Panchastikay Sangraha With Authentic Explanatory Notes In English

This document is the English translation and explanation of Acarya Kundakunda's Pancastikaya-samgraha, a seminal Jain text on metaphysics. The book, authored by Vijay K. Jain and published by Vikalp Printers, aims to make these profound Jaina philosophical concepts accessible to a wider audience, particularly those unfamiliar with Sanskrit and Prakrit languages.

Key aspects of the book and its content include:

• Author and Translator: Vijay K. Jain is the author and translator, known for his extensive work in making Jaina scriptures accessible in English.
• Spiritual Guidance: The book is blessed by Acarya 108 Visuddhasagara Muni, a prominent Digambara Jain ascetic. His blessings emphasize the importance of understanding reality through valid knowledge (pramana) and specific standpoints (naya).
• Core Jaina Philosophy: The Pancastikaya-samgraha delves into the fundamental Jaina metaphysical concepts, including:
  • Seven Realities (Tattva): The essential categories of existence.
  • Nine Objects (Padartha): The constituents of reality.
  • Six Substances (Dravya): The fundamental categories of being (Jiva, Ajiva, Dharma, Adharma, Akasa, Kala).
  • Five Substances with Bodily Existence (Pancastikaya): Jiva, Pudgala, Dharma, Adharma, and Akasa, which collectively constitute the universe (loka).
  • The Nature of Reality: Explaining concepts like origination (utpada), destruction (vyaya), and permanence (dhrauvya), the inseparable relation between substance (dravya), qualities (guna), and modes (paryaya).
  • Epistemology: Detailing the Jaina epistemological framework, including anekantavada (non-absolutism) and syadvada (the doctrine of conditional predication, or the seven-nuance system - saptabhangi).
  • Nayas: The various standpoints (naya) from which reality can be viewed, such as niscaya (real/transcendental) and vyavahara (empirical).
  • Bondage and Liberation: Explaining the causes of bondage (bandha) through karmas and the path to liberation (moksa) through right faith (samyagdarsana), right knowledge (samyagjnana), and right conduct (samyakcaritra).
• Acarya Kundakunda: The book highlights the significance of Acarya Kundakunda as a revered Jain scholar who authored numerous important texts, including Pancastikaya, Samayasara, Pravacanasara, and Niyamasara. His works are noted for their profound spiritual exposition.
• Commentaries: The book acknowledges the importance of commentaries by Acarya Amritacandra (Samayavyakhya) and Acarya Jayasena (Tatparyavrtti) in making Kundakunda's teachings understandable.
• Structure: The Pancastikaya-samgraha is divided into two main chapters:
  1. The Six Substances (dravya) including the Five-with-Bodily-existence (pancastikaya): This chapter details the nature of the six fundamental substances and their interactions.
  2. The Nine Objects (padartha) - and the Path to Liberation: This chapter explains the nine categories of existence and the practical steps to achieve liberation.
• Key Tenets Explained: The book meticulously explains core Jain doctrines such as:
  • The distinction between soul (jiva) and non-soul (ajiva).
  • The nature of the five senses and the mind.
  • The cycle of transmigration (samsara) through different states of existence (gati).
  • The role of karmas in bondage and liberation.
  • The importance of equanimity and detachment.
  • The ultimate state of liberation (moksa) as infinite knowledge-bliss.
• Accessibility: Vijay K. Jain's work focuses on providing authentic explanatory notes in English, making complex philosophical ideas accessible to readers from diverse linguistic backgrounds. The book is noted as non-copyright, encouraging its reproduction and translation for wider dissemination.

In essence, Panchastikay Sangraha With Authentic Explanatory Notes in English serves as a comprehensive guide to the foundational metaphysical and ethical principles of Jainism, presented through the profound teachings of Acarya Kundakunda, made comprehensible by the meticulous efforts of Vijay K. Jain.