Jainism - Book Summary | JainGPT

Here's a comprehensive summary of "Jainism in 13 Chapters" by Dr. M.R. Gelra, based on the provided text:

Overview:

"Jainism in 13 Chapters" by Dr. M.R. Gelra aims to present the core principles of Jainism in a lucid and accessible manner, bridging the gap between ancient Jain teachings and modern scientific understanding. The book is structured around thirteen chapters, each exploring a distinct facet of Jain philosophy, religion, culture, and science. Dr. Gelra, a scholar with a background in both science (chemistry) and Jainology, seeks to demonstrate the scientific validity and timeless relevance of Jainism. The book is praised for its comprehensive scope and its ability to explain complex philosophical concepts in simple prose, often drawing parallels with scientific theories.

Key Themes and Chapters:

The book is divided into thirteen chapters, each focusing on a specific aspect of Jainism:

Chapter 1: Prayer: Discusses the significance of prayer in Jainism, emphasizing that it is not about petitioning a creator God but about recollecting inner virtues and invoking the wisdom of enlightened souls. It details the Navkar Mahamantra and its phonetic vibrations, the concept of prayer as a path to inner peace and self-realization, and modern Jain prayer practices involving relaxation and meditation. The chapter also touches upon the modern concept of laughter as a form of prayer.
Chapter 2: Antiquity: Explores the ancient origins of Jainism, linking it to the Indus Valley Civilization (3000-5000 B.C.) through archaeological evidence like yogic postures and Digambara-like depictions. It highlights the survival of Jainism through the ages, its historical continuity through Tirthankaras like Parshvanath, and the significant contributions of German Indologists in early Jain studies.
Chapter 3: Metaphysics: Delves into the fundamental metaphysical concepts of Jainism: Jiva (soul) and Ajiva (non-living). It defines the soul as an eternal, conscious entity with infinite souls existing, and classifies them as worldly or liberated. The chapter extensively discusses the concept of Karma, defining it as subtle physical matter that binds the soul. It presents Karma as a "mass-less" entity with properties comparable to subatomic particles and explores the intricate mechanism of karma attraction and repulsion, drawing parallels with modern physics and genetics. It also introduces the concept of Ghati (obscuring) and Aghati (non-obscuring) karmas, relating them to the geometry of their bonding with the soul.
Chapter 4: Pudgala / Matter: Examines the Jain concept of matter (Pudgala), defining it as tangible substance with qualities of touch, taste, smell, and color. It elaborates on the atomic theory of Jainism, introducing terms like "dion" (paramanu) and "quadon" (skandh) for particles and their aggregates. The chapter highlights the Jain concept of "massless matter" (Sukshma Pudgala), contrasting it with gross matter (Badar Pudgala), and explores the idea of "inanimate Mahaskandh" and its similarity to the scientific concept of "singularity."
Chapter 5: Philosophy: Centers on Anekantavada (non-absolutism) as the cornerstone of Jain philosophy. It explains Anekantavada as viewing reality from multiple perspectives, fostering tolerance and understanding. The chapter uses analogies like the blind men and the elephant to illustrate this principle and discusses its scientific correlations with the theories of Complementarity, Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle, and Einstein's Theory of Relativity. It emphasizes the co-existence of opposites and the concept of duality as fundamental to understanding reality.
Chapter 6: Religion: Defines religion as a pursuit of truth, beauty, and goodness, leading to spiritual upliftment. It uses a narrative of a traveler facing dangers to illustrate the need for religion (symbolized by angels) to guide one away from worldly attachments (honey) and the cycle of life and death. The chapter outlines the core tenets of Jainism, including the concept of Jinas (victors over the self), the recognition of women, and the cyclical emergence of Tirthankaras. It distinguishes between Anagar Dharma (for ascetics) and Agar Dharma (for householders), emphasizing the vows (Mahavrata and Anuvrata) and the Jain rejection of a creator God. The doctrine of Non-violence (Ahimsa) is explored in detail, referencing historical figures like Neminath and Raja Prasenjit, and modern proponents like Gandhi, Xunzi, Leo Tolstoy, and Acharya Tulsi. It also discusses the causes of global violence, linking them to poverty, consumerism, and economic inequality.
Chapter 7: Ethics - Aparigraha: Focuses on Jain ethics, particularly the principle of Aparigraha (non-possession). It defines Parigraha as attachment and passion that binds the soul and Aparigraha as its absence. The chapter elaborates on the code of conduct for householders (Anuvrats) and ascetics (Mahavrats), emphasizing the five vows. It highlights the importance of controlling desires, limiting possessions, and the connection between possessiveness and violence. The chapter also discusses the Anuvrat movement and Preksha meditation as contemporary ethical practices.
Chapter 8: Ecology: Explores Jain ecology, emphasizing the belief that life exists not only in humans and animals but also in elements like earth, water, fire, air, and plants (one-sensed souls). It highlights the Jain commitment to non-violence towards all forms of life and the preservation of the environment. The chapter draws parallels between Jain scriptures and modern scientific understanding of plant consciousness, citing the work of Jagdish Chandra Bose and the concept of ecological balance.
Chapter 9: Culture: Defines culture as shared beliefs, norms, and practices. It examines Jain culture's distinctiveness from Brahmanical culture, rooted in its spiritual impulses and ascetic traditions. Key aspects discussed include the vow of non-destruction, preferred occupations (business), the Jain way of life based on ethical vows, vegetarianism (with scientific backing), the tradition of fasting (including Santhara), and the economic and social contributions of the Jain community. It also touches upon holy symbols, language and literature (especially in South India and Gujarat), pilgrim centers, and major festivals like Aksaya Tritiya, Paryushana, Mahavir Jayanti, and Diwali.
Chapter 10: Art: Discusses Jain art as a medium for expressing Jain fundamentals, primarily religious in nature. It highlights the antiquity of Jain temples and idols, mentioning sites like Ellora, Dilwara, and Ranakpur. The chapter details Jain iconography, particularly the depiction of Tirthankaras with attendant Yakshas and Yakshinis, and the iconic statue of Gommateswara Bahubali, symbolizing detachment.
Chapter 11: Cosmology: Explains the Jain model of the universe as uncreated, self-sustaining, and eternal. It uses a geometrical model of three bowls to represent the cosmos, with its three parts: heavens, middle world (humans, animals), and hells. The chapter discusses the concept of "Ruyag Pradesh" (eight-point center of the universe) and the Jain understanding of space, including finite cosmic space and infinite acosmic space. It touches upon the role of Dharma Astikaya and Adharma Astikaya in defining the universe's boundaries and draws parallels with modern scientific concepts like the Big Bang and singularity.
Chapter 12: Jain Mathematics: Explores the rich tradition of Jain mathematics, dating back to the Indus Valley Civilization. It discusses concepts like "Pati-Ganita," various units of calculation (Rajju, Rashi, Kala-Savarna), and mathematical operations. A significant focus is placed on the Jain system of numbers, including the concepts of "numerate," "innumerate," and "infinite," and the use of large numbers like "Shirsaprahelika." The chapter highlights the unique Jain approach to zero, emphasizing "tending to zero but not absolute zero," and the classification of numbers in the Swetamber and Digamber traditions. It also touches upon mathematical manuscripts and the historical development of Jain mathematics.
Chapter 13: Jain Agams with Special Reference to Acharanga: Focuses on the Jain Agamas as the authoritative teachings of the Arhats (Tirthankaras), particularly the Acharanga Sutra, considered the oldest Jain scripture. The chapter addresses misconceptions about Jain philosophy being derived from other traditions, asserting its originality through concepts like Shadjeev Nikayavad. It details the structure and content of the Agamas, the life-style and non-violent activities of ascetics as described in Acharanga, and the philosophical concepts of soul, passions, and non-violence. It further explores the sensitivity towards nature, the comparison of plant and human bodies, the doctrine of weapons of injury to living beings, the concept of equanimity, and the biographical details of Lord Mahavira's ascetic practices. The chapter concludes by reiterating the significance of Acharanga for understanding Jain ethics, environmental consciousness, and the concept of peace.

Overall Contribution:

"Jainism in 13 Chapters" serves as a valuable resource for understanding Jainism from a multifaceted perspective. Dr. Gelra's work effectively bridges the gap between ancient Jain wisdom and contemporary scientific thought, making the religion's profound principles accessible to a wider audience. The book is lauded for its scholarly depth, clarity of expression, and its emphasis on the logical and scientific underpinnings of Jain philosophy.