Navtattvano Sundar Bodh

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Navtattvano Sundar Bodh" (The Beautiful Understanding of the Nine Principles) in English:

Book Title: Navtattvano Sundar Bodh (The Beautiful Understanding of the Nine Principles) Author(s): Jain Atmanand Sabha Publisher: Jain Atmanand Sabha

Overview:

"Navtattvano Sundar Bodh," published by the Jain Atmanand Sabha, is a foundational Jain text that meticulously explains the nine fundamental principles (Navtattva) of Jain philosophy. The book is presented as a translation and commentary on an ancient Sanskrit text, aiming to make the profound concepts accessible to a wider audience, especially beginners. It emphasizes the clarity and beauty of the original commentary, making the study of Navtattva engaging and encouraging memorization.

Core Content and Structure:

The text is structured to systematically introduce and elaborate on each of the nine principles:

1. Introduction: The book begins by placing itself within the framework of Jain Darshan (philosophy), specifically within the "Dravyanuyog" (study of substances/categories). It highlights the existence of various commentaries on Navtattva and explains its own purpose: to present a lucid, accessible, and comprehensive understanding of these core principles. The publisher expresses gratitude for the financial assistance received for its printing.

2. The Nine Principles (Navtattva) - Names: The first core section of the text presents the nine principles, often through a foundational verse:

   • Jiva (Soul)
   • Ajiva (Non-soul/Matter)
   • Punya (Merit/Virtue)
   • Papa (Demerit/Sin)
   • Asrava (Influx)
   • Samvara (Stoppage)
   • Nirjara (Shedding/Austerity)
   • Bandha (Bondage)
   • Moksha (Liberation)

   The text clarifies that "tattva" means "essence" or "nature."

3. Detailed Explanation of Each Principle: The book then delves into the nature and characteristics of each of the nine principles:

   • Jiva (Soul): Defined as that which sustains ten types of vitalities (pranas), including five senses, three types of strength, respiration, and lifespan. The loss of these vitalities is considered violence (himsa). The essence of the soul is explored.

   • Ajiva (Non-soul): Anything other than the soul, lacking vitalities and consciousness. Its essence is also discussed.

   • Punya (Merit): Explained as wholesome karma that brings happiness to the soul. Its essence is elaborated.

   • Papa (Demerit): Defined as unwholesome karma that brings suffering to the soul. Its essence is explained.

   • Asrava (Influx): Describes the channels through which karmic particles flow into the soul. Its essence is discussed.

   • Samvara (Stoppage): Explains the principles and practices that halt the influx of karma. Its essence is elaborated.

   • Nirjara (Shedding): Details the processes by which accumulated karma is shed, often through austerities (tapas). Its essence is explored.

   • Bandha (Bondage): Describes how karma becomes attached to the soul, forming bondage. Its essence is explained.

   • Moksha (Liberation): Refers to the complete cessation of all karmic activities, leading to ultimate freedom. Its essence is explored.

4. Classification and Sub-types: After introducing the names, the text systematically lists the number of sub-types or divisions for each principle, as stated in the scriptures:

   • Jiva: 14 types
   • Ajiva: 14 types
   • Punya: 42 types
   • Papa: 88 types
   • Asrava: 42 types
   • Samvara: 57 types
   • Nirjara: 12 types
   • Bandha: 4 types
   • Moksha: 9 types

5. Detailed Elaboration of Sub-types: The book then provides detailed explanations for the categories within each principle:

   • Jiva (14 types): This section elaborates on the classifications of living beings based on senses (one-sensed to five-sensed), the states of being (purely sensual or rational), and the stages of development (incomplete and complete). Examples of creatures for each category are given.

   • Ajiva (14 types): This covers the six eternal substances (dravyas) of Jainism: Dharma (medium of motion), Adharma (medium of rest), Akasha (space), Kala (time), Pudgala (matter), and Jiva (soul). It details the classifications of Dharma, Adharma, and Akasha into Skandha (aggregate), Desha (region), and Pradesha (part). Pudgala is further divided into Skandha, Desha, Pradesha, and Paramanu (atom). Time is also discussed.

   • Punya (42 types): This extensive section lists the various karmic dispositions that lead to merit, such as auspicious qualities related to birth, body, senses, speech, knowledge, conduct, and lifespan. It includes categories like auspicious color, smell, taste, touch, luster, subtlety, lightness, pervasion, respiration, lifespan, and the special karma of a Tirthankara.

   • Papa (88 types): This section details the karmic dispositions that lead to demerit. It covers the eight types of karmas (knowledge-obscuring, perception-obscuring, feeling-producing, deluding, lifespan, status-determining, and inherent capacity-obscuring), the five types of inhibitions (mithyatva, senses, passions, negligence), and various subdivisions related to unwholesome qualities of body, senses, speech, and life. It also includes the 25 passions (kashayas), the 10 stationary types (sthavara), the 3 hellish states, and the specific unwholesome qualities like unwholesome color, smell, taste, touch, etc.

   • Asrava (42 types): This explains the causes of karmic influx, broadly categorized into five senses, four passions, five vows (or rather, the lack of them - avratas), three types of yoga (mind, speech, body), and 25 types of activities (kriyas) resulting from these.

   • Samvara (57 types): This principle describes the means to prevent karmic influx. It details the five restraints (samitis), three controls (guptis), 22 hardships (parishaha), ten virtues of ascetics (yati dharma), twelve contemplations (bhavana), and five types of conduct (charitra).

   • Nirjara (12 types): This principle outlines the process of shedding karma. It classifies austerities into six external types (fasting, reduced intake, limited begging, taste renunciation, self-mortification, and isolation) and six internal types (penance, humility, service, study, meditation, and detachment). It also explains how karma is shed based on its nature, duration, intensity, and the number of karmic particles.

   • Bandha (4 types): This principle explains the nature of karmic bondage, dividing it into four aspects: Prakriti (nature of karma), Sthiti (duration of karma), Anubhaga (intensity of karma), and Pradesha (quantity of karmic particles).

   • Moksha (9 types): This section details the path to liberation. It explores liberation through various "pathways" or "modes" (margana), such as liberation from human, five-sensed, mobile, auspicious, rational, right-conduct, faith-cum-conduct, non-energetic, and the paths of knowledge and perception. It explains how different states of being and karmic conditions contribute to or hinder the attainment of Moksha. The text also discusses the five types of Samyak-darshana (right faith) that are conducive to Moksha and the nature of the liberated soul (Siddha).

6. The Goal and Fruits of Understanding Navtattva: The book concludes by emphasizing the ultimate goal of understanding the Navtattva: the attainment of Samyak-darshana (right faith). It states that even without complete knowledge, sincere faith in these principles can lead to Samyak-darshana. It further elaborates on the characteristics of true faith, which are the unwavering belief in the teachings of the Tirthankaras. The text highlights the limited duration of worldly existence for those who possess even a brief period of right faith.

Key Themes and Significance:

• Systematic Approach: The text provides a logical and systematic breakdown of complex Jain doctrines.
• Accessibility: The commentary aims to make these principles understandable, particularly for those new to Jainism.
• Emphasis on Practice: While explaining the theory, the text implicitly encourages the practice of virtues and austerities as pathways to liberation.
• Scriptural Authority: The explanations are grounded in ancient Jain scriptures and commentaries.
• Path to Liberation: The ultimate message is that understanding and internalizing the Navtattva is crucial for spiritual progress and achieving Moksha.

In essence, "Navtattvano Sundar Bodh" serves as a comprehensive guide to the foundational nine principles of Jainism, offering both theoretical understanding and a roadmap for spiritual practice, all presented in a clear and engaging manner.