Samtayog Ka Antadarshan

Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Samtayog ka Antadarshan" by Ratanmuni, in English:

This document, a part of the Jain Education International series, delves into the concept of Samtayog (Equanimity Yoga), a fundamental principle in Jain philosophy, as expounded by Acharya Ratanmuni.

What is Samtayog?

Samtayog is defined as the "yoga" that merges the soul with the Supreme Being or its ultimate goal. It's the practice of overcoming the ups and downs, obstacles, and challenges encountered on the spiritual path through the power of Samata (equanimity). Essentially, it is the yoga that connects the soul to its highest aim by maintaining equanimity. The text likens Samtayog to an infallible guide, a "bhomiya," that knows every inch of the spiritual journey, leading the soul to liberation (Moksha). It references the Bhagavad Gita's definition of "Samattva Yoga" as equanimity of intellect.

Importance and Utility of Samtayog:

The entire world is perceived as being filled with disharmonies and inequalities. No one is in a state of perfect balance. What one person finds favorable at one moment can become unfavorable the next. The text attributes this perceived disharmony not to the world itself, but to human perception. It argues that when an equanimous individual, a Samtayogi, enters the picture, even disharmonious circumstances become harmonious. The root cause of disharmony in the world is identified as attachment (Raga) and aversion (Dvesha). By remaining detached from these two forces in all situations and circumstances, an individual can quickly bring balance to their experience of the world. The world is seen as having two extremes: the ocean of attachment and the wildfire of aversion. Samtayog is the path between these two, where one is neither attached nor averse.

Samtayog keeps the soul on the balanced path by protecting it from both attachment and aversion. It offers the mantra of equanimity for all the difficult and discordant moments in human life, thus safeguarding the soul. Without Samtayog, individuals tend to react with aversion and disgust towards unpleasant things or people, and with attachment and craving towards pleasant ones. This leads to distress and suffering when faced with the loss of favorable situations or the presence of unfavorable ones. In the absence of achieving desired outcomes or abundant resources, individuals are prone to envy, dejection, sadness, and despair.

Even with ample wealth, power, intellect, and fame, a Samtayogi does not suffer from envy or malice towards others due to the absence of possessiveness and attachment. Conversely, someone who possesses a great deal may still be unhappy and dissatisfied. This suffering, the text asserts, stems from the lack of Samtayog. Many people today struggle with conflict, lack, dissatisfaction, sorrow, anxiety, illness, and distress, and the sole solution presented is the adoption of Samtayog.

The Science of Discernment between Self and Non-Self (Bhed Vigyan) and Samtayog:

Samtayog is intimately connected with Bhed Vigyan, the discernment between the true self (soul) and the non-self (body and related material possessions). Without this discernment, individuals remain troubled, sorrowful, and restless due to attachment, possessiveness, and delusion towards the body and material objects. The conclusion is that without Samtayog, no worldly or spiritual problem can be solved. Therefore, Samtayog is an indispensable necessity, especially for spiritual seekers.

The Objective of Samtayog:

The primary objective of Samtayog is to imbue the seeker with equanimity. When equanimity permeates their mind, speech, and actions, and their spiritual practice, they lose interest in worldly and material possessions. This leads to the reduction of inner vices like anger, pride, deceit, greed, attachment, aversion, ignorance, stubbornness, and false beliefs. It fosters detachment from worldly pleasures and strengthens inner stability, which is the ultimate purpose of Samtayog.

Samtayog and Bhed Vigyan (Discernment):

The core purpose of Samtayog is to escape the Moha (infatuation), Asakti (attachment), and Murchha (delusion) associated with the body and its related objects, as these are the sources of sinful actions and defects. Attachment to family, wealth, power, and property fuels vices like anger, pride, deceit, greed, attachment, aversion, and delusion, leading to the bondage of karma. Samtayog is the practice to overcome this karmic bondage. It is an endeavor to empower the soul.

True Samtayog can only be achieved through Bhed Vigyan. Without it, individuals become engrossed in the body, seeing it as their sole reality and striving only to strengthen it through nutrition and exercise. However, without increasing spiritual strength, physical strength cannot truly grow. This body-centric approach hinders the development of soul-power. In the absence of soul-power, one cannot remain steadfast in the practice of equanimity. When faced with adversities, such individuals will falter due to their attachment to the body. Their journey will falter when confronted with the storms of misfortune.

Therefore, Bhed Vigyan is essential for gaining soul-power. With soul-power, one can achieve success in Samtayog. Soul-power is attained and can be enhanced by firmly believing in the soul's eternal, unchanging, and indestructible nature. The foundational principle for this is: "The body dies, I do not die; my state is unborn and immortal."

Only a seeker who accepts the soul as eternal, unchanging, and indestructible can face adversities and crises with equanimity and remain steadfast in Samtayog. This demonstrates the inseparable relationship between Bhed Vigyan and Samtayog. Where there is Bhed Vigyan, Samtayog will be successful, and where there is Samtayog, Bhed Vigyan will inevitably be present.

The brief meaning of Bhed Vigyan is to break the illusion that "I am this body" and to sever the cycles of birth and death, desires, and intentions. Experiencing the distinctness of the body is Bhed Vigyan. Equanimity (Samabhav) is the essence of spiritual philosophy. It is the supreme state for calming the anxieties and worldly desires in life. This is the inner vision of Samtayog.

The text concludes with a series of "Thought Sparks" (Chintan Kan), offering aphorisms on the nature and power of truth, its contrast with falsehood, and the importance of embracing truth in conduct and character, attributing these insights to Mahasati Shri Champakunvarji.