Jain Sanskruti Aur Tattvagyan

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Jain Sanskruti aur Tattvagyan" by Bansidhar Pandit, based on the given pages:

This document appears to be the presidential address delivered by Bansidhar Pandit at a convention of the Digambar Jain Vidvat Parishad (Scholars' Council) in Shravasti in 1966, coinciding with a Panchkalyanak Mahotsav (a major Jain religious festival). The address focuses on the preservation, development, and propagation of Jain culture and philosophy.

The speech highlights the resolutions passed at a previous Vidvat Parishad convention in Seoni, emphasizing the need for:

• Presenting Jain philosophy and culture in a modern context through scholarly and introductory essays, published in a souvenir.
• Engaging with scholars proficient in English, Sanskrit, and religion to work for the social and religious welfare of the Jain community and ensure the preservation of Jain culture.
• Providing suitable material for radio broadcasts, including ancient hymns and contemporary speeches, and encouraging the Ministry of Publicity.
• Facilitating the education of renunciates (tyagis) in schools to maintain the tradition of scholars in society, ensuring proper arrangements for their learning.
• Instituting annual awards for original prose and poetry in Hindi related to various aspects of Jain literature, thereby encouraging literary creation.
• Publicly honoring deserving scholars at each convention through biographical works, felicitation volumes, or commendation certificates, based on their societal and religious contributions.

The core theme of the address is the necessity of preserving and promoting Jain culture amidst the increasing materialistic desires and conflicts in the world. The author argues that the Jain philosophy, with its emphasis on "Live and Let Live" (Jiyo aur Jeene Do), offers a scientific solution to these global problems.

Two main branches of Jain philosophy are discussed:

1. Laukik Tattvagyan (Secular/Worldly Philosophy): This branch, embodied in the principle of "Live and Let Live," aims to make human life happy and peaceful. It teaches compassion, joy in virtue, kindness to the suffering, and equanimity. The author cites the daily Jain prayer for the well-being of all beings as an example of this principle. This philosophy is considered the "external soul" of Jain culture.
2. Adhyatmik Tattvagyan (Spiritual Philosophy): This branch focuses on liberating the soul from the bondage of karma and attaining eternal freedom and bliss. It involves developing detachment from worldly pleasures and pursuing self-realization. This is presented as the "internal soul" of Jain culture.

The address delves into the distinction between different types of passions (kashayas) and their role in generating attachment (raag) and aversion (dvesh). It explains that "Vitarag-Vigyan" (passionless knowledge) is the ideal, achieved by eradicating these passions. The text differentiates between passions arising from delusion (moha) which lead to restlessness and conflict, and those arising from dependence (paravashata) which hinder spiritual progress but don't necessarily create worldly conflict.

The author emphasizes that a person progressing on the spiritual path gradually relinquishes worldly attachments and becomes increasingly self-reliant. The ideal is to reach a state of Nishchal Dasha (unwavering state) where one is absorbed in the pure consciousness of the soul, leading to liberation (moksha).

The address also touches upon:

• The importance of mental strength (manobal) in controlling desires and engaging in righteous actions, differentiating between the unenlightened (mithyadrushti) and the right-minded (samyagdrushti).
• The need for physical and spiritual strength (sharirik bal and atma bal), cultivated through external and internal austerities, for spiritual progress.
• The distinction between Pravritti-marga (active path), represented by worldly religion, and Nivritti-marga (renunciatory path), represented by spiritual religion.
• The significance of the Shravasti pilgrimage site and the efforts to develop it, highlighting its historical and religious importance to Jainism.
• The unfortunate passing of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and Shri Babu Chhote Lal of Calcutta, expressing grief and acknowledging their contributions.
• Criticism of a magazine article titled "Kitna Mehenga Dharm" (How Expensive is Religion) for misrepresenting Jainism.
• The need for unity within the Jain community, particularly between the Vidvat Parishad and Shastripariṣad, and the importance of a dedicated cultural magazine.
• A call to action for the Jain society to actively contribute to the development of the Shravasti pilgrimage site and support the Vidvat Parishad's initiatives.

In essence, the address is a powerful appeal to the Jain community to re-embrace and actively promote the core principles of Jain culture and philosophy, emphasizing its relevance and solutions for contemporary societal challenges, while also outlining concrete steps for the scholarly body to achieve these goals.