Kriya

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text "Kriya" by Narendravijay, covering the key themes and concepts discussed:

The text "Kriya" by Muni Narendravijay emphasizes the paramount importance of "Kriya" (action, conduct) in Jainism, distinguishing it from mere worldly activities. It asserts that true "Kriya" refers to "Lokottar Kriya" (transcendent action), "Dharma Kriya" (religious action), and "Samyak Kriya" (right conduct or right character).

The core message revolves around the bondage of the soul to karma, which originates from attachment and ignorance since time immemorial. While all beings seek happiness, the world is inherently filled with suffering and fears (fear of sin, disease, old age, etc.). This suffering arises because the soul's inherent power is suppressed, and the power of karma dominates the soul.

To counteract the power of karma and break these bonds, the text stresses the necessity of "Dharma Shakti" (the power of righteousness). Dharma is presented as the primary of the four Purusharthas (goals of life), with wealth (Artha) and desire (Kama) being the branches and liberation (Moksha) being the fruit.

The text highlights that while "Dharma Rupī Prakash" (the light of Dharma) provides the path, it is only by walking on that path through "Kriya" that karmas are severed. Enlightened beings not only attain this inner light but also inspire others to follow it.

Key Aspects and Principles Discussed:

• The Role of Spiritual Guidance: The text draws a parallel between seeking advice from lawyers, doctors, and engineers for worldly matters and the importance of listening to religious guides (Gurus) who offer invaluable advice for life's true path, often without seeking fees.
• The Significance of Satsang (Good Company): The primary form of "Dharma Kriya" is emphasized as "Satsang." Constant listening to the teachings of Dharma and scriptures is crucial. Hearing the divine words from saints purifies thoughts. The text states that purity of clothing, home, food, and everything else is futile without purity of thought and conduct.
• Purity of Intellect and its Outcomes: Purity of intellect leads to success (Siddhi), fame (Prasiddhi), and prosperity (Samriddhi). An anecdote about a Mahatma in a boat illustrates the impact of pure thoughts and the negative consequences of idle and malicious talk. The Mahatma's wish to change the "bad intellect" of others rather than overturning the boat signifies the focus on internal reform.
• The Importance of Mangalacharan (Auspicious Invocation): Beginning any auspicious task with an invocation is essential to overcome obstacles. The text mentions that even during devotional practices like chanting or listening to sermons, various obstacles (13 types mentioned) can arise.
• Attentive Listening and Application: The text criticizes a common tendency to fall asleep or lose focus during discourses, exemplified by the stories of Seth Mafatlal and Sethani Diwali Bai. True listening requires concentration, mindfulness, and retaining the learned principles. It advises listening to everyone but acting according to one's own discretion and thought.
• Mangala (Auspiciousness): Mangala is defined as that which dispels sin. The text differentiates between "Dravya Mangala" (material auspiciousness, like omens) and "Bhava Mangala" (mental auspiciousness, like devotion).
• Surrender and Humility (Vinaya): True devotion involves surrender to the teachings of the Tirthankaras. Humility, achieved through bowing and respecting the divine, eradicates ego, which is a significant obstacle to progress.
• The Nature of the Supreme Soul (Param Atma): The text defines the Param Atma as one who is free from karmas, perceives the lok and alok (worlds and beyond), is free from attachments, desires, ego, and impurities, and possesses thirty-five qualities of speech and thirty-four extranormal abilities.
• The Significance of the Word "Parmatma": The numerical value of the letters in "Parmatma" is linked to the number of Tirthankaras (24), highlighting the divine significance of venerating the enlightened.
• The Goal of Becoming "Param": The text poses the question of whether one wishes to remain "Aparam" (lower self) or become "Param" (higher self). The path to becoming Param is through the remembrance and worship of the Param Atma, which bestows the necessary power.
• Kriya as the Essence of Knowledge: The core argument is that "Gyanaradhnana ka saar hai Samyak Charitra" (the essence of knowledge worship is right conduct). Pure knowledge without action is considered fruitless, like an blind person with countless lamps or a swimmer who doesn't use their limbs in the water.
• The Definition of Charitra (Conduct): Charitra, derived from the root "char" (to move), signifies the soul's movement from a state of disturbed disposition (Vibhav) to its inherent pure state (Swabhav). It involves emptying the soul of its impurities.
• Types of Charitra:
  • Nishchay Charitra (Essential Conduct): Living in a state of equanimity (Samabhava) or being absorbed in one's own pure nature.
  • Vyavahar Charitra (Practical Conduct): Abstaining from sinful and harmful activities and engaging in pure and meritorious actions, including the observance of Mahavratas (great vows), Anuvratas (minor vows), Samitis (careful activities), Guptis (restraints), Vratas (vows), Pratyakhyana (renunciation), austerity, and other virtuous practices.
  • Anagar Charitra (Homeless Conduct): The complete vows of a monk.
  • Aagar Charitra (Householder's Conduct): The partial vows of a householder.
• The Thirteenfold Charitra: This includes the five Samitis (caution in movement, speech, begging, handling objects, and excretion), three Guptis (restraint of mind, speech, and body), and five Mahavratas (non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy/chastity, and non-possession).
• The Power of Action: The text strongly advocates for action over mere knowledge. It uses proverbs like "No knowledge is power unless put into action" and "Kriyavihinah kharavad vahanti" (those without action carry their knowledge like a donkey).
• The Importance of Restraint (Gupti) and Caution (Samiti): Gupti involves controlling the mind, speech, and body from sinful tendencies. Samitis emphasize careful conduct to avoid harming any living being, especially in movement (Irya Samiti), speech (Bhasha Samiti), begging (Eshana Samiti), handling objects (Adan Nikshepan Samiti), and excretion (Utsarg Samiti).
• The Power of the Tongue: The tongue is identified as a small but powerful organ that can lead to significant quarrels and conflicts. Controlling the tongue through "Vachan Gupti" is crucial for maintaining equanimity.
• Charitra as the Best Ornament: The text states that "Charitra Mahabhushan" (right conduct) is the greatest ornament, surpassing spoken truth, knowledge, devotion, and charity.
• The Consequences of Lacking Charitra: Without right conduct, even profound knowledge is useless, leading to continued transmigration. The text warns that without Charitra, one cannot achieve spiritual liberation.
• The Impact of Conduct on Others: The text provides examples of Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi, whose strong character and exemplary conduct influenced others profoundly, leading to transformations in their beliefs and actions.
• The Lack of Harmony Between Science and Dharma: The text identifies the current global unrest, wars, and ethical decay as a consequence of the disconnect between scientific advancement and spiritual/ethical teachings. It suggests that if science were guided by morality and Dharma, nuclear power would be used for peace and development, eradicating poverty and hunger.
• The Call to Action: The ultimate message is a call to action: "Shabdōṁ ko sandesh nahiṁ, ab jīvan ko sandesh banāo" (Don't make messages out of words; make your life a message). It urges readers to internalize the teachings of Dharma and live by them, to quench the thirst for spiritual peace by drinking the "cool water of Dharma" and putting it into practice. This is presented as the path to happiness in this life and liberation in the next.