Hitchintan

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Hitchintan" by Dhurandharvijay, based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Hitchintan (હિતચિંતન) Author: Panyas Dhurandharvijay Gani Publisher: Shree Jain Sahitya Vardhak Sabha, Ahmedabad Origin: The text was initially written for display boards during the Chaturmas in Mumbai in 2010 of the Vikram Samvat. It was later published due to popular demand, as many were copying the writings from the boards.

Core Message and Themes:

"Hitchintan" translates to "Consideration of Well-being" or "Thoughts for Welfare." The book is a collection of 96 short, insightful, and practical teachings aimed at guiding individuals towards a more virtuous and spiritually beneficial life, in accordance with Jain principles. The teachings are presented in a conversational and accessible style, often using analogies and simple stories to convey profound spiritual truths.

The central themes revolve around:

• Self-Reflection and Awareness: Encouraging readers to constantly examine their thoughts, actions, and intentions.
• Understanding the Self: Delving into the nature of the "I" (Aham) and differentiating between the soul (Atma) and the body/mind.
• Ethical Conduct and Virtues: Emphasizing the importance of right conduct, detachment, non-violence, truthfulness, and other Jain virtues.
• Detachment from the Material World: Advising against excessive attachment to worldly possessions, relationships, and physical experiences, which are seen as transient.
• Control of the Senses and Mind: Highlighting the need to master one's senses (indriyas) and the mind (man) to prevent them from leading to suffering.
• The Path to Liberation (Moksha): Guiding readers on the steps and practices that lead to spiritual liberation, which is the ultimate goal.
• Practical Wisdom for Daily Life: Offering guidance on how to approach various aspects of life, such as dealing with emotions, relationships, wealth, and even mundane activities, from a spiritual perspective.
• Importance of Spiritual Practices: Advocating for practices like meditation, silence, prayer, fasting, and contemplation.
• Understanding Karma: Explaining the law of karma and its implications for one's present and future.

Key Teachings and Concepts (Illustrated with examples from the text):

The book is structured as a series of short, numbered discourses (sometimes referred to by their initial phrase or concept). Here's a breakdown of some key ideas presented:

• 0 vs. 1 (Page 6): Zero (0) represents delusion (mithyatva) and bondage, while One (1) represents right faith (samyaktva) and liberation. The gap between them is immense, and understanding this difference is crucial for spiritual progress.
• Who am I? (Page 7): The text prompts introspection about the true nature of the "I." Is it the body, the mind, or the soul? Realizing the soul's true nature leads to freedom from worldly attachments.
• Yes and No (Page 7-8): This section explores how the mind constantly oscillates between likes and dislikes, pleasure and pain, sensory gratification and renunciation. It encourages consciously choosing the "yes" for what is spiritually beneficial and the "no" for what is detrimental.
• Pause and Reflect (Page 8-9): A call for travelers of life to pause, look back, and ensure they are not running on the wrong path, lost in the illusions of the world.
• What is truly yours? (Page 9-10): The text emphasizes that only what is inseparable from the soul is truly ours. Possessions, relationships, and even the body are external and temporary.
• Cleanliness of Mind and Soul (Page 10-11): Just as we clean our physical bodies and homes, the mind and soul also need purification. This is achieved through virtuous thoughts and actions.
• Avoiding the Horns of the Bull (Page 11-12): This analogy refers to getting stuck between attachment and aversion (raag and dwesh), symbolized by the horns of a bull. It advises staying detached and avoiding entanglement.
• Learning to Receive Advice (Page 12): It's easier to give advice than to receive it. The book encourages humility and the willingness to accept guidance, which can rectify errors and lead to great benefit.
• The Value of Ekadashi and Silence (Page 13-14): The text highlights the spiritual significance of the Ekadashi (eleventh day of the lunar fortnight) and the practice of silence (maun) as powerful tools for self-control and spiritual growth.
• Controlling Anger (Page 14-15): Anger is depicted as destructive, burning away accumulated merit. It advises recognizing anger as a self-inflicted wound, understanding its causes, and refraining from hasty actions when angry.
• True Day and Night (Page 15-16): The worldly perception of day (activity) and night (rest) is contrasted with the spiritual understanding where the soul's awakening is day, and attachment to the material world is night.
• Fearlessness through Self-Knowledge (Page 16-17): True fearlessness comes from realizing one's true, indestructible soul. Once this realization dawns, the fear of illness, old age, or death vanishes.
• The Power of Persistence (Page 17-18): To achieve any desired quality, be it wealth, knowledge, or strength, one must persistently pursue it without getting discouraged.
• The Art of "Begging" (Page 18-19): This isn't about literal begging, but about humbly seeking spiritual knowledge and virtues from worthy sources. True spiritual "begging" leads to self-sufficiency.
• The Heart's Gatekeeper (Page 19-20): The mind acts as a gatekeeper to the heart. If the mind is controlled, the heart can be a source of divine influence.
• Worry and Its Causes (Page 20-21): Worry is often for others, which is foolish. Worry for oneself, particularly for spiritual progress, is wise.
• The Folly of Ignoring Lakshmi (Page 21-22): Wealth (Lakshmi) can be both a blessing and a curse. The advice is to either use it wisely for good, or at least be cautious so it doesn't lead to downfall.
• The Story of Charcoal and Sandalwood (Page 22-23): A parable illustrating how ignorance and misuse of valuable resources (like the human birth or spiritual knowledge) lead to regret.
• The Importance of Account Keeping (Page 23-24): Metaphorically, one must maintain clear accounts of their spiritual earnings and expenses (karma) to avoid spiritual bankruptcy.
• The Enemies of Virtues (Page 24-25): Virtues like penance, knowledge, and charity have subtle enemies like pride, vanity, and hypocrisy that can undermine them.
• The Meaning of "One and One" (Page 25-26): This section uses a riddle to illustrate different perspectives and the importance of understanding how one interacts with others – in addition, juxtaposition, or multiplication.
• Generosity and Its Counterparts (Page 26-27): Charity (Daan) is essential, but the intention and manner of giving are crucial. Giving with attachment or for show leads to negative consequences.
• The True Nature of Food and Life (Page 27-28): This section questions the indiscriminate eating habits of some beings and stresses the need for regulated eating based on true hunger, digestibility, and purity.
• Harmful Thoughts (Page 28-29): Just as air can carry disease, certain thoughts can poison the mind and soul, leading to severe spiritual illness.
• The Three Types of Diseases (Page 29-30): Diseases of the body, mind, and soul are discussed. The soul's disease is the root of all, and addressing it is paramount.
• Achieving Wealth (Page 30-31): Practical advice for worldly success is given, emphasizing diligence, focus, and spiritual grounding through Dharma as the ultimate source of prosperity.
• Beware of Deceptive Pleasures (Page 31-32): The text warns against seemingly harmless indulgences like excessive taste, mockery, flattery, lying, gambling, and bad company, as they can lead to severe spiritual downfall.
• The Empty Shell (Page 32-33): A story about a talking shell that promises riches but delivers nothing, symbolizing empty promises and the dangers of greed.
• The Three Monkeys (Page 33-34): The famous "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" monkeys symbolize the importance of controlling the senses and speech.
• The Four Dolls (Page 34-35): An allegory illustrating how true understanding and spiritual insight are needed to discern the valuable from the worthless, even when things appear similar.
• Obstinacy (Duraagrah) (Page 35-36): Bad obstinacy is detrimental. It prevents growth and adherence to beneficial practices. Seeking a wise advisor (Sadagrah) can help overcome it.
• Wasting Time (Page 36-37): Time is precious. Engaging in idle gossip and unnecessary conversations is a significant waste that hinders spiritual progress.
• Company and Its Influence (Page 37-38): The adage "As the company, so the character" is emphasized. Good company fosters virtues, while bad company corrupts.
• The Tongue's Responsibility (Page 38-40): The tongue has two functions: eating and speaking. While the stomach bears responsibility for eating, the consequences of speech are often unmanaged, leading to harm. Controlling speech is crucial.
• Violence vs. Violent Thoughts (Page 40-41): Violent thoughts are more destructive than violent actions. Eradicating the idea that violence is necessary for survival is key.
• The Ugly Child: Sorrow (Page 41-42): Sorrow is an ugly child whose father is sin. To get rid of sorrow, one must first eliminate sin.
• Pairs of Vice and Virtue (Page 42-43): The text lists pairs of vices and their corresponding virtues, encouraging the cultivation of virtues to overcome vices.
• The Two Wives (Page 43-44): This allegory uses the metaphor of a man with two wives pulling him in opposite directions to represent the internal struggle between good impulses (Sumati) and bad impulses (Kumati).
• The Great Grandfather of All Vices (Page 44-45): Stinginess, miserliness, and greed are described as the root of many other vices.
• The Flower's Regret (Page 45-46): A flower laments its fate after being plucked and discarded, symbolizing the transient nature of beauty and the importance of using one's blessings wisely.
• Procrastination (Page 46-47): Delaying good deeds leads to their eventual abandonment, while bad deeds are often pursued. Overcoming procrastination is essential for progress.
• Burying the Old, Welcoming the New (Page 47-48): The importance of discarding falsehood and embracing truth is highlighted.
• The Monkey's Mischief (Page 48-49): A story illustrating how misguided actions, even with good intentions, can lead to disaster.
• The Four Dolls (Page 49-50): Revisited to emphasize that true value lies within and that superficial resemblances can be misleading.
• Obstinacy vs. Good Conduct (Page 50-51): Bad obstinacy is harmful. True steadfastness lies in righteous conduct.
• Wasting Time (Page 51-52): Emphasizes that time, once lost, never returns. This time should be used for spiritual pursuits rather than idle talk.
• Company of the Virtuous (Page 52-53): The story of two parrots, one raised by a sage and the other by a hunter, highlights the profound impact of company on character.
• The Tongue's Duty (Page 53-54): While the stomach is responsible for digestion, the tongue often speaks irresponsibly, causing more harm than good. Controlling the tongue is crucial.
• The Fear of Violent Thoughts (Page 54-55): Violent thoughts are deemed more destructive than violent actions, corrupting the mind and leading to suffering.
• The Ugly Child (Sorrow) and its Father (Sin) (Page 55-56): Sorrow is inescapable as long as sin persists. Eradicating sin is the way to eliminate sorrow.
• The Dual Nature of Actions (Page 56-57): Every vice has a corresponding virtue, and cultivating virtues is the way to overcome vices.
• The Master and His Two Wives (Page 57-58): This allegory uses the story of a man with two wives vying for his attention to represent the internal conflict between good and bad desires.
• The All-Encompassing Vice (Page 58-59): Stinginess is described as the root from which many other vices grow.
• The Flower's Lament (Page 59-60): A flower's regret at its misuse illustrates the impermanence of worldly beauty and the importance of virtuous utilization.
• Procrastination (Page 60-61): Delaying good deeds is harmful, while procrastination of bad deeds can be beneficial.
• The Lie (Page 61-62): The book emphasizes that without abandoning falsehood, no vow or practice can be truly effective.
• Why Don't People Come to You? (Page 62-63): Compares the Acacia tree (thorny and unwelcoming) with the Mango tree (fruitful and attractive) to explain why people are drawn to those who are virtuous and beneficial.
• Becoming Like the Mango Tree (Page 63-64): Contrasts the "thorny hedge" of negative qualities with the "mango grove" of virtues, urging readers to cultivate the latter.
• Worry vs. Contemplation (Page 64-65): Distinguishes between harmful worry and beneficial contemplation, urging readers to engage in the latter for spiritual progress.
• Admitting Mistakes (Page 65-66): It's natural to err, but admitting mistakes is a crucial step towards correction and self-improvement.
• The Foolish Friend and the Wise Enemy (Page 66-68): A story illustrates how a foolish friend can be more dangerous than a wise enemy.
• Criticism (Ninda) (Page 68-69): Criticizing others is a common but harmful practice. It suggests self-criticism as a more beneficial alternative.
• The Greatness of Human Birth (Page 69-70): Human birth is rare and precious, offering the unique opportunity for spiritual liberation. This potential should not be wasted on trivial pursuits.
• Sharing Secrets (Page 70-71): The text warns against gossiping and sharing private information, as it can lead to loss of reputation and trust.
• The Significance of 108 (Page 71-72): Explains the spiritual significance of the number 108 in Jainism, relating it to various virtues and practices.
• Be Like a Needle, Not Scissors (Page 72-73): Advises readers to be like a needle that unites and mends, rather than scissors that divide and cut.
• The Nature of Lakshmi (Wealth) (Page 73-74): Wealth is transient and can cause pride and downfall. It should be used for virtuous purposes to mitigate its negative effects.
• The Ten Shravakas (Lay Disciples) (Page 74-78): Briefly introduces ten prominent lay disciples, highlighting their devotion and adherence to vows, including adherence to specific wealth limits.
• Unsuitable Matches (Page 78-79): Discusses the concept of incompatible pairings, both externally (age, intellect) and internally (virtues and vices), and the need to resolve internal conflicts.
• Don't Interfere Without Authority (Page 79-80): Advises against meddling in matters where one has no authority, as it can lead to negative consequences.
• Avoid the Company of the Lowly (Page 80-81): Association with negative or base individuals leads to the erosion of good qualities and the increase of vices.
• Don't Preach to the Foolish (Page 81-82): It's counterproductive to offer advice to those who are unreceptive or malicious.
• Becoming Worthy (Page 82-84): The process of becoming a worthy vessel (like a pot) involves undergoing hardships and purification.
• The Power of Yoga (Page 84-85): Yoga is presented as a potent means to overcome worldly desires and physical suffering, leading to inner peace.
• The Power of Rain (Page 85-86): This section uses the metaphor of rain on a stone to illustrate the futility of forceful attempts to change someone resistant to spiritual teachings.
• The Twelve Events of Keval Gyan (Page 86-88): Lists various instances where spiritual enlightenment (Keval Gyan) was attained under diverse and sometimes challenging circumstances, emphasizing that the right inner disposition is key.
• The Function of the Limbs (Page 88-90): The story of the limbs of the body highlights the interdependence of all functions and the importance of the stomach (the center of energy) in sustaining the body.
• True Self-Interest (Page 90-91): True self-interest lies in spiritual well-being, not merely in worldly gains.
• The Goal (Page 91-92): Setting clear spiritual goals is essential for focused effort and progress. The ultimate goal is liberation.
• What Grows Without Effort (Page 92-93): Warns against things that grow easily and uncontrollably, like debt, tumors, fire, and passions, emphasizing the need for early intervention.
• Don't Trust Too Easily (Page 93-95): Advises caution regarding the body, youth, relatives, and wealth, as they are transient and can be unreliable.
• The Monkey and the Crocodile (Page 95-96): A classic tale about the importance of intellect and awareness in overcoming treacherous situations.
• Discernment (Vivek) (Page 96-98): Viveka, the ability to discern right from wrong, good from bad, is presented as a crucial virtue that, when cultivated, can overcome all vices.
• Friend and Foe (Page 98-99): The text explains that our own actions and thoughts are our true friends or foes, not external factors.
• Unforgettable Times (Page 99-100): Reflecting on past experiences, both pleasant and unpleasant, is encouraged to learn and prepare for the future.
• The Art of Sowing (Page 100-101): Analogizes spiritual growth to farming, emphasizing the need for proper preparation, sowing, and care for the seeds of virtue to yield a good harvest.
• Protection of Virtues (Page 101-102): Virtues need to be protected through strict adherence to rules and disciplines, just as crops need fences.
• Lightning Strike (Page 102-103): A parable illustrating that individual destiny (fortune or misfortune) plays a role, but also highlights the protective power of collective righteousness.
• Three Friends (Page 103-105): The story of a minister and his three friends (body, relatives, and Dharma) teaches that only Dharma remains a true companion in times of crisis.
• Removing Bitterness (Page 105-106): Encourages the purification of mind, speech, and actions from bitterness, comparing it to removing the bitterness from edible gourds.
• Channeling Enthusiasm (Page 106-107): Enthusiasm or passion needs proper direction. It advises channeling this energy towards beneficial spiritual pursuits.
• Destiny and Divinity (Page 107-109): A debate between two gods highlights that while divine intervention can help, destiny (Bhagya) plays a significant role in an individual's life.
• Nine Days of Controlling the Tongue (Page 109-110): The importance of controlling the tongue is emphasized, suggesting the practice of the Navpad Oli (worship of the nine supreme beings) for nine days as a means to achieve this.
• The Incorruptible Number Nine (Page 110-112): Explores the spiritual significance of the number nine in Jainism, linking it to the Navpad and the concept of unbroken spiritual progress.
• Be Prepared for Battle (Page 112-113): Encourages readiness for the spiritual battle against karmas, supported by the power of the Siddhachakra.
• Worship of the Arihants (Page 113-114): Highlights the significance of venerating the Arihants, the enlightened beings who guide humanity.
• The Siddha State (Page 114-115): Describes the state of the Siddhas – liberated souls who reside in eternal bliss – and the practices leading to this state.
• The Authority of the Acharya (Page 115-116): Emphasizes the role and importance of Acharyas in guiding the Jain community and upholding the teachings.
• The Worship of the Upadhyaya (Page 116-117): Discusses the significance of Upadhyayas, who impart scriptural knowledge, and the practices to venerate them.
• The Path of Righteous Conduct (Page 117-118): Highlights the essential role of virtuous conduct (Charitra) in the path to liberation, stating that without it, no spiritual progress is possible.
• The Power of Austerity (Tapa) (Page 118-119): Explains that austerity is a potent means to burn away accumulated karma and achieve spiritual goals.

Overall Impact:

"Hitchintan" serves as a concise and accessible guide for spiritual seekers. Its teachings are practical, offering guidance for daily life while consistently pointing towards the ultimate goal of spiritual liberation. The author's simple yet profound style makes complex Jain philosophy understandable and actionable for a wide audience. The book encourages a life of mindfulness, ethical behavior, self-discipline, and unwavering devotion to the spiritual path.