Naabhi Humara Kendra Bindu

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Naabhi Humara Kendra Bindu" by Nalini Joshi, based on the provided pages:

The book, "Naabhi Humara Kendra Bindu" (The Navel: Our Central Point), by Nalini Joshi, explores the spiritual and physical significance of the navel in Jainism, drawing parallels with the teachings of Lord Mahavir and the concept of spiritual energy.

The text begins with an anecdote of a villager encountering an electric light bulb in a hotel. Unable to extinguish it by blowing, he's informed by the attendant that it operates with a switch. This illustrates the difference between a simple lamp extinguished by external forces (like wind) and a modern device requiring a specific action (turning off the switch). This analogy is extended to spiritual life, where religious fervor ignited in temples can be easily extinguished by emotions like anger or attachment to worldly matters.

The author then contrasts the physical appearance of ascetics who undertake short fasts with that of revered spiritual figures like Lord Mahavir. While short fasts lead to weakness and a gaunt appearance, statues of Mahavir depict him as strong and vibrant despite years of rigorous asceticism, including prolonged periods without food. This difference, the author argues, isn't due to inherent physical superiority or "sahanana" (a specific type of physical fortitude), but rather to a hidden "formula" or method that prevented weakness during his intense spiritual practices.

The text further uses the example of Mahatma Buddha, who initially practiced Jainism and underwent twelve years of severe penance. His body became emaciated, and he felt incapable of even crossing a small river. This led him to believe he had missed a crucial element in his practice. The author points out that while Buddha's body deteriorated, Mahavir's did not, even though both were contemporary figures. This discrepancy, the author asserts, is due to Buddha's spiritual practice having a "lapsus" or oversight, while Mahavir's was complete. This is likened to Kabir's verse, "Jyon ki tyon ghar deeni chadar" (The sheet was returned to the home as it was), signifying the preservation of the body despite intense austerities.

The core of the explanation then shifts to the navel as the central energy point. The author explains that unlike the householder burdened by worldly worries, a renunciate should not experience physical decline. In fact, renunciation should lead to the replenishment of the body. The key to this lies in a "formula" discovered by Lord Mahavir, which prevented any decline and instead manifested infinite strength. This strength in the body is linked to the soul's attainment of infinite vigor.

The text identifies nasagra drishti (gaze fixed on the tip of the nose) as a primary practice of Lord Mahavir. However, it emphasizes that if this point falters, the navel becomes the crucial center. The navel is where life begins, nourishment is received, and the energy for the body is supplied.

Within the navel, the author describes an energy-based lotus, not a physical one, which acts as a "transmitter." This lotus is closed and can be opened through nasagra drishti. When the sun rises, this lotus opens, absorbing solar energy, and closes at sunset. This is why eating during the day is recommended, as the absorbed solar energy aids digestion.

Furthermore, if the navel lotus is fully developed, it can store enough solar energy to eliminate the need for food. The author draws a parallel with modern technology, citing examples of solar-powered bulbs, heaters, and watches, and suggests that if solar energy can power such devices, it can certainly power the body's "machinery" when stored in the navel.

This process of storing solar energy in the navel is called "Aatapanyog." This stored solar energy fuels the body's functions, eliminating the need for the digestive process to generate energy. Just as electronic devices operate on a few volts, a consistent energy supply to the body prevents it from weakening. Lord Mahavir, by storing this energy, no longer required food and thus remained physically robust.

The text then discusses how energy deficiency leads to physical weakness and disorders. It also touches upon the glands in the brain and their connection to aging, stating that the essence that drips from these glands, if it reaches the stomach, gets destroyed. Proper meditation, however, ensures this essence reaches the body effectively, preventing aging. The author questions why young children today are experiencing gray hair, a phenomenon absent in Lord Mahavir even at 72 years old. Aging, it is suggested, is linked to worries, which affect digestion and hormonal balance.

A significant point is made about Lord Mahavir's independent spiritual journey. He had no guru, studied no scriptures, and engaged in no philosophical discussions. His twelve years of penance are less important than how he achieved his spiritual realization (siddhi). The focus should be on the method he employed, which is the essence of the teaching.

The author stresses that understanding what Mahavir did during those twelve years is more crucial than what he preached. He didn't acquire knowledge; he meditated, removed obstacles, and lived in harmony with nature. The essence of his sadhana is "nasam" (focusing on the navel, letting go of the body).

Religion, the author states, is a science of imparting joy and awakening inner wealth. This inherent religion needs to be uncovered, like gold being purified from ore. The obstacles are worldly desires like attachment and aversion (raag-dwesh). Removing these reveals the true self.

One method for removing these obstacles is meditating on the navel. This meditation is so potent that one can forgo food for months. The author addresses the modern youth's inclination to enjoy the present, stating that they are not entirely wrong in seeking present peace and happiness. This can be achieved through experimental meditation, focusing on the navel while seated in any comfortable posture.

The text suggests focusing on the navel and visualizing the "Om" sound entering with the breath. When exhaling, one should visualize the expulsion of desires, thoughts, and worries. This is not just theoretical but requires practical application.

The author observes that babies breathe deeply, their bellies expanding with inhalation and contracting with exhalation, indicating a state of deep peace. However, as children grow and accumulate worries, this pattern reverses, leading to reduced growth. The burden of schooling and early anxieties is cited as a reason for stunted growth and physical development in modern children. This correlation between worries, aging, and stress is highlighted.

Finally, the book emphasizes that focusing on the navel as a source of solar energy can prevent illness, hunger, thirst, and temperature sensitivities. These are considered forms of disease. As the navel lotus develops, diseases recede. The path to any limit or achievement is through learning and practicing meditation, which will unlock solar warmth, improve bodily functions, and facilitate self-experience. This leads to joy, which requires strength, and strength is cultivated through focusing on the navel, one of the three primary centers of life: intellect (brain), heart, and navel. The navel, being the ultimate source of power, is where development should begin.