Kevali Prabhuno Sath Volume 02 - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of "Kevali Prabhuno Sath Volume 02" by Saryu Rajani Mehta, based on the provided text:

Book Title: Kevali Prabhuno Sath Volume 02 Author: Saryu Rajani Mehta Publisher: Shreyas Pracharak Sabha

Overall Theme: This book, the second volume in the series "Kevali Prabhuno Sath" (In the Company of the Omniscient Lord), focuses on the practical aspects of spiritual progress and achieving liberation (Moksha) in Jainism. It elaborates on key spiritual disciplines like prayer (Prarthana), forgiveness (Kshamapana), and mantra recitation (Mantrasmaran), highlighting their significance, methods, and benefits. The book emphasizes the guidance of a spiritual master (Sadguru) and the divine grace of the Kevali (Omniscient Lords) and the Panch Parmeshthi (the five supreme beings in Jainism) in the journey towards self-realization and liberation.

Summary of Key Chapters and Concepts:

Chapter 5: Prarthana (Prayer)

Significance of Human Life: The book stresses the rarity and preciousness of human birth, emphasizing its unique opportunity for spiritual liberation. It highlights that human birth is attained only when karmic merit and demerit are balanced at the time of death in the previous life.
What is Prayer? Prayer is defined as a sincere request to the divine (Prarthya Dev) for something desired, often stemming from a yearning for eternal happiness and liberation from worldly suffering.
Benefits of Prayer: The text outlines numerous advantages of prayer, including:
- Freedom from suffering (Dukh Mukti)
- Breaking of obstacles (Antaray tute)
- Removal of faults and negative perspectives (Doshdrishti jay)
- Reduction of pride and other passions (Manadi kashayo nu alpatva)
- Diminishing the veils of ignorance and delusion (Jnanadarshan na avaran ghati)
- Reducing the influx of karma (Karmasrav ni alpta) and turning the influx towards auspiciousness (Karmasrav shubh)
Nature and Purpose of Prayer: It emphasizes the importance of understanding the true nature and goal of prayer, which is not merely for worldly gains but for spiritual upliftment. It suggests focusing on the supreme qualities of the divine being being prayed to.
Method of Prayer: The book advises maintaining the memory of the chosen deity (Ishtadev), praising them, making requests with deep-felt emotion, and holding unwavering faith in receiving the fruits of prayer. It specifically mentions praying to the Vitarags (those free from passions) as the ultimate goal.
Types of Prayers: The book provides numerous examples of prayers for:
- Spiritual Progress (Paramarthik): Seeking a true spiritual guide, overcoming karmic obstacles, acquiring true knowledge and perception, winning over ignorance, reducing negative karma, constant virtuous company, attaining pure faith (Kshayik Samyakit), progressing through spiritual stages (Gunsthan), preparing for the path of liberation (Shreni), striving for purity, and preventing worldly disturbances from hindering spiritual practice.
- Worldly (Vyavaharik): Avoiding family strife, overcoming financial difficulties, alleviating physical discomfort, reducing enmity and disrepute, converting worldly punya into spiritual punya, prayers for pregnant mothers and children's well-being, fostering devotion in children, ethical conduct in business, prayers for specific professions (doctors, engineers, lawyers, teachers, farmers), for homemakers, for successful retirement, for avoiding future suffering, overcoming fear, and relinquishing attachment to others' suffering.

Chapter 6: Kshamaapana (Forgiveness)

Repentance and Fast Karma Release: Kshamaapana is presented as a tool for rapid karma release through sincere repentance.
Benefits of Forgiveness: It highlights how practicing forgiveness allows one to shed future karma in the present, transforms karma, stops the compound interest on karma, helps in releasing latent karma along with activated karma, reduces karmic influx, breaks pride, fosters self-reflection (swadoshdarshan), and is essential for achieving liberation.
Kshamaapana as Pratitkraman: Forgiveness is described as a form of "Pratikraman" (turning back or retrospection).
Elements of Kshamaapana: The text details the process of forgiveness by incorporating:
- Six Soul Principles (Atma na chha pad): The existence of the soul, its eternality, its role as a doer and experiencer, the concept of Moksha, and the means to achieve it.
- Nine Tattvas (Nav Tattva): Soul (Jiva), Non-soul (Ajiva), Sin (Papa), Merit (Punya), Influx of Karma (Asrav), Stoppage of Karma (Samvar), Shedding of Karma (Nirjara), Bondage of Karma (Bandh), and Liberation (Moksha).
- Fourteen Stages of Spiritual Progress (Chaudh Gunsthan): The text references the fourteen stages of spiritual development, from delusion (Mithyatva) to the state of the Kevali (omniscient beings) and beyond.
- Six Essential Practices (Avashyak): Pratitkraman, Samayik (equanimity), Vandan (obeisance), Logas (a specific chant), Kayotsarg (body abandonment), and Chauvihar (a specific fast).
Prayer for Forgiveness: The chapter concludes with prayers for seeking forgiveness.

Chapter 7: Mantra Smaran (Mantra Recitation)

Overcoming Obstacles to Soul Purification: The book identifies mistakes as hindrances to soul purification and emphasizes the indispensable role of a true guru (Sadguru) in seeking refuge. Prayer aids in stopping karmic influx (Samvar), and forgiveness facilitates intentional karma release (Sakam Nirjara).
Meaning and Benefits of Mantra Recitation: Mantra recitation is defined as the inclusion of soul qualities within the mantra. Its benefits include:
- Halting the flow of thoughts (Vichar ni haramala atke)
- Increasing absorption in the soul (Amlinta ni vruddhi)
- Enhancing karma destruction (Karmakshay ni vruddhi)
- Reducing karmic influx and increasing karmic stoppage (Aasrav ni alpta tatha samvar ni vruddhi)
- Manifesting innate bliss (Sahajanand pragate)
- Facilitating natural soul development (Sahaj atmavikas)
Eligibility and Guru's Role: The text stresses the necessity of a guru for receiving mantra initiation and guidance. It also describes the characteristics of a true guru (self-knowledge, detached observer nature, etc.).
Variety and Success of Mantras: It touches upon the diversity of mantras and their effectiveness, citing the success of mantras established by Krupaludev (an enlightened spiritual figure).
The Namaskar Mahamantra: A significant portion is dedicated to the Namaskar Mahamantra (Panch Parmeshthi Mantra), explaining its glory and the twelve virtues of Arihants, eight virtues of Siddhas, thirty-six virtues of Acharyas, twenty-five virtues of Upadhyayas, and twenty-seven virtues of Sadhus/Sadhvis.
Method and Importance: The chapter outlines the method of mantra recitation, emphasizing faith, and the importance of regularity in time and place. It reiterates that prayer, forgiveness, and mantra recitation, when harmonized, lead to soul purification, progress in knowledge, perception, and conduct, ultimately paving the path to Moksha.

Chapter 8: Atmano Apurva Swabhav (The Soul's Unique Nature)

The Role of a Sadguru: The chapter emphasizes the indispensable companionship of a virtuous person (Sadpurush) in manifesting the soul's unique nature. It references the insights from Shrimad Rajchandra's Vachanamrut (discourses) as valuable for understanding this support.
Influence of a Sadguru: The text discusses the profound impact of a Sadguru's presence, words, and spiritual state on a disciple.
Awakening Consciousness: Sadgurus awaken dormant consciousness within the soul. Their influence is felt even in the absence of direct contact.
Path to Self-Realization: To experience this awakened consciousness, the text suggests embracing the principles of impermanence (Anityabhavana), helplessness (Asharanabhavana), and impurity (Ashuchi Bhavana).
Stabilizing Inner Nature: Sadgurus help stabilize the soul's unsteady tendencies. This is achieved through contemplation of the transient nature of the world (Sansar Bhavana) and impermanence (Anityabhavana).
The Sadguru's Words, Presence, and Company: The purity and impact of a Sadguru's words, demeanor, and company are highlighted as essential.
Revealing the Soul's True Nature: Sadgurus inspire the revelation of the soul's unique nature. The text delves into the ten vital energies (Prana) of the soul, its characteristics (like equanimity, bliss, upwardness, knower nature, pleasant perception, witness nature, consciousness), the transient nature of worldly pleasures, the difficulty of breaking the delusion of identifying the soul with the body, and the importance of contemplating the rarity of righteousness. It also reiterates the contribution of prayer, forgiveness, and mantra recitation in unfolding the soul's unique nature.
Self-Perception and Spiritual Stages: The text connects the soul's self-perception with spiritual progress, stating that the fourth spiritual stage (Gunsthan) is the first step towards self-perception, the sixth stage deepens this perception, and further stages like Apramatta Samyam (vigilant self-control) and Samvar Bhavana (contemplation of karma stoppage) lead to increased introspection and understanding.
Unwavering State and Goal: The final part of the chapter discusses achieving an unwavering, indescribable state, the goal of overcoming karma, and realizing the soul's true nature. It touches upon the qualities that manifest at the end of the spiritual path (Shreni) and the liberation from karmic bonds and the attainment of blissful, unhindered existence.

Chapter 9: Atmano Apurva Swabhav Pragatt Karvama Shri Panch Parmeshthi Bhagvant no Sath (The Soul's Unique Nature Manifested with the Help of the Panch Parmeshthi)

The Role of the Panch Parmeshthi: This chapter focuses on how the five supreme beings of Jainism – Arihant, Siddha, Acharya, Upadhyay, and Sadhu/Sadhvi – aid in manifesting the soul's unique nature.
Qualities of the Panch Parmeshthi: It details the virtues of each of the Panch Parmeshthi, emphasizing their inherent qualities and their role in guiding souls towards spiritual upliftment.
Spiritual Journey and Progress: The text describes the soul's journey through the fourteen spiritual stages (Gunsthan), highlighting the gradual overcoming of karmic obstacles and the progression towards self-realization.
Harmony of Guru and Disciple: It underscores the synergy between the guru's guidance and the disciple's effort in achieving spiritual progress, particularly from the fifth to the seventh spiritual stage.
The Path to Moksha: The chapter explains how the Panch Parmeshthi guide souls towards well-being and ultimately towards the path of liberation. It discusses the independent effort of the soul that begins with initial faith (Kshayopasham Samyakit) and how it reduces the attachment to the physical body.

Key Underlying Principles:

Importance of the Guru: The entire book implicitly and explicitly emphasizes the necessity of a Sadguru (true spiritual teacher) for guidance, inspiration, and the accurate understanding of Jain philosophy and practices.
Karma Theory: The text is deeply rooted in the Jain concept of karma, explaining how actions (good or bad) lead to karmic bondage and how spiritual practices like prayer, forgiveness, and mantra recitation help in shedding or transforming karma.
Spiritual Discipline: It outlines a path of discipline that involves self-reflection, repentance, focused devotion, and consistent effort.
Goal of Liberation: The ultimate aim is to break free from the cycle of birth and death (Samsara) and attain eternal bliss and omniscience (Moksha).
Harmonious Practice: The book promotes a holistic approach, integrating prayer, forgiveness, and mantra recitation as complementary practices for spiritual growth.

This summary provides a detailed overview of the "Kevali Prabhuno Sath Volume 02," highlighting its core teachings and the practical guidance it offers to spiritual seekers on the path of Jainism.