Samayasara

Samayasara, authored by Acharya Kundakundacharya and translated/annotated by Late Shri Jethalal S. Zaveri, assisted by Prof. Muni Mahendra Kumar, is a foundational text in Jain philosophy. Published by Jain Vishva Bharati University, it delves into the essence of Jain metaphysics and spirituality, particularly focusing on the nature of the Self (Jiva).

The book aims to explain the profound spiritual concepts of Samayasara by bridging them with modern scientific interpretations, particularly from physics and biology. This unique approach seeks to make abstract Jain doctrines more comprehensible through contemporary scientific terminology. The work is presented as a posthumous publication of Shri Jethalal S. Zaveri, with Muni Mahendra Kumar ensuring its completion.

Key Concepts and Structure:

Samayasara is considered a seminal work in Jainism, holding a similar stature to texts like the Brahma Sutras in the Vedic tradition and Visuddhimaggo in the Buddhist tradition. Its core subject is the Self (Samaya), explored primarily from a transcendental standpoint (niscaya naya). The emphasis is on understanding the Self in its pure, unadulterated form and identifying one's own soul with this transcendental reality.

The book meticulously details the nine tattvas (categories of truth) that form the bedrock of Jain philosophy. It presents the original text, its Romanization, an English translation, and annotations that offer scientific interpretations.

Thematic Outline:

The book is structured to guide the reader through the core principles of Jainism, focusing on the nature of the Self and its journey towards liberation. The major chapters cover:

• Introduction/Preamble: Discusses Jain metaphysics, the nature of the Self (Jiva), the physical world (Pudgala), worldly life (body and soul), and the crucial Jain logical techniques of Naya (viewpoints). It also highlights salient features of Jain doctrines like Anekanta (Non-absolutism), Theory of Knowledge, inherent purity of the Self, and the Doctrine of Nayas.
• Chapter 1: Jivādhiyāro (The Self): Explores the characteristics of the Self and the Non-self, the infinite glory of the pure Self, the criterion of the Self, and the indispensability of popular techniques (Vyavahara). It introduces the concept of Śruta Kevali (those considered omniscient through scriptural knowledge) and emphasizes the necessity of both empirical and transcendental methodologies.
• Chapter 2: Jīvājīvādhiyāro (Psycho-physical Relations): Addresses various misconceptions about the Soul (Jiva), distinguishing between emotions/passions and the Self. It reconciles the ultimate (transcendental) nature of the soul with popular views and further elaborates on the relationship between the soul, color, and other physical attributes.
• Chapter 3: Kattikammādhiyāro (Cause and Effect): Delves into the cause-and-effect relationship, the doctrine of multiple aspects, the reasons for the soul's bondage by karma, and the benefits of enlightenment. It discusses psycho-physical relationships, the soul and karma serving as external causes of modification, and presents the Sankhya philosophy for criticism and refutation. It also explains the fundamental difference between right and perverted knowledge and addresses the causal relationship between the soul and its states.
• Chapter 4: Punyāpāvādhiyāro (Auspicious and Inauspicious Karma): Discusses how both auspicious (punya) and inauspicious (papa) karma contribute to the cycle of births and deaths. It emphasizes the necessity of unshakable faith in the transcendental state of the soul for self-realization and outlines the path of emancipation, comprising Right Faith, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct.
• Chapter 5: Āsavādhiyāro (Cause of Influx of Karma): Explains the conditions for the influx of karma (Āśrava), distinguishing between psychic and physical influx. It highlights the relative absence of bondage for the enlightened soul and clarifies that freedom from bondage is also relative, depending on the state of the soul.
• Chapter 6: Samvarādhiyāro (Inhibition): Focuses on Samvara, the process that inhibits the influx of karma. It establishes that the discernment between the Self and the Non-self is the basis of Samvara. The chapter details the process of inhibiting influx and the benefits derived from it.
• Chapter 7: Nirjarādhiyāro (Dissociation of Karma): Explains Nirjarā, the dissociation of karma. It describes the process of dissociation through virtues like non-indulgence, the significance of right knowledge in achieving non-attachment, and how an enlightened sage remains free from desires. It also clarifies the actions of an enlightened sage are without desire for reward and distinguishes between the actions of an enlightened sage and an unenlightened person.
• Chapter 8: Bandhādhiyāro (Bondage of Karma): Analyzes the conditions and types of bondage, the process of bondage, and the fruition of karma. It asserts that attachment and the like (Bhāva Bandha) are the basic causes of bondage. The chapter critically examines the idea that one can influence another's happiness or misery, stating that death and misery are results of karma fruition. It also distinguishes between the ultimate causes of bondage and the actions of the soul, refuting the idea that external actions alone cause bondage.
• Chapter 9: Mokṣādhiyāro (Self-realization/Total Liberation): Focuses on Mokṣa, the ultimate goal of self-realization. It emphasizes the essential nature of effort for liberation and presents a reliable method for isolating pure consciousness through discriminative wisdom (Prajñā). The chapter clarifies technical terms and highlights the difference between the guilty and the innocent soul, concluding that delusion and affection are the ultimate causes of bondage.
• Chapter 10: Savvavisuddhaṇāṇādhiyāro (Wholly Pure Knowledge): This concluding chapter elevates pure knowledge to the primary importance. It reiterates the non-absolutist nature of Jain philosophy, refutes various heretical beliefs and absolutist philosophies like Sāmkhya and Buddhism. It explains the characteristic attributes of the soul from both transcendental and empirical aspects, the futility of external symbols, and emphasizes that true liberation comes from realizing the Self, which is pure knowledge, and abandoning all desires and attachments to the non-self.

Overall Significance:

Samayasara, through its comprehensive structure and the unique scientific interpretation provided by Zaveri and Kumar, offers a profound exploration of Jain philosophy. It aims to present the eternal message of adhyātma (spirituality) in a manner that resonates with modern understanding, advocating for an integration of spiritual insight with scientific approaches to cultivate a spiritual-cum-scientific personality. The book serves as a vital resource for scholars and practitioners seeking to understand the essence of Jainism and its path to liberation.