Life Ho To Aisi - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Life ho to Aisi" by Chandraprabhsagar, based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Life ho to Aisi (If you want to live a life like this!) Author: Chandraprabhsagar Publisher: Jityasha Foundation Publication Year: January 2012

Overall Theme and Purpose:

"Life ho to Aisi" is presented as a guide for achieving 100% success and finding solutions to life's challenges. The book emphasizes that while managing others might be easy, managing one's own life is a significant challenge. It aims to provide practical advice and spiritual insights to overcome everyday problems like worry, anger, and stress, ultimately leading to peace, success, and a more fulfilling life. The author, Pujya Shri Chandraprabh, is portrayed as a visionary who offers powerful prescriptions for a better life.

Key Concepts and Chapters:

The book is structured around several key themes, presented in distinct chapters, each offering guidance on specific aspects of life management:

Living a Worry-Free Life (कैसे जिएँ चिंतामुक्त जीवन): This section identifies anger and worry as two major enemies of life. It details the detrimental effects of anger (loss of self-control, health issues, strained relationships) and worry (mental imbalance, irritability, impact on career and peace). The text draws parallels to Jain philosophy, mentioning the four types of meditation (Aart, Raudra, Dharma, Shukla Dhyan) and positioning worry as Aart Dhyan and anger as Raudra Dhyan. It advocates for focusing on the present, embracing simplicity, and trusting in a higher power's arrangements rather than excessive future planning. The core message is to find contentment in what is available and to let go of anxieties about the past and future.
Controlling Anger (कैसे करें क्रोध को काबू): This chapter highlights anger as life's greatest enemy, impacting peace, success, and health. It describes anger as leading to the shutdown of intellect, the rusting of reason, and detrimental effects on speech and relationships. The author uses strong analogies, like the poisonous nature of a mother's milk when she is angry, and the fatal effect of an angry person's blood on a rabbit. It stresses that anger breaks families, destroys relationships, and leads to regret. The ultimate goal is to achieve peace, which is presented as the true wealth and the path to a heavenly life on Earth. The text suggests practical methods like remaining calm, controlling reactions, and learning from the example of Lord Mahavir facing Chandkoushik. It categorizes anger into three types (like bubbles in water, cracks in earth, cracks in stone) and advises against harboring grudges.
Bringing a Smile, Removing Stress (मुस्कान लाएँ, तनाव हटाएँ): This section focuses on the importance of maintaining a smile and managing stress. It uses the analogy of a rose plant with thorns to illustrate that life, like nature, involves both pleasant and unpleasant aspects. It emphasizes that stress and worry are often self-inflicted through negative thoughts like jealousy, impatience, and anger. The author advises shedding mental baggage, much like discarding unwanted items from one's pockets, and not letting workplace stress spill into family life. The key takeaway is to find joy in activities, stay busy, and approach challenges with a positive mindset, inspired by the example of the crow in the pot story who cleverly solved his problem.
Finding Peace in Life (कैसे साधे जीवन में शांति): This chapter defines peace as the ultimate goal, more valuable than wealth, relationships, or even children. It stresses that true peace comes from within and is not dependent on external circumstances. The text asserts that a peaceful mind can turn hell into heaven, while an agitated mind can turn heaven into hell. It encourages accepting situations and people as they are, practicing forgiveness, and finding contentment in whatever life offers. The author advocates for a life of love, peace, and humility, drawing examples from spiritual figures and emphasizing that true peace is a state of being, not an external acquisition.
The Taste of Life (क्या स्वाद है जिंदगी का): This section touches upon appreciating life's experiences and the importance of enjoying the present moment. It suggests finding joy in simple things and not getting bogged down by desires or fears.
Strong Mind, Controlled Destiny (मन मजबूत तो किस्मत मुट्ठी में): This chapter emphasizes the power of the mind in shaping destiny. It highlights the importance of a strong, focused, and positive mindset for achieving success and happiness. The text draws parallels to Olympic athletes and successful individuals who, through willpower and dedication, overcome challenges and achieve their goals. It stresses that mental strength is paramount, and while physical strength is important, mental fortitude is the ultimate determinant of success.
Learn Life Management Skills (सीखिए लाइफ मैनेजमेंट के गुर): This theme is woven throughout the book, offering practical strategies for managing various aspects of life, from controlling emotions to effective planning and interpersonal skills.
Improving Behavior (कैसे बनाएँ व्यवहार को बेहतर): This chapter stresses that behavior is the mirror of one's personality and the key to successful relationships in family, business, and society. It emphasizes politeness, respect, and a positive attitude, illustrated through anecdotes like the blind beggar who could discern people's status by their demeanor. It promotes treating everyone with dignity and kindness, highlighting that true nobility lies in one's behavior, not just external status or possessions.
Success in 6 Steps (सफलता के 6 स्टेप्स): While not explicitly detailed as six distinct steps in the provided pages, the underlying principles of success are presented throughout the book, including hard work, dedication, goal setting, positive mindset, managing emotions, and continuous learning.
Solution to 90% Problems with 10% Positivity (90% समस्याओं का तोड़ 10% सकारात्मकता): This point highlights the immense power of positivity in overcoming challenges. It suggests that a positive outlook can significantly reduce the impact of problems and lead to effective solutions.
Start Religion with Yourself (खुद से ही कीजिए धर्म की शुरुआत): This chapter promotes the idea that true spirituality begins within. It emphasizes living by ethical principles, practicing compassion, and embodying the virtues of one's chosen religion in daily life rather than just adhering to external rituals. It stresses that being a good human being is the essence of all religions.

Overall Message:

"Life ho to Aisi" advocates for a proactive, positive, and disciplined approach to life. It encourages readers to take responsibility for their thoughts, emotions, and actions, to cultivate inner peace and strength, and to strive for personal growth and success through consistent effort and a constructive outlook. The book blends practical advice with spiritual wisdom, drawing from Jain philosophy and broader ethical teachings to guide readers towards a more meaningful and triumphant life.