Ratnatrayi

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Ratnatrayi" by Chitrabhanu, based on the provided pages:

Book Title: Ratnatrayi (The Three Jewels) Author: Pujya Chitrabhanu (Munishri Chandrakant Sagarji Maharaj was the orator, and Munishri Chandraprabh Sagarji Maharaj delivered the discourse titled "Ratnatrayi") Publisher: Divyagyan Sangh Context: This book is a collection of discourses by Pujya Chitrabhanu, delivered in Mumbai in March 1966. It is dedicated to the memory of Munishri Chandrakant Sagarji Maharaj. The discourses focus on the Jain concept of Ratnatrayi (Right Faith, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct).

Core Theme:

The central theme of "Ratnatrayi" is the path to liberation (Moksha) as outlined in Jainism, which is achieved through the attainment of Right Faith (Samyak Darshan), Right Knowledge (Samyak Gyan), and Right Conduct (Samyak Charitra). These three are presented as the "three luminous jewels" that a human being can possess, making their life meaningful and leading to ultimate peace.

Key Concepts and Summarized Points:

1. The Essence of Ratnatrayi:

   • Human life is a mine of virtues, with Right Faith, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct being the most brilliant gems.
   • Just as precious stones are more valuable than ordinary ones, these three spiritual "jewels" make a person truly wealthy and successful in life.
   • Attaining these three is essential for achieving ultimate peace.

2. The Superiority of the Ratnatrayi Path:

   • While Jainism acknowledges four paths to liberation (devotion, meditation, action, and attainment of perfect posture), Lord Mahavir declared the path of Ratnatrayi as the supreme one.
   • Failing to attain these three jewels renders human life, despite other achievements, ultimately futile.

3. The Principle of "Letting Go to Gain":

   • The text emphasizes that true gain involves letting go of the trivial to acquire the valuable. One cannot hold a handful of diamonds without first letting go of pebbles.
   • Similarly, to attain spiritual happiness and freedom from suffering (kashayas), one must relinquish attachment to worldly pleasures and desires.
   • The analogy of a merchant fasting for business success highlights how strong desire makes sacrifices easy. True devotion to the soul leads to effortless renunciation.

4. The Nature of Right Faith (Samyak Darshan):

   • Right Faith is described as a deep longing, thirst, or craving for the soul. It's the intense desire to attain what is within.
   • It's compared to the intense desire of a customer to buy a valuable item they've seen, even if they don't have enough money yet.
   • This longing makes worldly renunciation feel natural and insignificant compared to the prize of the soul.
   • A true devotee is so engrossed in the divine that they are "crazy" for truth, remembering God in every action.
   • The core of Right Faith is the belief in the eternal and unchanging nature of the soul, which exists before and after the physical body. Realizing this makes life sweet.
   • The example of Chanakya's mother, who removed her son's teeth to prevent him from becoming a great emperor destined for destruction, illustrates prioritizing long-term spiritual welfare over temporary worldly greatness.
   • The true recognition of the soul is the beginning of Right Faith, and liberation is its culmination.

5. The Nature of Right Knowledge (Samyak Gyan):

   • Right Knowledge is the understanding and realization of the soul.
   • It's contrasted with superficial knowledge that merely collects external information. True knowledge comes from introspection.
   • The story of the educated but drowning travelers highlights that worldly knowledge is useless if it doesn't equip one to navigate the "ocean of existence" (samsara).
   • There are two types of knowledge: superficial (acquired externally) and soul-touching (realized internally). The latter is the true path.
   • Those with Right Knowledge live detached from the world even while in it and can leave it with a smile.
   • The text uses the analogy of the last sermon of Lord Mahavir, giving the invaluable Uttaradhyayan Sutra, to emphasize the importance of sharing true knowledge before departure.
   • Knowledge of the soul's nature – its immortality, its bondage by karma, and its path to freedom – is crucial.

6. The Nature of Right Conduct (Samyak Charitra):

   • Right Conduct is the experience and assimilation of the soul's true nature. It's living in accordance with the realized truth.
   • It involves shedding the ego and attachments that bind the soul.
   • The example of the wealthy man with a scar on his forehead teaches the importance of reflecting on one's past actions and ensuring one's own happiness doesn't cause pain to others. This stems from understanding the soul.
   • The text emphasizes that all actions, including fasting and penance, should be for the purification of the soul.
   • True equanimity in happiness and distress is a sign of spiritual progress.
   • The analogy of the lotus in water illustrates detachment from worldly things.
   • The inability to perceive the soul implies ignorance and leads to suffering when the body is affected.
   • The text stresses that relationships, even marriage, should be seen as a partnership for spiritual progress, not just worldly comfort.
   • The example of Anjana Devi patiently waiting for her husband for 22 years showcases the power of soul-recognition over bodily attachment.
   • When the soul is recognized, worldly attachments dissolve, and one remains detached yet compassionate.

7. The Path to Realization:

   • Calmness and Stillness: True understanding and perception of the soul only occur in a tranquil mind, much like seeing a dropped diamond at the bottom of a pond when the water is still. External distractions hinder inner vision.
   • Distinguishing Means from End: Material possessions and external practices are mere tools (means) and not the ultimate goal (end). One must understand this distinction to avoid being buried by them.
   • Overcoming Ego: The "shell" of ego must break for the true self to emerge. The self is not the ego or external recognition but the essence within.
   • Self-Awareness: The ability to question "Who am I?" and understand the unchanging essence beyond the physical body and its states is fundamental.
   • The Three Stages of Union:
     • Darshan (Faith): "I am His" (Shravaka's initial faith based on others' words).
     • Gyan (Knowledge): "I am Yours" (Realizing God through experience).
     • Charitra (Conduct): "You are Me" (Experiencing complete oneness with the divine). This is exemplified by the bee finding the flower and merging with its essence.

8. The Goal of Human Life:

   • The ultimate purpose of human life is to realize and merge with the divine within.
   • This realization is achieved through the perfect practice of the Three Jewels: Right Faith, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct.
   • The text concludes with a powerful analogy of an old man planting a mango tree, emphasizing the importance of living a life of contribution and leaving a positive legacy for future generations. Even small acts of light can illuminate the world.

In essence, "Ratnatrayi" is a profound exposition of the Jain path to spiritual enlightenment, emphasizing the transformative power of right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct as the means to realize the true, eternal self and achieve ultimate liberation.