Puniya Shravaka

Here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Puniya Shravaka" by the JAINA Education Committee, based on the provided pages:

Puniya Shravaka: A Life of Simplicity, Righteousness, and Spiritual Devotion

The text recounts the life of Puniya Shravaka and his wife, who were a humble and impoverished couple living in a mud and straw hut in a village. Puniya had made a strict vow to earn only the bare minimum necessary for survival. He would earn a small amount, about one-eighth of a rupee per day, by spinning cotton. Their commitment extended to feeding a virtuous person daily. Due to their poverty, if they couldn't manage to feed someone on a particular day, Puniya would fast one day, and his wife would fast the next, ensuring their vow of hospitality was met, even in their hardship.

Puniya Shravaka was dedicated to his daily Samayika (a 48-minute period of meditation, equanimity, and mental peace). One day, he found himself unable to concentrate properly during his Samayika. After much contemplation, he couldn't pinpoint the reason. He asked his wife, who, after careful consideration, realized the issue. While returning from the market, she had collected dry cow dung patties from the street for their cooking fire. She explained to Puniya that even though these cow dung patties were free and had no owner, they should not have taken anything without earning the money for it. The mere fact that something entered their home without the proper earning rendered her unable to focus during the Samayika. Puniya, with his high moral standards, understood this perfectly and could thus perform true Samayika. Lord Mahavir himself praised Puniya's proper Samayika.

The text then introduces King Shrenik, who had incurred negative karma that would lead him to hell in his next life. Desperate to avoid these consequences, King Shrenik offered his entire kingdom to Lord Mahavir, willing to do anything to change his destiny. However, Lord Mahavir explained the principle of ayushya karma (karma related to lifespan), stating that once bound, it cannot be altered. To illustrate this, Lord Mahavir advised King Shrenik that to earn good karma leading to a better rebirth, he should "buy" the Samayika of Puniya Shravaka.

King Shrenik visited Puniya Shravaka's humble dwelling, offering his entire kingdom in exchange for the merit of one Samayika. Puniya, while acknowledging the King's kindness and offering his own life along with everything he owned, humbly stated that he did not know how to transfer the merit of his Samayika. He explained that good deeds cannot be bought; they must be performed by oneself.

King Shrenik understood that no amount of wealth could procure the spiritual merit Puniya gained from his Samayika. He felt poorer than the poorest person in his kingdom, despite his vast riches. Though disappointed, King Shrenik departed, appreciating Puniya's deep faith and resolving to cultivate similar devotion himself.

The narrative concludes by highlighting several key lessons:

• Contentment in Poverty: It is possible to live a life of contentment even in poverty.
• Ethical Acquisition: One should not accept anything that is not rightfully theirs.
• Avoiding Greed: Do not accumulate more money than is necessary for living.
• Spiritual Intent: Vows and religious practices should be undertaken for spiritual progress, not for material gain.
• Self-Reliance in Spirituality: The benefits derived from Samayika, meditation, and other forms of self-discipline are internal motivators for self-realization, not means to incite conflict or worldly pursuits.