Guru Shishya Prashnottari - Book Summary

Here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Guru Shishya Prashnottari" by Suresh Gautam, based on the provided excerpt:

Book Title: Guru Shishya Prashnottari (Guru-Disciple Question and Answer) Author/Reviewer: Dr. Suresh Gautam Publisher: Z_Deshbhushanji_Maharaj_Abhinandan_Granth_012045.pdf (Likely part of a felicitation volume for Acharya Shri Deshbhushan Ji Maharaj)

This text is a review of the work "Guru Shishya Prashnottari" authored by the esteemed Digambara Jain monk, Acharya Shri Deshbhushan Ji Maharaj. The reviewer, Dr. Suresh Gautam, highlights Acharya Deshbhushan Ji Maharaj as a spiritual leader of immense stature, a symbol of upward human consciousness, and a repository of eternal human values. He is described as a scholar, ascetic, and radiant personality whose presence emanates peace and brilliance. Acharya Deshbhushan Ji Maharaj is lauded for his profound understanding of Indian civilization, culture, and literature, and his dedication to human welfare and positive future values. His multilingual abilities and efforts in translating devotional literature have significantly contributed to Indian literature.

The "Guru Shishya Prashnottari" itself is presented as a concise work that addresses the common and profound questions of worldly life and spirituality from a disciple to a Guru. The core purpose of the book is to provide clear and insightful solutions to a disciple's queries, thereby guiding them towards a meaningful life.

The review emphasizes the crucial role of a Guru in a disciple's life, stating that a true and capable Guru is essential for dispelling the endless doubts and curiosities of a disciple. The text draws a parallel with the famous verse of Sant Kabir, highlighting that while both God (Govind) and the Guru are present, it is the Guru who facilitates the realization of God. Thus, attaining salvation or self-realization is impossible without a Guru, and profound faith in a capable Guru is a life necessity.

The book features a disciple posing a total of 103 questions to Acharya Shri, who, as the Guru, provides profound answers. The questions cover a wide spectrum of human experience, including:

Morality and Karma: Deep contemplation on sin and merit (pap-punya).
Worldly Concerns: Issues like poverty, the birth of a son, the problem of ungrateful children, connections to past lives, straying from the right path, mistreatment of parents, the joy of a good daughter, the consequences of associating with untrustworthy individuals, reputation, happiness and sorrow, and health and illness. The reviewer notes the naturalness with which the disciple poses these questions and the equally natural yet profound analysis provided by the Guru in his replies.
Existential Anxieties: The disciple's restlessness concerning self-control, rules, wealth (Lakshmi), righteousness and unrighteousness, weakness and strength, and fear and fearlessness. The Guru's teachings are described as a soothing balm for the troubled soul, acting as a compass for life in this material world.
Causes of Suffering: The disciple's eagerness to understand the results of past sins that lead to dependence, misfortune, and ugliness. The Guru's fundamental answer is that these are consequences of past-life karmic fruition.
Human Relationships: The disciple gets entangled in the complexities of relationships such as brothers and sisters, husband and wife, mother and father, daughter and father, son and father, and son and mother. The Guru guides the disciple through the insignificance of these worldly bonds.
Rebirth and Human Form: The disciple's query about the virtues that lead to a human birth. The Guru explains that it is the result of a pure disposition, absence of animosity towards any being, mild passions, virtuous conduct, and positive thoughts in past lives.
Rebirth in Hell: The disciple's question about the sins that lead to rebirth in hell. The Guru elaborates that it is due to harming many beings, anger, causing suffering, having murderous intentions, consuming forbidden food, lacking spiritual inclination, being inclined towards sin, hating religion, and looking down upon or disrespecting religious individuals in past lives.
The Soul and the Supreme Soul: The text involves continuous contemplation on the nature of the soul and the Supreme Soul.

In essence, "Guru Shishya Prashnottari" is portrayed as an invaluable and significant work that dispels numerous misconceptions and anxieties related to everyday life. It guides the disciple towards the path of liberation (moksha-marg). The book's success lies in its use of simple, conversational language and its question-and-answer format, making it comprehensible even to the least educated. The reviewer concludes by stating that this work provides immense mental satisfaction and spiritual nourishment, offering solace like water to a thirsty traveler in a desert. Therefore, it is deemed priceless, collectible, and historically important.