Jain Vartao 01 - Book Summary | JainGPT

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Jain Vartao 01" by Harilal Jain, based on the provided pages:

This document, "Jain Vartao 01," is the first in a series of ten books intended to impart good values and teachings, published in memory of Pujya Gurudev Shri Kanji Swami. It aims to revive and present Jain narrative literature in a modern style for the benefit of both children and adults.

The book is made available digitally thanks to a donation. It encourages readers to report any errors found in the electronic version to ensure accuracy.

The core of the book consists of various stories and parables, each designed to illustrate key Jain principles and philosophical concepts. The dominant theme throughout these narratives is the distinction between the self (soul/consciousness) and the non-self (body, external objects, emotions).

Here's a breakdown of the key stories and teachings presented:

1. The Foolish Lion and the Clever Monkey (and vice-versa):

Story 1: A hungry lion mistakes a monkey's shadow for the monkey itself and attacks the shadow, wasting its energy and failing to catch the real monkey. The monkey wisely points out the futility of this.
Lesson: This illustrates how the soul, like the lion, seeks happiness, but mistakenly pursues it in external, shadow-like objects (sensory pleasures, worldly possessions) instead of within itself. A wise person, like the monkey, understands that true happiness lies within the soul.
Story 2: A clever lion tricks a foolish monkey into believing its shadow is being attacked, causing the monkey to fall from the tree and be eaten. The monkey's ignorance leads to its demise.
Lesson: This parallels the soul being deluded by its "shadow" – the physical body. When the body experiences illness or death, an ignorant soul mistakenly identifies with it, fearing its own destruction. The teaching emphasizes that the soul is distinct from the body, eternal, and unaffected by the body's fate.
Story 3: A more complex version of the lion and monkey narrative, where the cleverness and foolishness are explored further. It culminates in the lion chasing its own reflection in a well and drowning, and a wise young monkey observing these events and learning the importance of distinguishing between the self and the shadow. The monkey then imparts this wisdom to the lion, leading to a transformation.
Overall Message: The stories consistently highlight the error of identifying with the body or its shadow (external appearances) and the importance of realizing the true, distinct nature of the soul. This understanding leads to fearlessness and liberation.

2. The Opportunity to Escape the Cycle of Birth and Death:

This section uses the analogy of a blind man needing to find the gate to a city. The person is guided, but their own idleness and preoccupation with trivial matters cause them to miss the gate.
Lesson: It emphasizes that the human birth is a rare and precious opportunity to attain liberation (moksha). We must be vigilant and not waste this chance by becoming engrossed in worldly desires, pride, or other distractions, which are like the blind man's idleness.

3. The Medicine for the Disease of Existence (Bhav Rog):

It recounts the story of King Sanat Kumar, who, as a Muni, was offered a cure for his physical leprosy by a celestial physician. The Muni stated he could cure his physical ailment but was more concerned with curing the "disease of existence" (Bhav Rog).
Lesson: The true medicine for the Bhav Rog (the cycle of birth and death) is Ratnatrayi – Right Faith, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct. This path leads to liberation, making one ageless and deathless.

4. Do Not Throw Away the Jewel:

A man finds a bag full of precious gems but, mistaking them for pebbles in the darkness, throws them away one by one. He is saved from throwing away the last gem by a wise person who reveals its true value.
Lesson: The human life, especially with the advantage of Jain teachings, is like a precious jewel. We often waste this human life in the pursuit of worldly pleasures and attachments, only to realize its value later. The message is to cherish the present human life and use it for spiritual betterment, as "it is morning from wherever you wake up."

5. The Six-Letter Mantra of Tolerance:

The story of two families illustrates the power of tolerance in maintaining peace within a household. One family, despite having many members and diverse personalities, lives harmoniously due to this principle, while another small family is constantly in conflict.
Lesson: The key to peace and harmony is "Sahanashilta" (tolerance). True tolerance is devoid of attachment and aversion (Vitarag Samabhav) and is a powerful tool for resolving conflicts and focusing one's energy on self-improvement.

6. Brother and Sister's Religious Discussion:

A brother and sister engage in discussions about Jain philosophy, focusing on the importance of right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct (Ratnatrayi). They discuss the nine Tattvas (essential principles) and the importance of distinguishing between the soul (Upadheya Tattva) and non-soul substances.
Lesson: This highlights the value of spiritual discussions and the systematic understanding of Jain principles, starting with Right Faith (Samyakdarshan).

7. Religion First:

The story of Bharat Chakravarti, who prioritized the worship of Kevalgnan (omniscience) over his son and kingdom, is presented.
Lesson: It emphasizes that religion and spiritual pursuit should be the first priority in life, not something to be postponed to old age. Every moment is an opportunity for spiritual growth.

8. The Lion Cub's Story (You are also a child of the Siddhas):

A lion cub, lost and raised by sheep, believes itself to be a sheep. An experienced lion awakens it by its roar and shows it its reflection, proving its true nature.
Lesson: This is a powerful analogy for the soul, which is inherently divine and omniscient (like a lion cub) but, due to ignorance and association with worldly attachments (like being raised by sheep), lives a limited, ordinary existence. The teachings of enlightened beings (like the experienced lion) help individuals realize their true, divine nature and strive for liberation.

9. Old Age and the Growth of Detachment:

This section offers solace to the elderly, emphasizing that even when the body weakens, the inner spiritual strength and good deeds (samskaras) remain. It encourages detachment from the body and focus on the soul's future.
Lesson: Old age is not a reason for despair but a time to intensify spiritual practice, cultivate detachment (Vairagya), and remember the divine.

10. The Two Brothers' Love:

Two brothers, one with a large family and one unmarried, each secretly add grain to the other's harvest pile, unbeknownst to each other.
Lesson: This story emphasizes the importance of selfless love and mutual care within a spiritual community (Sadharmis), drawing a parallel to the strong bonds of brotherhood in the worldly sense.

11. Water and Stone:

A water droplet, through persistent and focused dripping, carves a hole in a stone. The stone initially mocks the droplet's efforts.
Lesson: This parable illustrates the power of consistent effort, focus, and self-confidence in achieving even the most difficult goals, including spiritual progress. The soul, through dedicated practice, can overcome even the hardest obstacles (like attachment and aversion).

12. The True Meaning of "Price":

A Guru explains that the "price" of gold is inherent in its qualities (color, smell, touch, taste). Similarly, the true "price" or essence of the soul lies in its inherent qualities like infinite knowledge and perception, not in fleeting emotions like attachment.
Lesson: It's crucial to understand the true nature and inherent qualities of the soul, rather than being deluded by temporary emotional states, to achieve spiritual realization.

13. Pandit Ji's Wisdom:

A learned Jain scholar, when buying steel utensils, cleverly used the shopkeeper's words about God blessing the buyer to avoid paying the full price initially. He later paid, explaining that God doesn't intervene in such transactions; true worship is about expressing reverence and purifying one's own inner state.
Lesson: This story debunks the idea of divine intervention in material transactions and emphasizes that worship is an expression of devotion, leading to inner purification, not a means of material gain.

14. The Mirror Analogy:

A mirror, even when covered with mud or sandalwood paste, cannot show one's reflection clearly. Only a clean, uncovered mirror reveals the true image.
Lesson: The soul is like a clean mirror. Sin (mud) and even virtuous actions driven by attachment (sandalwood paste) act as coverings, obscuring the true self. True realization comes when the soul is free from both.

15. The Story of Non-Violence (Ahimsa) - Part 1:

A righteous king saves a Muni from forty bandits who are killed by the king.
Lesson: The story delves into the subtle understanding of violence and non-violence in Jainism. It explains that violence is not just about the physical act but primarily about the underlying passion (Kashaya – anger, pride, deceit, greed). The bandits, driven by intense passions, committed greater violence. The king, acting with a lesser passion (to protect the Muni), committed lesser violence. The Muni, remaining detached, was considered non-violent. The principle is: more passion = more violence; less passion = less violence; no passion = non-violence.

16. The Story of Non-Violence (Ahimsa) - Part 2:

A virtuous boar protects a Muni from a tiger, sacrificing its own life. The tiger, driven by malice, dies and goes to a lower realm, while the boar, acting with compassionate attachment, goes to a higher realm. The Muni, remaining detached, attains omniscience and liberation.
Lesson: This further clarifies that even actions driven by good intentions (like the boar's) are still a form of attachment and therefore "violence" in the Jain sense, albeit a lesser one. True non-violence (Ahimsa) lies in the detached, passion-free state of the soul, as exemplified by the Muni.

17. The Merchant Who Gave Up Night Meals:

A tired merchant is advised by a sage not to eat after sunset due to the presence of subtle beings invisible in the darkness. The merchant follows this advice, renounces night meals, and lives a virtuous life.
Lesson: This highlights the Jain practice of abstaining from eating at night, emphasizing the principle of Ahimsa (non-violence) towards all beings, including subtle ones. The merchant's life is shown to have led him to a heavenly state.

18. Mor Pankh and Moksha:

A brief exchange about whether a peacock feather (mor pankh) leads to Moksha.
Lesson: It clarifies that external objects are not the cause of liberation. The true path to Moksha lies within the soul itself.

19. We Are All Sadharmis:

This section extols the spiritual bond of fellow followers of Jainism (Sadharmis) as superior to even familial ties. It emphasizes mutual support, shared spiritual understanding, and pure affection based on shared faith.
Lesson: It encourages fostering strong, pure, and loving relationships within the Jain community, free from ulterior motives, as this spiritual camaraderie is crucial for progress on the path to liberation.

20. Anger Burns Your House:

An analogy of two neighbors whose houses catch fire. One, in anger, throws fire at the other's house, causing destruction. The other, while trying to catch the first, neglects his own burning house and loses everything.
Lesson: Anger is portrayed as a self-destructive force that burns one's own inner peace and well-being. Controlling anger and maintaining inner peace is the true way to overcome suffering.

21. The "Price" of Gold (Revisited):

A Guru asks about the "price" of gold, explaining that the true price is its intrinsic qualities, not market fluctuations. This is extended to the soul, whose true "price" is its infinite knowledge and perception, not fleeting emotions.
Lesson: It reiterates the importance of understanding the true, intrinsic value of the soul, which lies in its pure qualities, and not to be swayed by temporary states or external perceptions.

22. Pandit Ji of Kashi:

A scholar skillfully uses a shopkeeper's belief in divine reward to highlight the principle that God (the perfected souls) does not directly intervene to give or punish. True worship is about internal reverence and purification.
Lesson: This story effectively counters theistic notions of divine intervention and emphasizes the Jain view of liberated souls and the internal nature of spiritual practice.

In essence, "Jain Vartao 01" is a collection of moral and spiritual stories designed to educate and inspire readers, particularly young Jains, about the fundamental principles of their faith, such as self-realization, detachment, non-violence, and the pursuit of liberation through virtuous conduct.