Prashnottar Ratan Malika

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Prashnottar Ratan Malika" based on the provided pages:

Overview:

"Prashnottar Ratan Malika" (A Garland of Jewels in Questions and Answers) is a collection of profound questions and concise, insightful answers, attributed to King Amoghavarsha. The text is presented as a guide to living a virtuous and meaningful life, offering wisdom on various aspects of human existence, morality, and spiritual progress from a Jain perspective. The provided material also includes another small Sanskrit text, "Aprashnottar Varta Malika," which seems to cover similar themes. The entire work is a Punjabi translation by Ravindra Jain and Purushottam Jain, inspired by Up Pravartini Jain Sadhvi Shri Swarn Kanta Ji Maharaj.

Key Themes and Teachings:

The text functions as a dialogue between a questioner (implied seeker) and a knowledgeable authority (likely Amoghavarsha or a representation of Jain teachings). The questions probe fundamental aspects of life, and the answers provide concise Jain philosophical insights. Here are some of the key themes and teachings presented:

On Conduct and Virtue:

• What to Accept and Reject: Accept good words from the Guru (teacher) and reject condemnable actions.
• The Virtuous Person: A virtuous person is one who is always ready for the welfare of all beings and is knowledgeable about all the elements.
• Wise Actions: Scholars should strive to end the cycle of birth and death (samsara).
• The Path to Liberation (Moksha): The seed of the tree of liberation is Right Faith (Samyak Darshan), Right Knowledge (Samyak Gyan), and Right Conduct (Samyak Charitra). These three jewels are essential.
• Purity: A pure mind makes a person pure in the world.
• Wisdom: A pandit (learned person) is someone who understands good and bad.
• The Essence of Life: The essence of life in the human form is to know and study all the elements, and to be prepared for the good of oneself and others.
• Avoiding Harm: Do not entertain thoughts of another's wife, another's wealth, or deceit by others.
• Speech: Speak words that are not harsh, do not cause pain, and are not bitter.
• What to Renounce: Always renounce gossip, the six sins (meat-eating, gambling, alcohol, hunting, stealing, adultery), and intolerance.
• What Not to Do: Do not do anything that leads to the increase of sins or harms the mind.

On Attachment and Desire:

• The Root of Attachment: Worldly love is like alcohol, creating attachment.
• Desires to Avoid: The desire to satisfy the senses (sight, smell, taste, touch, sound) steals the gems of the tongue. The desire to satisfy the stomach leads to increase in worldly matters.
• The Enemy of the Soul: Laziness, meaning not making any effort, is the enemy of the soul.
• Attachment to Possessions: Renouncing all possessions and remaining absorbed in the self is true happiness.

On Knowledge and Ignorance:

• True Knowledge: Knowing and studying all elements and being prepared for the welfare of oneself and others is the essence of knowledge.
• The Blind: The truly blind are those engrossed in actions worthy of condemnation.
• The Deaf: The deaf are those who do not listen to advice for their own benefit.
• The Mute: The mute are those who do not know how to speak when the time comes.
• Foolishness: Not studying despite being intelligent is foolishness.
• Awake: The wise are the ones who are truly awake.
• Condemnable: Foolishness is condemnable.

On Fear and Suffering:

• The Greatest Fear: The fear of death is the greatest fear.
• The Cause of Suffering: Attachment to worldly desires, material possessions, and the cycle of birth and death are sources of suffering.
• Overcoming Suffering: One who renounces suffering like attachment to possessions and is freed from evils is adept at destroying all suffering.
• Hell: Being dependent on others is hell.

On Relationships and Character:

• True Friend: A true friend is someone who protects one from sin.
• What is Cherished: All beings cherish their own life.
• What to Make Beloved: In the world, one should make compassion, intelligence, and friendship beloved.
• The Worshipable: The worshipable are those who are luminous with the brilliance of Right Faith, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct. The true form of Lord Jinendra and the meditation on the Siddhas is worshipable.
• The Godly: One who is free from 18 sins and knowledgeable about all elements (living and non-living) is a god.
• The Guru: A Guru is one whose inclination is not towards sensual desires, who is free from possessions, and who is established in their own self-nature.
• Honored: A virtuous person is honored.
• The Rich: One who breaks their vows is considered poor.
• Conquerors of the World: True and peaceful-minded people conquer the world.
• Respected by Deities: Even deities bow to a compassionate person.
• Whom to Obey: Everyone is under the control of sincere, sweet-talking, and gentle people.

On Wealth and Renunciation:

• The Goal of Wealth: Giving without any desire is charity.
• The True Wealth: Brahmacharya (celibacy/chastity) is the jewel of a person.
• What is Valuable: A donation given at the opportune moment is invaluable.
• The Value of Contentment: Lack of contentment is poverty.
• What is Praiseworthy: Even with luxury, kindness is praiseworthy. For the poor, forbearance (forgiveness) is praiseworthy.

On Difficulties and Rarenesses:

• Difficult to Know: A woman's character is difficult to understand.
• The Unaffected: A person who is not affected by observing women's conduct is considered unaffected.
• Rare Gems: Four types of virtues are rare in this world: giving with sweet words, not being arrogant despite knowledge, possessing bravery and also having forgiveness, and giving continuously despite having wealth.

Specific Jain Concepts Mentioned:

• Tattvas (Elements): The text briefly lists the nine Tattvas: Soul (Jiva), Non-soul (Ajiva), Merit (Punya), Demerit (Papa), Asrava (influx of karma), Samvara (stopping of karma), Bandha (bondage of karma), Nirjara (shedding of karma), and Moksha (liberation).
• Three Jewels (Triratna): Samyak Darshan (Right Faith), Samyak Gyan (Right Knowledge), and Samyak Charitra (Right Conduct) are repeatedly emphasized as the path to liberation.
• Yogic Practices: Samayika (equanimity, meditation) is mentioned as a daily practice.
• Vows (Vratas): The five Mahavratas (great vows) are mentioned.
• Sinful Acts (Ku Vayasan): A list of 18 sins is provided, including violence, falsehood, theft, lust, anger, pride, deceit, greed, attachment, aversion, etc.

Conclusion:

"Prashnottar Ratan Malika" offers a condensed yet powerful distillation of Jain ethical and spiritual principles. By posing fundamental questions, it guides the reader towards understanding virtuous living, the nature of the self, the path to liberation, and the importance of detachment and right conduct. The translation aims to make these timeless teachings accessible to a wider audience.