Pratikraman Atmvishuddhi Ka Amogh Upay - Book Summary

Here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Pratikraman Atmvishuddhi ka Amogh Upay" by Acharya Hirachandra Ji, presented in English:

The book, "Pratikraman: The Infallible Means of Soul Purification," authored by Acharya Hirachandra Ji, emphasizes the paramount importance of Pratikraman as a powerful method for achieving inner purity. The author highlights that while individuals today are highly conscious of external cleanliness, they are often negligent about internal purification. This discourse, delivered on September 17, 2006, in Bangarpet, provides a comprehensive analysis of Pratikraman, urging individuals to become more aware of their inner purification.

The Essence of Pratikraman:

Divine Teachings: Lord Mahavir's teachings, from the Angashastras, all centered around the soul's dharma and purification. He stated that Samayika and Pratikraman are practices to purify the soul from accumulated passions, impurities, and karmic dirt that enter due to ignorance, carelessness, or pramada (negligence).
Awakening Inner Divinity: The purpose is to awaken the dormant divinity within the soul. The teachings of the Vitrag (passionless ones) state that any lower tendencies like animalistic, demonic, or asuric nature within humans are not inherent but external influences.
Soul as the Sun: The spiritual philosophy compares the soul to the sun hidden behind clouds. Though obscured by external karmic clouds and passion-filled darkness, the soul is intrinsically radiant and possesses infinite luminescence. Pratikraman is the act of dispelling these clouds to reveal the soul's inherent brilliance. The call is to "Arise! Do not be negligent" and not to consider oneself inferior or corrupt. Every impurity has a remedy.

Pratikraman as Purification:

Just as various external elements are purified through washing, cleaning, heating, filtering, and medication, the soul, stained by sinful actions, can be purified through the fire of Pratikraman and repentance. The greater the repentance and remorse, the more impurities are removed.

Understanding the Term "Pratikraman":

Literal Meaning: The word kraman means to move or go, and pratikraman means to return or go back.
Essential Duty: In scriptures, it is called Avashyak (essential duty) because it must be performed by monks, nuns, and householders of both sexes at all times.
Universal Practice: This practice of self-purification, in various forms like Sandhya Karma, Pratikraman, repentance, and Toba, is found across different religious traditions in India.
Return to Natural State: In Jainism, Pratikraman signifies returning from a state of vice (vibhava) to one's natural state (svabhava), from extroversion to introversion, and acknowledging one's transgressions to return to the path of discipline. It means to return from the overstepping of one's virtues.
Eight Synonyms: The Tiloyapannatti and Haribhadra's Essential Sutra Commentary list eight synonyms for Pratikraman:
1. Pratikraman: Returning to the field of self-purification.
2. Pratisaran: Advancing in the practice of self-control.
3. Pratiharan: Abandoning inauspicious activities.
4. Dharana: Cultivating auspicious thoughts.
5. Nivritti: Abstaining from inauspicious thoughts.
6. Ninda: Self-condemnation of one's sins with self-witness.
7. Garha: Revealing sins in the presence of a Guru.
8. Shuddhi: Purifying faults incurred in vows.

Cross-Cultural Parallels:

Vedic Tradition: Known as Sandhya Karma, it involves prayers for the dissolution of past sins and the abandonment of misconduct by mind, speech, and body.
Parsi Religion: The ancient scripture Khordeh-Avesta speaks of repentance for evil thoughts, trivial speech, and hateful actions, seeking purification from error.
Christianity: Known as 'Confession', it involves admitting sins to a religious leader and undergoing penance.
Buddhism: Practices like Pratikarman, Pravarana, and Papadesana exist, where monks confess and rectify any breaches of conduct.
Islam: Imam Abu Bakr outlines six points for Toba (repentance): shame for past sins, a resolution not to repeat them, making up for missed duties, compensating for losses caused, purifying the body from unholy earnings, and undergoing hardship in the path of truth.
English Equivalent: The term "About Turn" captures the essence of returning to one's original state or path.

Causes and Types of Errors:

When pursuing a goal, we can stray due to lack of effort, the difficulty of the path, or facing hardships, leading to mistakes and unrest. Pratikraman is the act of returning from this unrest. We are travelers through many lifetimes, and despite caution, our character-stained clothes can get soiled by passions like greed, anger, and attachment.

Errors can be categorized into three types:

Errors due to Ignorance (Ajnanajanya): These are committed by children or those with limited understanding, without malicious intent. Like a child pulling their father's mustache, these are generally forgivable and do not carry spiritual weight.
Errors due to Impulsiveness (Aaveshajanya): These arise from momentary excitement, anger, or ego. Like a speck of dust in the eye, they cause discomfort and require immediate apology and repentance to prevent escalation.
Deliberate Errors (Yojanabaddha): These are premeditated and intentional. In the social realm, actions like murder, deceit, treason, and corruption are punishable. In the spiritual realm, they require severe penance and can cause suffering across lifetimes. These errors, rooted in intense passions, are not committed by true spiritual aspirants or ethical householders.

Types of Pratikraman in Jainism:

Lord Mahavir outlined six types of Pratikraman for monks and nuns:

Uchchar Pratikraman: Performed after evacuating bodily waste.
Pasravan Pratikraman: Performed after passing urine.
Itariya Pratikraman: Daily or nightly Pratikraman, or immediate repentance for any mistake with Mithya Dukrdam.
Avakahiya Pratikraman: Performed during the final stages of Sanlekhana (voluntary fasting until death).
Jankinchi Mithya Pratikraman: Expressing repentance for minor faults with Mithya Mithya Dukrdam.
Somanantiya Pratikraman: Performed after seeing bad dreams.

Five Categories of Pratikraman (for Karmic Obstacles):

Pratikraman from False Belief (Mithyatva): Like an iron-barred door preventing entry of enemies.
Pratikraman from Vowlessness (Avrat): Like a net preventing insects.
Pratikraman from Negligence (Pramada): Like a glass door shutting out wind and dust.
Pratikraman from Passions (Kashaya): Like a wooden door blocking external views.
Pratikraman from Inauspicious Activities (Ashubhayoga): Like a seamless door preventing even the finest dust.

Substantial vs. Internal Pratikraman:

The Anuyogdwar Sutra distinguishes between Dravya Avashyak (substantial or external) and Bhava Avashyak (internal or essential).

Dravya Avashyak: Refers to the correct pronunciation, memorization, and recitation of scriptures. While beneficial, it is considered incomplete without internal focus.
Bhava Avashyak: This is the true essence of Pratikraman, involving deep internal engagement:
- Total Concentration (Tachchitta): Focusing the mind on the action.
- Deep Interest (Tanman): Cultivating genuine interest.
- Purity of Intention (Talleshyā): Having pure desires.
- Attitude (Tadadhyavasaya): Aligning one's expression with inner feeling.
- Strong Resolve (Tativyavasyana): Developing inner strength and determination.
- Application (Tatovayukta): Directing all efforts towards the goal.
- Identification (Tadappiyakarana): Fully embodying the practice.
- Complete Absorption (Tadbhavanabhaviya): Being completely engrossed in the practice.

The Importance of Inner Repentance:

While external Pratikraman offers some respite from sinful activities, true purification comes from inner repentance. The text criticizes the superficiality of merely saying "Michchhami Dukrdam" without genuine remorse. It stresses that true khamat-khamna (asking for forgiveness) should be like ending the agony of being impaled, originating from the heart.

The Power of Repentance and Self-Realization:

Even great sinners can achieve enlightenment through sincere repentance. The example of Drudhaprahari, who committed four major sins but attained omniscience through repentance, is cited.
The teachings of Lord Mahavir emphasize performing Pratikraman twice daily.
If one cannot perform intense austerities like Mas-khamana, sincere repentance at every moment is a viable path. Accepting one's mistakes is the core of Pratikraman.
The text contrasts the immediate rectification of external impurity (e.g., a stain on clothes) with the procrastination of internal purification.
True Pratikraman leads to the shedding of karmic dust and elevates the soul to the state of a परमात्मा (Supreme Soul).

Types of Pratikraman for True Spiritual Growth:

The text reiterates the five types of Pratikraman for inner purification:

From False Belief to Right Faith: Strengthening one's commitment to true understanding.
From Vowlessness to Vows: Embracing vows for limited or complete self-restraint.
From Negligence to Vigilance: Overcoming the five types of pramada.
From Passions to Passionlessness: Rising above attachment and aversion to achieve a Vitraag state.
From Inauspicious Activities to Right Conduct: Ceasing all actions rooted in negative impulses to become Ayogi.

Concluding Thoughts:

The book concludes by urging readers to focus on this internal practice of Pratikraman. It emphasizes that by shedding external distractions and turning inward, one can purify the soul and progress towards spiritual liberation. The path from human to divine is illuminated through sincere repentance and consistent self-effort in Pratikraman. Those who engage in this practice will undoubtedly overcome obstacles and achieve spiritual transcendence.