Paschattap

This document is a summary and table of contents for the Jain text "Paschattap" (पश्चाताप), authored by Acharya Gunratnasuri. The title translates to "Remorse" or "Repentance", and the subtitle is "Achieving the Supreme State through Self-Purification" (आत्मशुद्ध से परम पद प्राप्ती).

The book is published by Jingun Aradhak Trust, Mumbai. It emphasizes the importance of introspection, self-examination, and taking Prayshchit (प्रायश्चित), which is a form of penance or confession, to purify oneself and achieve spiritual liberation.

Here's a breakdown of the key themes and content presented in the provided pages:

Core Message:

• Learning from the Past, Living in the Present, and Planning for the Future: The book advocates for learning from past mistakes, living mindfully in the present, and planning the future to avoid repeating errors.
• The Power of Prayshchit: A central theme is the immense power of Prayshchit in cleansing sins. The text uses the analogy of purifying dirty water to illustrate how sincere repentance and confession can make the soul pure and spotless.
• The Importance of Confession: It stresses that hiding sins is worse than committing them. Seeking forgiveness from a spiritual teacher (Sadguru) is presented as a path to becoming worthy of reverence and attaining a divine state.
• Developing a Fear of Sin and Desire for Purity: The book suggests that cultivating a fear of sin leads to a sense of remorse, which in turn inspires a desire to be purified through Prayshchit.

Author's Introduction (Acharya Gunratnasuri):

The document includes a detailed introduction to the author, highlighting his prolific work, his renunciation at a young age, his extensive spiritual and literary achievements, and his role as a spiritual guide and preacher. He is known for inspiring numerous people towards spiritual practices and has authored many significant Jain texts.

Key Concepts Discussed:

• Bhav Alochana (भव आलोचना): This refers to a comprehensive confession or introspection of one's past deeds and their consequences. The book emphasizes that this process is crucial for purification.
• The Significance of Prayshchit: It explains that Prayshchit is a vital ritual in Jainism that washes away sins.
• Who Can Give Prayshchit: The text outlines the qualifications of a Guru who can administer Prayshchit, emphasizing knowledge of scriptures and spiritual wisdom.
• The Necessity of Prayshchit for All: It asserts that everyone, regardless of their spiritual status, should engage in Prayshchit.
• The Difference Between Pure and Impure Prayshchit: The book differentiates between sincere and superficial confession, highlighting the importance of honesty and completeness.
• Consequences of Not Taking Prayshchit: Numerous illustrative stories are presented to show the dire consequences of not confessing sins, leading to suffering in multiple lifetimes, rebirth in lower realms, and the inability to attain liberation.

Illustrative Stories (Drishtants):

The bulk of the book seems to consist of detailed narratives and parables to explain the concepts. The table of contents reveals a wide range of stories, including:

• Stories of great souls and their confessions: "The autobiography of a great soul."
• Consequences of specific sins: Stories illustrating the impact of lust, anger, deceit, theft, violence, and neglecting spiritual duties. Examples include:
  • The story of Rupasen and Sunanda, highlighting the consequences of lustful glances and impure thoughts.
  • The story of Kalavati, who had her wrists cut off due to past actions.
  • The story of Devananda, whose womb was "kidnapped" (referring to Lord Mahavir's transfer to her womb), implying consequences of past misdeeds.
  • The story of Chandrawati, whose hands were cut off, and Sarga, who was hung on a pillar, due to anger.
  • The story of Anjanasundari and her suffering due to her husband's (Harishchandra's) unrepented past karma.
  • The story of Lakshamana Sadhviji, who did not confess her impure thoughts and suffered greatly.
  • The story of Mehtaraj Muni, who developed the karma of lower birth due to his aversion to dirt and the karma of having a difficult path to liberation (Durlabh Bodhita) due to seeing flaws in his Guru.
  • The story of Chitrak and Sambhuti, who were born into the Chandal clan due to their past actions.
  • The story of Harikeshibal, who was born into a Chandal clan.
  • The story of Lord Mahavir Swami's past lives and the implications of not taking Prayshchit.
  • The story of Draupadi having five husbands.
  • The story of jealousy leading to suffering.
  • The story of Anjana Sundari's suffering due to separation from her husband.
  • The story of Kamalakshi, who became a prostitute and later a yogini through repentance.
  • The story of Pushpachula, who was united with her brother through divine intervention and attained liberation after taking Prayshchit.
  • The story of Kandhak Muni, who faced severe physical torment for his past karma.
  • The story of Aranik Muni, who fell due to lust and later attained liberation through Prayshchit.
  • The story of Harishchandra and his suffering in the crematorium.
  • The story of King Shripal becoming a leper due to not taking Prayshchit.
  • The story of Devaki and the theft of seven jewels.
  • The story of Dhundhan Kumar and the obstruction of food.
  • The story of the consequences of not confessing jealousy.
  • The story of the consequences of not confessing impure thoughts by Anjana Sundari.
  • The story of the consequences of not confessing impure thoughts by Queen Kuntala.
  • The story of the consequences of not confessing violence and impure thoughts by King Harishchandra.
  • The story of the consequences of not confessing impure thoughts by King Shripal.
  • The story of Devaki's separation from her children due to not confessing theft.
  • The story of Dhundhan Kumar's suffering due to obstructing food.
  • The story of Draupadi's fate due to not confessing her desires.
  • The story of suffering due to not confessing jealousy.
  • The story of the suffering of Anjana Sundari.
  • The story of Queen Kuntala's suffering.
  • The story of the consequences of Lord Mahavir's life.
  • The story of Harikeshibal's birth.
  • The story of Kalavati's wrists being cut.
  • The story of eggs being touched.
  • The story of Devananda's womb being transferred.
  • The story of knowledge violation not being confessed.
  • The story of not confessing deviance from divine property.
  • The story of shining stars made through confession.
• Examples of those who attained purity through Prayshchit: The book highlights individuals who, by confessing and performing Prayshchit, achieved purity and even spiritual liberation (Kevalgyan and Moksha).
• How to write for Prayshchit: Guidance is provided on the process of detailing one's sins for confession.

Overall Purpose:

"Paschattap" serves as a guide for Jains to understand the gravity of their actions, the importance of self-reflection, and the transformative power of Prayshchit as a means to purify the soul and move towards spiritual enlightenment. It aims to inspire readers to actively engage in spiritual practices and live a life of righteousness.