Jivan Me Shraddha Ka Sthan

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Jivan me Shraddha ka Sthan" (The Place of Faith in Life) by Acharya Shri Anandrushi Ji M.S.A., based on the provided pages:

The text emphasizes that faith (Shraddha) is the foundational pillar of a meaningful and progressive life, both individually and societally. The author argues that the current state of decline and weakness in Indian life is primarily due to a lack of faith in people's hearts.

Key Arguments and Themes:

• Faith as the Source of Strength: True strength comes from within, from the soul. Without faith, one cannot tap into this inner strength. Mahatma Gandhi's quote, "To trust is a virtue, It is weakness that begets distrust," is cited to highlight that distrust is a sign of weakness.
• Consequences of Lack of Faith: A person lacking faith is perpetually in doubt, leading them astray and preventing success in any endeavor. This is likened to the proverb, "In indecision, both are lost; neither Maya nor Ram is attained."
• Faith as the Backbone of Life: Just as a body cannot move without a spine, life cannot progress without faith. Faith cultivates humanity and guides individuals towards welfare.
• Instability Without Faith: A faithless person's mind is restless, their thoughts and actions lack stability and firmness. They cannot commit to any spiritual practice, constantly shifting paths and failing to achieve their goals, thus increasing their cycle of rebirth.
• The Power of Faith in Achieving Goals: Conversely, a faithful person, through their unwavering belief, can achieve their desired goals. The Bhagavad Gita states that a person with a heart full of faith attains right knowledge and, through that, swift liberation (Akshaya Shanti).
• Faith Leads to Purity and Liberation: Faith purifies the soul, keeping individuals away from sins and guiding them on the path of self-purification. Even great scholarship is rendered useless without faith; the power of knowledge lies in faith. A faithful scholar can cross the ocean of worldly existence, while a scholar without faith remains immersed in it.
• Faith as the Destroyer of Sins: The text explicitly states that faithlessness is a grave sin, while faith destroys all sins. A faithful person sheds their sins like a snake sheds its old skin.
• Faith as a Prerequisite for Siddhi (Attainment): To achieve any kind of success or attainment in life, one must first become faithful. Without faith, qualities like firmness, resolve, strength, and courage will not develop, and success will remain distant. Doubt and distrust prevent one from even starting on a path, and if they do start, their steps are not firm.
• Universality of Faith in Religions: All religions and scriptures emphasize the importance of faith. The Bhagavad Gita declares that a person is made of faith; "that which one believes in, one becomes." Sikhism and Christianity also echo this sentiment, stating that a person of firm resolve is happy, and a doubtful mind is unstable.
• Rarity and Power of True Faith: Jain scriptures consider faith to be extremely rare, obtainable only through immense punya (merit) and past spiritual practice. True faith is so strong that even severe adversities and physical suffering cannot shake a faithful person from their path.
• Illustrative Examples:
  • Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa: His unwavering faith is shown when he refused to ask God to cure his ailment, believing that God's will for his welfare was already being enacted.
  • Kamdev Shravaka (from Upasakadashanga Sutra): His profound faith was unshakeable even when faced with threats and severe trials by celestial beings, demonstrating how faith bestows invincibility and courage.
• Faith vs. Material Wealth in Spiritual Pursuit: Great souls achieve spiritual progress through their unwavering faith, not through wealth or riches. If wealth were sufficient, why would kings and emperors renounce their possessions? Dharma cannot be bought with money. Monks, having renounced all material wealth, achieve heaven and liberation solely through faith.
• The Decline of Faith in the Present Era: The text laments the current state where people are willing to compromise their faith for trivial amounts of money and swear falsely by God and religion, ultimately finding nothing but regret.
• Corruption and the Lack of Faith: Modern corruption is attributed to the complete absence of faith. People do not believe in past and future lives, the soul's immortality, or the principle of karma. They believe this life is all there is and focus solely on worldly pleasures.
• The Futility of Sensory Pleasures: Pursuing worldly pleasures only increases desire and restlessness, never leading to true satisfaction. True happiness comes from controlling desires.
• Self-Faith as the Root of Self-Elevation: True self-faith is the primary cause of self-improvement. Without it, no one can cross the ocean of worldly existence. Every individual must have firm faith that believing in God, the Guru, and the Dharma can achieve anything.
• The Power of Divine Grace: The text quotes a verse that highlights how revered figures like Lord Mahavir have uplifted even the most flawed individuals (Gautama, Goshalaka, Chandakoushika) and protected virtuous women (Chandana). It asserts that if such beings were helped, the supplicant too will undoubtedly be saved. This emphasizes the need for sincere faith in the possibility of one's own salvation.
• Sincerity in Practice: Actions like charity, vows, and penance are superficial without faith. True devotion is from the heart, not for outward show. Islamic prayer (Namaz), Vaishnavite evening worship (Sandhyavandan), and Jain practices like Samayik and Pratikraman are all expressions of faith, seeking forgiveness and connection with the divine, albeit with different names and languages.
• Unity of Faith: True believers do not differentiate between prayers in different languages or names for God. Whether one calls the divine Ram, Rahman, Krishna, Shiva, or Parshvanath, the essence of connecting with the soul remains the same.
• The Six Principles of Right Faith (Samyak Darshan): The text outlines the foundational beliefs for true faith: 1. The soul exists. 2. The soul is eternal. 3. The soul is the doer of its actions. 4. Actions always yield results. 5. Liberation from karma is possible. 6. Following the true Dharma is the means to liberation.
• Faith Elevates the Soul: Just as sunrise brings new life and light, the dawn of right faith transforms the soul. Until right faith arises, the soul is inert. With its dawn, the soul experiences unprecedented enlightenment and vitality, profoundly affecting thoughts and actions. This shift moves individuals from being worldly-oriented to self-oriented.
• The Journey of Spiritual Evolution: The text briefly touches upon the philosophical questions that have driven human inquiry since antiquity – the nature of the universe and the self. This quest for answers is part of the process of spiritual evolution.

In essence, "Jivan me Shraddha ka Sthan" is a profound treatise on the indispensable role of faith in every aspect of human existence, from personal strength and spiritual progress to societal well-being. It champions unwavering belief as the key to overcoming challenges, achieving liberation, and living a truly meaningful life.