Mool Me Bhool

Certainly! Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Mool Mein Bhool" (Error in the Root), based on the provided text, which includes the original Hindi verses and the extensive commentary in Hindi, likely from Pujya Shri Kanji Swami's discourses.

Book Title: Mool Mein Bhool (मूलमें भूल - Error in the Root) Author(s): Parmeshthidas Jain (Translator), Pujya Shri Kanji Swami (Commentator), Bhaiya Bhagwatidasji & Kaviwar Banarasidasji (Original Doha composers) Publisher: Todarmal Granthamala Jaipur Catalog Link: https://jainqq.org/explore/008359/1

Core Subject: The central theme of "Mool Mein Bhool" is a profound discourse on the concepts of Upadan (Material Cause/Inherent Cause) and Nimitta (Instrumental Cause/External Cause) in Jain philosophy. The book aims to clarify the true nature of these two causes, particularly in relation to spiritual liberation (moksha).

Key Concepts Explained:

1. Upadan (उपादान):

   • Definition: It is the inherent, internal capability or power of a substance (like the soul). It is the essential nature or inherent capacity of a thing to undergo change or produce an effect. In the context of the soul, it refers to its intrinsic qualities like consciousness, bliss, and the power to achieve liberation.
   • Nature: It is the "substratum" or the "doer" in the truest sense. It is uncreated, eternal, and self-sufficient. The soul's inherent power to know, see, and experience is its Upadan.
   • Role in Liberation: Liberation is ultimately achieved through the soul's own inherent power (Upadan) by understanding and realizing its true nature, through right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct (Sammyak Darshan, Gyan, Charitra).

2. Nimitta (निमित्त):

   • Definition: It refers to external or instrumental causes or facilitating circumstances. These are secondary factors that are present when an effect occurs but do not inherently cause it. Examples include external conditions, good company, scriptures, teachers, and even the body.
   • Nature: It is a facilitator, an accessory, or a co-existing factor. It does not possess the inherent power to cause the primary substance to change or achieve its ultimate state.
   • Role in Spirituality: While external factors like scriptures, teachers, and right company (Sadharmis) are considered helpful (Nimitta) in guiding the soul towards understanding its Upadan, they are not the ultimate cause of liberation. They merely facilitate the process.

The Dialogue (Samvad): The book is structured as a dialogue, presented in verses (dohas) by Bhaiya Bhagwatidasji and Kaviwar Banarasidasji, followed by detailed commentary from Pujya Shri Kanji Swami. In this dialogue, Nimitta argues for its essential role and efficacy, while Upadan asserts its primary and ultimate power.

Key Arguments and Counter-Arguments:

• Nimitta's Claims:

  • Nimitta claims to be known and recognized by everyone, while Upadan is obscure.
  • It argues that without external factors (like a human body, scriptures, teachers, or favorable circumstances), liberation or spiritual progress is impossible.
  • It cites examples like the need for a crutch for a lame person, sunlight for sight, or fuel for fire to assert its indispensability.
  • It argues that virtue (like charity, worship) leads to happiness and liberation, and these virtues require Nimitta (actions, external objects).
  • It claims that even profound spiritual states like Kshayik Samyaktva (eradicative right faith) occur only in the presence of omniscient beings (Kevalis) or great monks.
  • It argues that if Upadan alone were sufficient, all souls would be liberated simultaneously, and the need for Nimitta (like scriptures or good deeds) would be redundant.
  • It highlights that many people experience spiritual awakening in the presence of holy places, scriptures, or saints, implying Nimitta's direct causal role.
  • It questions how virtue (like charity or meditation) can lead to liberation if it's merely an internal state (Upadan) without any external action or support (Nimitta).

• Upadan's Rebuttals:

  • Upadan counters that while Nimitta may be known, it is the enlightened ones (Samyakvasis) who truly understand Upadan.
  • It emphasizes that liberation is an internal process, achieved through the soul's own inherent power and understanding. External factors are merely catalysts.
  • It argues that Nimitta cannot achieve anything without Upadan's inherent capacity. A lame person with a crutch needs the inherent ability to walk, which the crutch doesn't provide.
  • It clarifies that while actions like charity and worship may bring worldly happiness (punya), they are still forms of attachment (bandha) and do not lead to ultimate liberation, which comes from a state beyond cause and effect.
  • It states that while many are in the presence of enlightened beings, only those whose internal disposition (Upadan) is ready and "straightened" achieve liberation. The presence of the enlightened is not the direct cause.
  • It argues that just as countless souls have encountered the most favorable Nimitta (like being in the presence of Tirthankaras) innumerable times without liberation, it proves that Upadan (internal change) is the key.
  • It points out that eyesight is an inherent faculty (Upadan), and light (Nimitta) merely allows it to function. Darkness doesn't negate the eye's potential, only its ability to perceive in that condition. Similarly, true knowledge comes from the soul's inherent capacity.
  • It asserts that Nimitta's claims of being essential are ultimately false, as true liberation comes from understanding and realizing one's own self (Upadan).
  • It argues that even virtuous actions (like Panch Mahavratas) are ultimately states of attachment or subtle modifications if not accompanied by the realization of the pure soul. They are means, not the end.
  • It clarifies that while the human body is considered a favorable Nimitta for liberation, it is the soul's inherent power (Upadan) that utilizes this human existence for spiritual practice, not the body itself. The body is seen as a "cage" that can hinder, rather than solely facilitate, liberation if one becomes attached to it.
  • It emphasizes that any perceived power of Nimitta is an imputation (arop) based on the Upadan's own inherent capacity and willingness to change.
  • It argues that just as a boat moves in water (Upadan) with the help of wind (Nimitta), the soul's movement towards liberation is through its own inherent power, facilitated by understanding the right path (Nimitta). However, the driving force is the soul's own strength.
  • The book strongly refutes the idea of fifty-fifty contribution between Upadan and Nimitta, asserting that only Upadan is the true cause, and Nimitta is merely a circumstantial presence.

Pujya Shri Kanji Swami's Commentary: Pujya Shri Kanji Swami's commentary is crucial in interpreting the verses and elaborating on the philosophical nuances. His discourses emphasize:

• The Supremacy of Upadan: He consistently highlights that all spiritual progress and liberation are solely dependent on the soul's own inherent capabilities and self-effort.
• Nimitta as a Facilitator, Not a Cause: He explains that external factors can point the way or create conducive conditions, but they cannot bestow liberation. The soul must awaken and act from within.
• The Nature of "Error in the Root": The title itself implies that the fundamental error (Mool mein Bhool) is mistaking Nimitta for the true cause of liberation, thereby neglecting the development of one's own inner strength (Upadan).
• Understanding the Two Nays (Standpoints): The commentary delves into the difference between Nischay Naya (Ultimate Truth/Real Standpoint) where Upadan is supreme, and Vyavahar Naya (Conventional Truth/Apparent Standpoint) where Nimitta plays a role in description and guidance. The error lies in treating Vyavahar as Nischay.
• The Impermanence of Nimitta: Nimitta factors are transient and change, while the soul's true nature (Upadan) is eternal and unchanging. Relying on the transient for the eternal is the root of the problem.
• The Soul's Self-Sufficiency: The soul, by its nature, possesses all the qualities and powers required for liberation. It is self-illuminating and self-sufficient.

Overall Message: "Mool Mein Bhool" is a powerful exposition of the core Jain principle that true spiritual advancement and liberation are an inward journey. It systematically deconstructs the common misconception of relying on external factors for spiritual attainment. The book advocates for introspection, self-reliance, and the cultivation of one's own inherent spiritual strength (Upadan) as the only path to true spiritual freedom. It serves as a profound guide for sincere seekers to rectify their fundamental misunderstanding about the causes of spiritual evolution and to focus on self-effort and self-realization.