Jine Ke Usul

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Jine ke Usul" by Chandraprabh Sagar:

Book Title: Jine ke Usul (Principles for Living) Author: Acharya Shri Chandraprabh Sagar Publisher: Jityasha Foundation Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/003868/1

Overall Theme and Purpose:

"Jine ke Usul" is presented as an invaluable treasure for living a successful and meaningful life, offering timeless inspiration and guidance for all of humanity. The book compiles the "nectar-like words" (amrit vachan) of Acharya Shri Chandraprabh Sagar, who is described as a great life-visionary. The core purpose of the book is to provide readers with the right perspective, strength, and motivation to navigate life's challenges and achieve peace, prosperity, and success.

Key Message and Approach:

The book operates on the principle that while we may not be able to fly without wings, we can still reach great heights through our own efforts and by walking with our feet. Acharya Shri Chandraprabh Sagar's teachings are designed to offer solutions when individuals feel overwhelmed by problems. By opening the book and reading a few of these "nectar-like words," readers are intended to find new horizons of solutions, a renewed sense of faith, and fresh energy. The teachings aim to eliminate inner weaknesses in thought and behavior, leading to a healthy mind and a healthy life.

Content and Structure:

The book is structured as a collection of aphorisms, principles, and guiding thoughts, presented alphabetically by the first word (mostly starting with 'A' and progressing through the alphabet in Hindi). Each entry offers a concise piece of wisdom on various aspects of life, covering a wide range of human experiences and virtues.

Highlights of Key Principles and Themes (as represented by sample entries):

The book covers a vast array of topics, providing practical and philosophical insights. Here are some examples of the principles discussed, categorized by the first letter of the Hindi word:

• A (अ):

  • Loneliness (अकेलापन): Beneficial when one has faith in inner peace.
  • Newspaper (अख़बार): Like the morning sun, essential for the feeling of a new day.
  • Goodness (अच्छाई): Living with good people naturally blossoms goodness in one's life.
  • Politeness (अदब): Be so polite that it becomes the gateway to success and popularity.
  • Hindsight (अदूरदर्शी): Thinking about something after it's done is like hitting a snake's trail with a stick after it has escaped.
  • Impatience (अधीरता): Don't be so impatient that peace and success move far away.
  • Spirituality (अध्यात्म-प्रवर्तन): Questions like "Who am I?" and "Where did I come from?" are the start of spirituality.
  • Experience (अनुभव): Once the doors of experience open, the attachment to bookish knowledge automatically fades.
  • Self-control (अनुशासन): One's discipline is effective only if they have control over themselves.
  • Inner World (अन्तर्जगत): One who lives with love and peace in their heart is the emperor of the inner world.
  • Inner Consciousness (अन्तर्-सजगता): With inner consciousness, all bad habits can be conquered.
  • Inner Beauty (अन्त: - सुषमा): Inner beauty is not seen in a mirror; it is reflected in gentle behavior.
  • Detachment (अपरिग्रह): Practicing detachment is a step towards social service; curb your possessions and renounce selfish desires.
  • Abusive Language (अपशब्द): Even if given to a bad person, abusive language is not a characteristic of a good person.
  • Fearlessness (अभय): Don't be afraid; you have the right to call wrong what is wrong.
  • Bravery (अभाव): Those who remain happy even in scarcity conquer adverse circumstances.
  • Amrit (अमृत): Amrit is not a substance that gives immortality; it is a state of being that liberates one from the fear of death.
  • Self-Reliance (आत्मनिर्भर): Making a poor person self-reliant is fulfilling a debt to humanity.
  • Self-Confidence (आत्म-विश्वास): Always have such self-confidence that the 'im' from 'impossible' is removed from your life.
  • Joy (आनन्द): Life is a celebration; live every moment with joy, whether there is loss or gain.
  • Laziness (आलस्य): Laziness is like the new moon night, effort is like the full moon. Do you want the new moon or the full moon in your life?
  • Criticism (आलोचना): Praise those who criticize you; their direction will change on its own.
  • Desire (इच्छा): Desire is a begging bowl that even Alexander couldn't fill.
  • Honesty (ईमान): A person remains honest only until they get a chance to be dishonest.
  • Envy (ईर्ष्या): Be envious of those who are a hundred times ahead of you so you can rise to that height.
  • Enthusiasm (उत्साह): Do every task with enthusiasm, whether it's business or breakfast.
  • Unity (एकजुट): If there are four of you and only one roti, eat it together.
  • Woman (औरत): Respect women, whether they are yours or someone else's.
  • Greed (कंजूस): Those who don't wear rings for fear of wearing out the gold cannot enjoy the use of gold.
  • Cruelty (कट्टरता): Fanaticism is the most dangerous cancer in the world, hollowing out the soul of humanity and brotherhood.
  • Compassion (करुणा): Show compassion to a wounded bird; offer it a drop of water.

• B (ब):

  • Big/Great (बड़ा): Greatness lies in considering others great.
  • Attachment (बन्धन): It is not living in the world that is bondage, but keeping the world within you.
  • Strength (बल): Ram is the strength of the weak, but the strength of Ram is self-strength.
  • Speech (बात): Speak your mind, but don't exaggerate to the point of revealing your pettiness.
  • Childhood (बालजगत्): The world of children is pure because of their simplicity and naturalness.
  • Intellect (बुद्धि-विस्तार): The greater one's intellect, the larger their universe.
  • Speaking (बोलना): What is the meaning of someone speaking when their work doesn't speak?
  • Fearlessness (भयमुक्त): Always live fearlessly, because death comes only once and not before its appointed time.
  • Love (प्यार): The more 'love' is given space in life, the more evergreen life becomes.
  • Light (प्रकाश): You cannot give light to others without burning yourself.

• M (म):

  • Mind (मन): If the mind is peaceful, even limited resources are comfortable; if the mind is restless, even immense wealth is not enjoyable.
  • Meditation (ध्यान): The outward eye opening is wakefulness; the inner eye opening is meditation.
  • Motherhood (मातृत्व-कामना): O Lord! Make everyone like a mother, so the whole world can receive love and affection.
  • Humanity (मानवीयता): Tears in seeing the falling temple of humanity are our compassion, but rebuilding it is our duty.
  • Friend (मित्र): Don't make friends like birds of the pond who fly away after feeding. Be friends like fish that remain one with the water in all circumstances.
  • Death (मृत्यु): Death is an outcast that arrives at everyone's door, king or beggar.
  • Silence (मौन): If there are seven virtues in speaking, there are nine virtues in not speaking.

• S (स):

  • Truth (सत्य): Truth is always sweet. Please don't make it bitter with your harsh tongue.
  • Success (सफलता): Only those who are confident in achieving their goal can reach the peak of success.
  • Society (समाज-हित): Only by rising above personal interests can societal interests be served.
  • Humility (समर्पण): Open the anchor, let the winds carry you.
  • Criticism (समालोचना): Those who criticize others should first look at themselves in the mirror.
  • Relationship (सम्बन्ध): A relationship is a gift of love where a sense of belonging always remains.
  • Simplicity (सादगी): Simplicity is as sweet and pleasant as showiness is not.
  • Holiness (साधुता): Sadhu-hood means remaining the master of unbroken peace, simplicity, and equanimity even in adverse circumstances.
  • Self-Control (संयम): Controlling speech gives authority over the mind, but controlling the mind gives authority over the entire life.
  • Positivity (सकारात्मक): If you focus on thorns, you will remain entangled in thorns. If you focus on flowers, you will naturally rise above the thorns.
  • Politeness (सौम्य स्वभाव): Even a person with a harsh demeanor can be tolerated, provided their inner intention is as pure as coconut water within a hard shell.
  • Beauty (सौन्दर्य): The beauty of clothing lasts for an hour; only inner beauty is useful.

Overall Impact and Value:

The book is highly praised for its ability to instill inspiration, confidence, and a positive outlook. It is recommended to keep it like a sacred diary and refer to it whenever one needs a "tonic" for their mental strength, as it is believed to bring about immediate freshness, faith, and positive consciousness. The teachings are described as both scientific and poetic, making life sweeter and more manageable. The book aims to empower individuals to realize their true potential and achieve a life of peace, power, and success.