Samyak Charitra - Book Summary

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Samyak Charitra" by Balchandra Shastri, based on the provided pages:

Samyak Charitra (Right Conduct): A Foundation for Spiritual Liberation

This text, "Samyak Charitra," authored by Balchandra Shastri, delves into the profound concept of right conduct in Jainism, outlining its essence, its interconnectedness with right faith and knowledge, and the practices necessary to achieve it. The work emphasizes that true liberation, or moksha, is unattainable without the adherence to these core principles.

The Essence of Charitra (Conduct):

Freedom from Delusion and Agitation: According to Acharya Kundakunda, Charitra (conduct) is defined as the soul's disposition that is free from moha (delusion) and kshobha (agitation), specifically referring to darshanamoha (delusion of perception) and charitramoha (delusion of conduct). It is also referred to as 'Dharma' (righteousness) and 'Sam' (equanimity).
Absence of Attachment and Aversion: The core of Charitra lies in not harboring attachment (raga) or aversion (dvesha) towards all desirable and undesirable objects, when accompanied by samyakdarshan (right faith) and samyakjnana (right knowledge).
Acharya Samantabhadra's View: Acharya Samantabhadra echoes this sentiment, stating that one who has shed delusion (mithyatva) and attained right faith and right knowledge, accepts Charitra for the cessation of attachment and aversion.
Equanimity of the Ascetic: The text highlights the equanimity of an ascetic (shraman) who remains unaffected by dualities like friend/enemy, happiness/sorrow, praise/criticism, gold/mud, and life/death.

The Inseparability of Samyak Charitra and Samyakdarshan:

Foundation of Faith: The text strongly emphasizes that Charitra is rooted in sammyakdarshan. Just as a tree cannot stand without its roots, conduct cannot be stable without right faith.
Consequences of Deviation: Those who deviate from right faith are considered eternally fallen and will never attain liberation. Conversely, those who deviate from right conduct may still attain liberation in time (exemplified by Acharya Samantabhadra). Even possessing vast scriptural knowledge is futile without right faith.
Faith as the True Path: The text quotes "Darshan Praabhrit," stating that even if one cannot perfectly practice all virtuous deeds, unwavering faith in them is essential. True well-being of the soul, as declared by the omniscient Jinas, lies in faith.

Samyak Charitra as a Path to Liberation:

Achieving One's Purpose: The ultimate purpose of a human is to attain the stable nature of the soul. This is achieved by abandoning false beliefs and firmly establishing oneself in the true nature of the soul. This is considered the means to achieve the ultimate goal (mukti) as per "Purusharthasiddhi-upaya."
The Three Jewels (Ratnatraya): The text reiterates the concept of the three jewels: samyakdarshan (right faith) is the certainty of the soul, samyakjnana (right knowledge) is the understanding of that soul, and samyakcharitra (right conduct) is remaining stable in that soul. These are the causes of preventing karmic bondage, leading to samvara (cessation of influx of karma) and nirjara (shedding of karma).
Ultimate Well-being: Acharya Samantabhadra equates the attainment of this stable soul-state with ultimate health, declaring it the soul's ultimate purpose. Fleeting sensory pleasures only increase desires and suffering, never eternal happiness.

Samyama (Restraint) as a Synonym for Charitra:

Scope of Restraint: Samyama is presented as a near synonym for Charitra. Its essence lies in observing vows, adhering to the five samitis (careful movements), controlling kashayas (passions), renouncing misconduct of mind, speech, and body, and conquering the senses.
Negative Definition: In Dhavala, it is clarified that samyama specifically prohibits dravyayama (great vows without right faith), emphasizing the "sam" prefix implying right faith and knowledge.
The Restrained One: A samyata (restrained one) is one who follows the five samitis, protects the soul from sinful actions through the three guptis (controls), controls the five senses, has conquered passions, maintains equanimity towards friends and foes, and diligently practices right faith, knowledge, and conduct.

The Twenty-Eight Core Virtues (Mulaguna):

The text details the essential practices that a monk must rigorously observe after taking initiation, known as the twenty-eight mulaguna. These are categorized and explained:

Five Great Vows (Pancha Mahavratas):
- Ahimsa (Non-violence): Avoiding harm to all living beings, including those with one to five senses, considering their habitats, life-span, and birthplaces.
- Satya (Truthfulness): Speaking truthful, beneficial, and pleasant words, refraining from lying, harsh speech, and speech that causes pain or distress to others.
- Asteya (Non-stealing): Not taking anything that is not given, including fallen or forgotten items, and respecting the property of others.
- Brahmacharya (Chastity/Celibacy): Maintaining purity in thought, word, and deed, and seeing women of all ages as mothers, daughters, or sisters.
- Aparigraha (Non-possession): Renouncing all attachments to the body, passions, external possessions, and even necessary ascetic items like the broom and water pot.
Five Committees (Pancha Samitis): These relate to careful conduct in daily activities:
- Irya Samiti: Careful movement during the day, with the eyes focused on a yuga (four cubits) ahead to protect living beings, on pure paths for essential religious activities.
- Bhasha Samiti: Speaking faultless, beneficial speech, avoiding gossip, mockery, harshness, slander, self-praise, and inappropriate talk.
- Eshana Samiti: Accepting food that is free from 46 defects, obtained for the purpose of maintaining life, and without attachment or aversion to its qualities.
- Adana-Nikshepana Samiti: Carefully handling and placing ascetic aids like books, the broom, and the water pot.
- Pratishthapana Samiti: Disposing of bodily impurities (excreta, urine) in solitary, clean, and uninhabited places, away from public view.
Fivefold Sense Restraint (Indriya Nirodha):
- Controlling the five senses (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, touch) from proactively engaging with their respective objects (forms, sounds, smells, tastes, textures). This means remaining impartial to pleasant or unpleasant sensory experiences.
Six Essential Practices (Shat Avashyaka): These are regular spiritual observances:
- Samayika: Practicing equanimity, remaining detached from life/death, gain/loss, friend/foe, happiness/sorrow. It's about proper engagement with right faith, knowledge, restraint, and austerity.
- Chaturvimsatistava: Praising the twenty-four Tirthankaras with purity of mind, speech, and body, understanding the significance of their names and virtues.
- Vandana: Showing respect (with pure mind, speech, and body) to Arihants, Siddhas, virtuous individuals, teachers, and spiritual guides. This includes various forms of bowing and circumambulation.
- Pratikkramana: Reflecting on and repenting for any transgressions committed during the day or night, using mind, speech, and body, and seeking purification through confession.
- Pratyakhyana: Renouncing and abstaining from undesirable actions and possessions through mind, speech, and body, considering all six aspects (name, designation, substance, place, time, and mode).
- Kayotsarga: Standing or sitting in a specific posture, with detachment from the body, to remember virtuous qualities and overcome karmic obstacles.
Seven Other Core Virtues:
- Loch (Hair Plucking): Regularly plucking hair from the head and beard by hand, a practice that demonstrates self-reliance and detachment.
- Achailkya (Nudity): Remaining unclothed, symbolizing complete renunciation of external possessions and dependence.
- Asnana (Non-bathing): Refraining from bathing, with the understanding that constant engagement in spiritual practices prevents the monk from being concerned with bodily impurities.
- Kshitishayana (Sleeping on the Ground): Sleeping on a clean, bare floor, demonstrating detachment from comfort and preventing harm to small organisms.
- Adantadhavana (Non-cleaning of Teeth): Not cleaning teeth with external objects, fostering detachment and self-reliance.
- Sthitibhojana (Eating While Standing): Receiving alms in cupped hands while standing, without leaning on anything, and with awareness of space for oneself, fallen food, and the server.
- Ekabhakta (One Meal a Day): Consuming only one meal within a specified period of the day, indicating control over desires and austerity.

Types of Charitra:

The text further classifies Charitra into five types:

Samayika: Renouncing all sinful activities with the intention of spiritual peace. This is the fundamental form of restraint.
Chhedopasthapana: Rectifying past transgressions and mistakes made due to ignorance or carelessness in different times and places.
Parihara-Vishuddhi: Achieving purity through the careful avoidance of violence to living beings. This is an extremely difficult practice undertaken by highly capable individuals after extensive training.
Sukshma-Samparaya: The stage where only extremely subtle passions (kashaya) remain.
Yathakhyata: The state of the soul in its pure, natural form, achieved after the complete cessation of delusion.

Conclusion:

"Samyak Charitra" serves as a comprehensive guide to the Jain path of righteous conduct. It underscores the foundational importance of right faith and knowledge, elaborates on the twenty-eight essential virtues that a monk must practice, and outlines the distinct stages of spiritual progress. The text consistently emphasizes self-reliance, detachment, and the unwavering pursuit of the soul's true nature as the ultimate means to achieve liberation from the cycle of birth and death.