Ishtopadesh

Here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Ishtopadesh" based on the provided catalog link and pages:

Book Title: Ishtopadesh Author: Pujyapadswami (Shri Pujyapadswami) Commentary/Translation: Acharya Vijay Kalyanbodhisurishwarji (Disciple of Acharya Dev Shrimad Vijay Hemchandrasurishwarji) Publisher: Shri Jinshasan Aradhak Trust

Overview:

"Ishtopadesh" (literally meaning "Instruction of the Desired" or "Best Instruction") is a profound Jain scripture composed in Sanskrit by the revered Acharya Pujyapadswami. This particular edition features a new Sanskrit commentary ("Ishtopanishad") and a Gujarati translation ("Bhava-anuvaad") by the highly esteemed Acharya Vijay Kalyanbodhisurishwarji. The work is recognized for its condensed wisdom, containing only 51 verses that encapsulate the essence of Jain spiritual philosophy.

Core Themes and Purpose:

The primary themes of "Ishtopadesh" revolve around detachment (Vairagya) and spirituality (Adhyatma). It is described as a treasure trove for those who are spiritually inclined, with each verse capable of dispelling worldly desires, external attachments, and societal ambitions. The text is highly recommended for daily recitation by seekers of liberation (Mumukshu).

Key Features of this Edition:

• Original Sanskrit Text: The 51 verses of "Ishtopadesh" by Pujyapadswami, a highly respected Digambar Acharya known for his works like "Sarvarthasiddhi" and "Samadhitantra."
• New Sanskrit Commentary (Ishtopanishad): A newly composed Sanskrit commentary that elaborates on the original verses.
• Gujarati Translation and Explanation (Bhava-anuvaad): A detailed explanation and translation in Gujarati, making the profound teachings accessible to a wider audience.
• Author of the Commentary: Acharya Vijay Kalyanbodhisurishwarji, a disciple of the renowned Acharya Hemchandrasurishwarji, known for his expertise in delivering sermons on detachment.
• Subject Matter: The text focuses on Vairagya and Adhyatma, aiming to help readers overcome desires and attachments.
• Significance: It is praised as a "sea of knowledge in a pot," with each verse possessing the power to dissolve worldly thirst, external attachments, and societal desires.
• Target Audience: Primarily for spiritual aspirants (Mumukshu) and those seeking liberation.
• Publisher's Note: The book is published by Shri Jinshasan Aradhana Trust. It emphasizes the intellectual property rights of the publisher and prohibits unauthorized use.

Content Highlights (from the provided pages):

The initial pages of the book set the stage with:

• Salutations: Greetings to Lord Mahavirswami and the lineage of Gurus, including Shri Prem Bhuvanbhanusurishwarji and Shri Hemchandrasurishwarji.
• Dedication: The publication is dedicated to the birth centenary of Shri Bhuvanbhanusuriji.
• Author's Intent: Acharya Vijay Kalyanbodhisurishwarji expresses his humble attempt to create a commentary on this profound text, encouraging effort in good deeds according to one's capacity.
• Invocation: The text begins with auspicious salutations to the supreme soul, the knower of all, who has attained their true nature after the absence of all karmas.
• Exploration of Key Concepts:
  • Shloka 1 (Mangal): Focuses on the supreme soul (Parmatma) who has attained their true nature free from all karmas. It discusses the concept of karma falling away from the soul's regions.
  • Shloka 2 (Shuddha Aatma Bhaav): Explains the concept of the soul's inherent nature, using the analogy of how a stone becomes gold through the right process and materials. It emphasizes that the soul's "soulness" (Aatma-ta) is achieved through the manifestation of its pure states.
  • Shloka 3 (Shuddha Aatma Bhaavna Virahma Kartavya): Discusses that in the absence of the right conditions (dravya, kshetra, kaal, bhav), the attainment of the pure soul is not possible. It highlights the superiority of virtuous practices (vrat) leading to heavenly realms over non-virtuous ones leading to hell, comparing it to the difference between being in shade and in the scorching sun.
  • Shloka 4 (Vratni Susamarthata): Emphasizes the power of vows (vrat) in leading to spiritual progress, stating that even a momentary commitment can yield significant results, and the ultimate goal of liberation is attained through such practices.
  • Shloka 5 (Swargnu Sukh): Describes the pleasures of the heavenly realms as being sensory, disease-free, and long-lasting, but also alludes to the ultimate lack of true satisfaction even there.
  • Shloka 6 (Vasanamaatra Sukh-Dukh): Argues that happiness and sorrow are primarily due to mental conditioning (vasana) rather than the objects themselves. It suggests that desires, when experienced, are like diseases that cause distress.
  • Shloka 7 (Moh thi Aavrut Gyan): Compares ignorance (moh) to intoxication, which clouds the intellect and prevents one from realizing the true nature of reality.
  • Shloka 8 (Moh nu Fal): Details the delusion that leads individuals to consider external and temporary things like body, home, wealth, wife, children, and friends as their own, despite their inherently different natures.
  • Shloka 9 (Mamtvabhav Dur Karva Pakshinu Drushtant): Uses the analogy of birds gathering at a tree for a night and then dispersing in the morning to illustrate the transient nature of worldly relationships and the futility of attachment (mamata).
  • Shloka 10 (Krodh Tyag): Explains that one should not harbor anger towards others, as actions have consequences, and one ultimately reaps what they sow. It emphasizes that the consequences of one's own actions return to them.
  • Shlokas 11-13: Discuss the cycle of suffering in the world, the inability of wealth and material possessions to provide lasting security or happiness, and the deceptive nature of worldly pleasures.
  • Shlokas 14-16: Highlight the state of ignorance, the obsession of the wealthy with accumulating more wealth even at the cost of their life, and the futility of accumulating wealth for the sake of religious practices if it doesn't lead to genuine detachment.
  • Shloka 17: Critiques the pursuit of sensual desires (kama), describing them as causing distress at the beginning, dissatisfaction upon attainment, and being extremely difficult to renounce at the end.
  • Shloka 18: Depicts the body as impure and prone to suffering, making any efforts to protect or cherish it for worldly pleasures futile.
  • Shlokas 19-20: Emphasize the principle that what benefits the soul is detrimental to the body and vice versa, urging the reader to discern between the true self (like a divine jewel) and the ephemeral physical body (like a piece of leather).
  • Shloka 21: Describes the soul as self-manifest, indivisible, indestructible, eternally blissful, and an omniscient witness.
  • Shlokas 22-24: Guide the reader on the path of meditation and self-realization through controlling the senses, focusing the mind, and practicing detachment from external phenomena and afflictions, leading to the cessation of karmic influx and purification.
  • Shlokas 25-26: Delve into the nature of meditation, the relationship between the meditator and the object of meditation, and the importance of the state of non-attachment (nirmamatva) for liberation.
  • Shloka 27: Reaffirms the soul's solitary, pure, omniscient, and detached nature, invisible to others due to its inherent luminosity.
  • Shloka 28: Explains that worldly associations lead to misery and the soul should renounce all such connections.
  • Shlokas 29-30: Declare the soul's freedom from birth, death, disease, and old age, which are characteristics of the material realm. It emphasizes that worldly objects, after being experienced and rejected, become like refuse, and a wise person loses all desire for them.
  • Shlokas 31-32: Urge the reader to strive for self-welfare, illustrating how even inert matter acts according to its nature, and warning against misplaced efforts in helping others at the expense of one's own spiritual progress.
  • Shlokas 33-34: Highlight the importance of a Guru's guidance and diligent practice in understanding the distinction between the self and non-self, leading to the realization of the soul as the true Guru.
  • Shlokas 35-36: Explain that external factors are merely aids, and true spiritual progress comes from within, by controlling mental distractions and diligently pursuing the study of the soul's true nature.
  • Shlokas 37-38: Illustrate how the realization of the true Self leads to disinterest in worldly pleasures, making them appear unattractive, and how this detachment paves the way for spiritual realization.
  • Shlokas 39-40: Describe the detachment and renunciation of those who have realized the self, seeing the world as an illusion and finding peace in solitude and introspection.
  • Shlokas 41-42: Portray the state of a truly stabilized soul that is beyond worldly speech, action, or perception, unperturbed by external circumstances.
  • Shlokas 43-44: Explain that those who dwell in attachment are bound, while those who remain detached, even if unaware of specific worldly phenomena, achieve liberation.
  • Shlokas 45-46: Emphasize the inherent bliss of the soul and the suffering caused by attachment to the material world, identifying the material world as an enemy.
  • Shloka 47: Describes the profound bliss attained by a yogi who is devoted to the soul's practices, detached from the external world, and experiences unparalleled joy.
  • Shloka 48: Further elaborates on the blissful state of the yogi, whose inner joy burns away karmic residue and shields them from external suffering.
  • Shlokas 49-50: Guide the seeker to pursue true knowledge, understand the fundamental distinction between the soul and matter, and recognize that all else is merely an expansion of this core principle.
  • Shloka 51 (Prashasti): Concludes with the benefits of studying "Ishtopadesh" – gaining equanimity, freedom from attachments, and ultimately achieving incomparable liberation.

Legacy and Commendation:

Pujyapadswami's "Ishtopadesh" is celebrated for its efficacy in guiding spiritual seekers towards their ultimate goal. Acharya Vijay Kalyanbodhisurishwarji's commentary makes these teachings accessible, fostering spiritual growth and promoting the Jain way of life. The publication serves as a testament to the rich tradition of Jain scholarship and spiritual endeavor.