Sambhav Prapta Jivni Dasha - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Sambhav Prapta Jivni Dasha" by Punyavijay, based on the provided pages:

The text, titled "Sambhav Prapta Jivni Dasha" (The State of a Being Who Has Attained Equanimity), emphasizes the profound significance of Samabhava (equanimity or balanced mental state) in Jain philosophy.

Page 1:

Definition of Samabhava: A being is considered to have attained Samabhava when their mind is not deluded by attachment (moha) to pleasant or unpleasant sentient and insentient objects.
Manifestations of Samabhava:
- Physical: Whether someone anoints oneself with fragrant sandalwood paste or strikes oneself with a bamboo stick, if the mental disposition remains the same in both instances, one has achieved the highest Samabhava.
- Verbal/Social: Whether someone praises with joy or insults with anger, if the mind remains equally unaffected by both, one is immersed in Samabhava.
Critique of Attachment: The text questions the pursuit of attachments (ragadi) which are effortful and lead to suffering.
Alternative to Attachment: Instead of such distressing attachments, one should embrace Samabhava towards enjoyable and palatable substances that provide pleasure through eating, licking, sucking, and drinking.
Universal Application: Even those whose minds are averse to edible, lickable, and suckable substances frequently drink the nectar of Samabhava.
Samabhava as Medicine: Samabhava is presented not as a secret or mystery, but as a potent medicine that cures the "bhavyadhi" (a type of affliction affecting those destined for spiritual liberation) for the intelligent and wise. It's a remedy for both the worldly and the spiritual.
Transformative Power: This Samabhava has such immense power that even sinners can attain the eternal state (shashvat pad) in a mere moment.
Foundation of Spiritual Practice: Samabhava is crucial because it makes the "Ratnatraya" (the three jewels of Jainism: Right Faith, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct) successful. Without it, these principles become futile.
Declaration by Hemachandrasuri: The author, attributed to Bhagavan Shri Hemachandrasuri, emphatically declares that there is no other source of happiness in this world or the next besides Samabhava.
Necessity in Adversity: When faced with calamities (upsarga) and the proximity of death, nothing else is as useful as timely Samabhava.
Path to Good Destinies: By enjoying the "wealth of Samabhava," which destroys enemies like attachment and aversion (ragadveshadi), beings attain good destinies (shubha gati).
Urgency for Human Life: Those who wish to make their human birth successful should not be negligent in attaining Samabhava, which is filled with boundless happiness.

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Interdependence of Destiny and Effort: The text discusses the relationship between "Daiva" (destiny or fate) and "Purushartha" (effort or human endeavor). It asserts that accomplishing any task is impossible through destiny alone or effort alone.
Karma and Effort are Interdependent: The text argues that if destiny (karma) alone could achieve things that require effort, then the variations in results based on subtle differences in intention (bhava) in acts of charity (dana) would not be possible. Therefore, effort is dependent on karma, and karma is dependent on effort; they are mutually reliant.
Dominance and Subordination: When one (destiny or effort) is dominant, the other becomes subordinate, and vice versa.
Timelines of Dominance:
- In the final "pudgala-pravarta" (a specific cosmological time period), effort (Purushartha) is dominant, and karma is weakened.
- In the periods before the final one ("acharama-avarti"), karma is dominant, and effort is weakened.

In essence, the text "Sambhav Prapta Jivni Dasha" strongly advocates for the cultivation of equanimity (Samabhava) as the paramount principle for spiritual advancement and happiness, both in this life and beyond. It highlights its power to overcome adversities, destroy negative passions, and make spiritual practices effective. Furthermore, it delves into the intricate interplay between destiny and personal effort, emphasizing their mutual dependence in the grand cosmic cycle.