Samvatsarik Kshamapana - Book Summary

Here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Samvatsarik Kshamapana" by Sukhlal Sanghavi and Bechardas Doshi:

The text, a discourse delivered on the last day of Paryushan Parva, outlines three core activities of the festival: Samvatsarik Kshamaapana (annual forgiveness), Tapascharya (ascetic practices), and the study of the lives of great souls.

1. Samvatsarik Kshamaapana (Annual Forgiveness)

Pratikraman (Self-Reflection): The text begins by explaining the concept of "Pratikraman," which means to go back over one's daily actions, words, and thoughts to identify mistakes. The resolve to not repeat these errors is crucial. It's mentioned that the monks of the 22 Tirthankaras practiced Pratikraman immediately upon making a mistake, seeking forgiveness (mithya dushkrit) before proceeding.
Importance of Timely Rectification: For those aspiring to a higher life, it's essential to correct mistakes as soon as they are made. An analogy is drawn from Brahmanical tradition where a broken sacred thread signifies a lapse in purity of mind, speech, or body, requiring rectification before moving forward.
Scheduled Pratikraman: Since complete vigilance is difficult, a system of scheduled Pratikraman was established: daily in the evening, monthly (Pakshik), quarterly (Chaturmasik), and at the very least, annually (Samvatsarik).
Meaning of Samvatsarik Kshamaapana: This refers to seeking forgiveness from anyone with whom one has had animosity or disagreement throughout the year, and in turn, forgiving others. The aim is to not hold grudges for more than a year.
Ritual and Effect: The tradition is to first seek forgiveness from those with whom there was conflict and then perform Pratikraman. The text cites a biblical example of prioritizing reconciliation before offering sacrifices. True peace cannot be attained while harboring enmity. The phrase "Michchhami Dukkadam" (from Sanskrit: "Mithya me duskritam") means "may my wrongdoing be in vain" and helps to shed the impressions of sin and lighten the mental burden. Asking for forgiveness fosters humility, while granting forgiveness cultivates generosity.

2. Tapascharya (Ascetic Practices)

Purpose: Tapascharya's purpose is twofold: control of the senses and the health of the body.
Dietary Habits: It's stated that the body, driven by senses, often overeats. An American physiologist is quoted as saying that humans often need only half or a third of the food they consume. Chewing slowly and thoroughly aids digestion, leading to better nutrient absorption and less waste, requiring less food.
Root of Illness: Overeating, often driven by sensory desires rather than hunger, overwhelms the digestive capacity, leading to indigestion, which is considered the root of most diseases.
Benefits of Fasting/Single Meal: Practices like fasting (upvas) and eating a single meal (ekashan) help the digestive fire to process accumulated waste, thereby cleansing the body. Eating less than one's digestive capacity is ideal. If indigestion occurs, these practices help eliminate it.
Spiritual Benefits: Beyond physical health, undergoing austerities like fasting allows for better contemplation and meditation. The term "upvas" also means "to reside near the soul." Therefore, those observing fasts should strive to stay close to their soul, reflecting on its virtues and integrating them into their lives.
Body as a Tool: The body is a powerful instrument for self-control and spiritual practice. It should be treated in a way that it remains under control rather than dominating, not by being destroyed through extreme austerities.

3. Study of Great Souls' Lives

Beyond Mere Listening: The text emphasizes that simply hearing stories of great individuals is insufficient. One must reflect on how they achieved their greatness and strive to adopt those methods.
Mahavira's Self-Reliance (Swaashray): The discourse highlights Lord Mahavira's unparalleled power of self-reliance. In contrast, humans tend to follow the crowd ("herd mentality"). When offered help in facing future hardships, Mahavira stated that Tirthankaras achieve liberation through their own strength and that no one can grant liberation to another. True worth lies in standing on one's own feet. This is echoed by Buddha's teaching to be your own lamp.
Obstacles to Self-Development: The tendency to follow the crowd hinders personal growth. Three main reasons are identified:
- Lokvasana (Desire to please others): Acting to please people rather than pleasing one's own soul leads to a lack of fearlessness and an inability to truly please anyone. Blindly following societal norms leads to loss of inner freedom and hinders progress.
- Shastravasana (Attachment to scriptures without critical thought): Blindly accepting everything written in scriptures, without considering the context or author, is also detrimental. While scriptures are valuable records of past experiences, one should rely more on personal experience for spiritual growth. Blind faith born from accepting things that don't resonate with one's inner truth halts progress.
- Dehvasana (Attachment to the body): Mistaking the body for the self, due to ignorance, leads to externalism (bahiraatmabhav) and a constant fear of death. The understanding that the body is transient, while the soul is immortal, and that the body is merely an instrument for the soul, needs to be experienced. Until this is realized, the attachment to the body prevents self-reliance.
Overcoming Obstacles: Those who conquer these three attachments (lokvasana, shastravasana, dehvasana) achieve rapid development. Freed from these bonds, such individuals dedicate their efforts to realizing their inner potential and ultimately achieving self-realization.
Self-Reliance and Altruism: The text concludes by stating that only a self-reliant individual can truly benefit others. Those who depend on no one are capable of providing genuine help. Therefore, it urges readers to become self-reliant and altruistic.

The discourse is dated 28-8-30 and signed by Manilal Nabhubhai Doshi.