Karuna Ane Pragnamurtinu Mahaprasthan

Here's a comprehensive summary in English of the Jain text "Karuna ane Pragnamurtinu Mahaprasthan" by Sukhlal Sanghavi, based on the provided pages:

This text, "Karuna ane Pragnamurtinu Mahaprasthan" (The Great Departure of the Embodiment of Compassion and Wisdom), by Sukhlal Sanghavi, explores the profound qualities of compassion (Karuna) and wisdom (Pragna) embodied by "Bapuji" (referred to throughout, implying Mahatma Gandhi). The author posits that these two qualities were the driving forces behind Bapuji's entire life and activities, setting him apart from ordinary individuals and even from many historical figures.

Bapuji's Unique Compassion:

The text distinguishes Bapuji's compassion from that of others. While most people experience compassion to some degree, and some exceptional individuals can empathize with another's suffering as if it were their own (like a child with a parent's pain), Bapuji's compassion was of a different magnitude. He could not tolerate any suffering, whether physical, mental, or spiritual, in any living being. Unlike those whose compassion is limited by personal ties or concerns, Bapuji's empathy was boundless. He felt the pain of others as deeply as a parent feels their child's, and this intense feeling drove him to tirelessly seek and implement solutions, often putting his own life at risk.

The author further categorizes compassion:

• Physical/Material Suffering: Some individuals are moved by physical suffering and strive to alleviate it.
• Mental/Spiritual Suffering: Others prioritize alleviating mental or spiritual distress.
• Root of Suffering (Desire): A more advanced category of compassion focuses on eradicating desire (trishna), seen as the root of all suffering.

Bapuji, however, transcended these categories. He addressed all forms of suffering – physical, mental, and spiritual – with equal intensity. His entire existence, his very birth and death, seemed dedicated to alleviating the suffering of others. This is why his compassion is described as "Maha Karuna" (Great Compassion).

Bapuji's Profound Wisdom:

Similarly, the text highlights Bapuji's wisdom, identifying it as Rutambhara Pragna (Truth-Bearing Wisdom), a state rarely found even among intellectuals, poets, writers, artists, and researchers. The defining characteristic of Rutambhara Pragna is its inability to tolerate anything other than truth. It rejects falsehood, dishonesty, and injustice with immense fervor, leading to an unshakeable resolve to eradicate them. Bapuji's every action, according to the author, is a testament to this profound wisdom, hence it is termed "Maha Pragna" (Great Wisdom).

The Source of Bapuji's Extraordinary Qualities:

The text then addresses the profound question of how Bapuji, born of ordinary human stock and into a specific lineage, came to possess such unparalleled compassion and wisdom. The answer, it suggests, lies not in his physical birth but in his "spiritual birth" or "birth of consciousness." It is argued that such profound qualities, evident from his childhood, could only be the accumulated result of diligent spiritual practice across many lifetimes.

The Unfolding and Legacy of Bapuji's Qualities:

From his early years, Bapuji's life was characterized by the subtle seeds of compassion and wisdom. As he grew in age, knowledge, observation, and responsibility, these seeds blossomed rapidly. His inability to rest without alleviating suffering or confronting injustice created vast fields of action for him. His compassion and wisdom did not merely take the form of a large tree (Kabirvad) but transformed into a "world tree" (Vishwavat), as evidenced by his final fasts and speeches in Delhi.

Compassion and wisdom are described as spiritual, eternal truths. While their manifestation is through a limited physical body, their essence extends far beyond it. Bapuji's influence spread across the globe, resonating in every corner of the world and touching people of all communities. This is why the world mourns his passing.

Transformation and Universalization:

Although Bapuji's physical body has ceased to exist, his "Maha Karuna" and "Maha Pragna" have, in fact, become even more developed and universal. The divine principle (Brahma or Sachchidananda) residing within the life force of all beings, which is their inner soul (Antaratma), is what Bapuji attained upon his disembodied state (Videha). This means the developed fruits of his compassion and wisdom have been deeply sown and merged with the inner souls of many.

The Strength of Spiritual Power:

The text acknowledges the immense challenges Bapuji faced – his frail physique, the bewildering responsibilities, and the complex problems. Yet, he bore this burden with a cheerful countenance and enthusiasm. This strength is attributed to the growth of his compassion and wisdom. His constant devotion to these principles, his spiritual life, his experience of the divine, and his identification with other souls provided him with the power to lift burdens, akin to lifting the Govardhan mountain. Bapuji's life is presented as a luminous testament to the power of God and spiritual principles.

The Ineffectiveness of Spiritual Light Without Spiritual Sight:

However, the author cautions that even the brightest spiritual light is useless to a blind person, and can even be blinding. Similarly, as Bapuji's resolve against suffering and injustice intensified, those lacking spiritual vision became more confused and enraged. While this anger could harm his physical body, it could not touch his compassion and wisdom.

The Eternal Continuation of Bapuji's Mission:

The text concludes by stating that the compassion and wisdom that operated through a limited body at a specific time have now merged with the universal body of humanity. The pure essence of the inner soul within this vast human form will continue Bapuji's work eternally. Just as the setting sun is not destroyed but shines elsewhere, Bapuji's compassion and wisdom will now shine through the vast body of humanity, not through his frail physical form. This merging with humanity seems almost as if humanity's grand form itself was deemed the most capable vessel for carrying the brilliance of his compassion and wisdom. True tribute can only be paid by embracing the essence of his compassion and wisdom within our own inner selves.

The text is prefaced by a note indicating it is a speech delivered at a prayer meeting at Gujarat Vidyapith on the occasion of Bapuji's Shraddha (commemorative ceremony) on February 12, 1948.