): Cultivating a focused and calm mind, essential for clear observation.
- Prajna (Wisdom/Insight): Developing the wisdom to see reality as it is, leading to detachment from impurities.
The Dangers of Superficiality: The book warns against mistaking mere intellectual understanding of Dharma, superficial rituals, or blind adherence to dogma for true Dharma practice.
The Importance of Personal Effort: True spiritual progress and happiness are achieved through one's own sincere efforts, not through external blessings or reliance on others. The principle of "Self-reliance is the best support."
The Universality of Natural Laws: The principles of cause and effect governing mental states and actions are presented as natural laws that apply to everyone, regardless of their background.
The Interconnectedness of Individual and Society: A person's inner state affects others and society as a whole. Cultivating inner peace contributes to world peace.

Structure and Content:

The book is organized into chapters that explore various facets of Dharma, including:

What is Dharma? Defining Dharma as the art of living, emphasizing inner peace and freedom from mental impurities.
Pure Dharma: Distinguishing the essence of Dharma (Sila, Samadhi, Prajna) from superficial rituals.
The Essence of Dharma: Highlighting the need to grasp the core principles and discard outward, empty forms.
Embrace Dharma: Encouraging the practical application of Dharma.
Intellectualism is Not Dharma: Warning against mere philosophical debate without practice.
Correct Evaluation of Dharma: Emphasizing the importance of assessing spiritual practices by their actual impact on one's inner state.
True Skill: Identifying purity of mind and goodwill as the ultimate skill.
The Dharma of Equanimity: Explaining equanimity as the key to overcoming suffering.
A Simple Mind: Promoting simplicity and purity of mind, free from desires and ego.
The Universal Welfare Aspect of Dharma: Underscoring Dharma's role in fostering social harmony and well-being.
Dharma is the Protector: Emphasizing self-reliance and the protective power of one's own practiced Dharma.
What's in a Name? Critiquing the superficiality of labels and emphasizing the importance of actions over names.
True Dharma is Truth: Affirming truth and direct experience as the foundation of Dharma.
What is Vipassana? Detailing Vipassana as a practical, scientific method for self-observation and purification.
The Wheel of Dharma: Explaining the cycle of conditioned arising and how to break it through Dharma.
Right Dharma: Defining Dharma as being correct, pure, and beneficial in thought, word, and deed.
Truth is Dharma: Reiterating that truth, as a natural law and direct experience, is the essence of Dharma.
The Vision of Dharma: Understanding the profound truth of reality through direct experience.
Why Vipassana? Explaining the efficacy of Vipassana in addressing mental suffering and cultivating inner peace.
Let Us Share Happiness: An exhortation to share the discovered happiness and peace with others.

Author's Background:

Satyanarayan Goyanka (1924-2013) was a renowned Indian-born businessman who learned Vipassana in Burma from Sayagyi U Ba Khin. He later dedicated his life to teaching Vipassana globally, establishing numerous centers and making this ancient Indian practice accessible to people of all backgrounds.

In essence, "Dharm Jivan Jine ki Kala" is a profound and practical guide that seeks to reintroduce the ancient wisdom of living a life of virtue, peace, and happiness through the rigorous practice of self-observation and mental purification, with Vipassana meditation being the primary vehicle for this transformation.