Sannyasa Dharma - Book Summary

Here is a comprehensive summary of "Sannyasa Dharma" by Champat Rai Jain, based on the provided text:

"Sannyasa Dharma" by Champat Rai Jain is a detailed exploration of the principles and practices of asceticism within the Jain tradition. The book draws extensively from foundational Jain texts like the Mulachara, Bhagwati Aradhana, and Charitrasara, aiming to present a clear and authoritative guide to the life of a Jain monk (sadhu) and the ultimate goal of spiritual liberation (moksha).

Core Concepts:

Sannyasa as the Higher Spiritual Training: The preface positions Sannyasa Dharma as the advanced stage of spiritual development, complementing the Householder's Dharma. While householders strive for dharma (religious merit), artha (wealth), and kama (pleasure), the sannyasi's sole aim is moksha (salvation or liberation).
Absolute Renunciation: The book emphasizes that Sannyasa requires absolute renunciation of the world and all worldly attachments. There is no middle ground for those seeking moksha.
Spirit vs. Matter: A fundamental tenet explained is the Jain understanding of the soul (Spirit) and the physical body (Matter) as distinct entities. The soul, inherently perfect, becomes obscured by its association with matter. The goal of Sannyasa is the complete separation of spirit from matter to realize the soul's inherent divinity.
Eradication of Desire: The text identifies desire as the root cause of the soul's bondage to matter. The path of Sannyasa is fundamentally about eradicating all forms of desire through rigorous self-control and austerities (tapascharana).
The Role of Austerities (Tapascharana): Austerities are presented as the necessary means to overcome temptations, cravings, and control the mind, speech, and body.

Key Stages and Ideals in Life:

The book outlines the four stages (ashramas) in a Jaina life:

Brahmacharya: Period of study.
Grihastha: Period of household life, civic duties, and the pursuit of dharma, artha, and kama.
Vanaprastha: Stage of retirement from worldly activities, focused on spiritual preparation.
Sannyasa: The final stage dedicated to achieving moksha.

The four ideals are Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha. While the first three are for householders, Moksha is exclusively for the sannyasi.

The Virtues and Practices of a Sadhu:

The book extensively details the conduct and virtues expected of a sannyasi, categorized as follows:

Mula Gunas (Root Virtues): These are the foundational virtues essential for acquiring higher spiritual attributes. They include:
- The Five Great Vows (Maha-vratas):
  - Ahimsa (Non-violence): The paramount vow, encompassing non-harming of any living being through thought, word, or deed. This extends to not cooking, not plucking fruits, and being careful about any action that could harm even the smallest life form.
  - Satya (Truthfulness): Speaking truthfully, but also avoiding speech that could cause harm (anrita).
  - Asteya (Non-stealing): Not taking anything that is not freely given, including sacred books or unclaimed items.
  - Brahmacharya (Celibacy/Chastity): Absolute control over sexual desires and functions, including abstaining from even recollecting sexual experiences.
  - Parigraha Tyaga (Renunciation of Possessions): Giving up all internal and external possessions, including worldly goods, bodily attachments, and even mental states like anger, pride, and greed.
- Five Controls (Samitis):
  - Irya Samiti: Careful movement, observing the ground to avoid harming any creature.
  - Bhasha Samiti: Careful speech, using only beneficial, brief, and truthful words.
  - Eshana Samiti: Pure conduct in obtaining food, following strict rules about its preparation and source.
  - Adana Nikshepana Samiti: Careful handling of permitted possessions (like the feather whisk and water gourd).
  - Pratishthapana Samiti: Careful disposal of bodily waste to avoid harming life.
- Control of the Five Senses: Actively resisting the allure of sensory objects.
- Six Necessary Observances: Equanimity, adoration of the Divine, study, confession, detachment from the body, and contemplation (Dhyana).
- Physical Practices: Pulling out hair (as an ascetic practice), nudity, non-bathing, sleeping on the ground, not cleaning teeth, eating standing, and taking only one meal a day.
The Ten Excellencies: These are profound virtues that a saint must embody: Forgiveness, Humility, Straightforwardness, Truthfulness, Greedlessness, Equanimous Self-control, Asceticism, Renunciation, Selflessness, and Chastity. Each is elaborated upon with explanations of its significance and practice.
Tapascharana (Asceticism): This section delves into both external (fasting, enduring discomfort) and internal (penance, study, meditation) forms of austerity aimed at destroying desire and burning up karmic impurities. It details various types of penance and the significance of different meditations (Dhyana).
Parishaha Jaya (Overcoming Hardships): The twenty-two types of hardships (hunger, thirst, cold, heat, insect bites, nudity, etc.) that a saint must endure with equanimity are listed and explained. Overcoming these is crucial for spiritual progress.
Eshana Samiti (Purity in Food): This chapter provides an exhaustive list of faults to be avoided when accepting food, emphasizing extreme purity in its procurement and preparation. It also outlines the virtues of the householder offering food and the nine-fold veneration.
How to Die? (Sallekhana): This crucial chapter discusses the concept of a "wise death" (Pandita Marana) or Sallekhana, a voluntary fast unto death undertaken with full awareness and equanimity. It contrasts this with mistaken suicide and emphasizes the importance of mental preparation and controlled detachment from the body. The text details different types of death and their karmic consequences.
The Daily Life: This outlines the rigorous and simple daily routine of a sadhu, including periods of meditation, study, and adherence to strict disciplinary rules in all aspects of life.
Riddhis (Miraculous Powers): The book touches upon the development of eight principal kinds of supernatural powers through intense asceticism, but strongly cautions against their use for personal gain, as this can lead to a downfall.

Underlying Philosophy:

The book consistently emphasizes that the ultimate goal is the complete purification of the soul, its liberation from the cycle of birth and death, and the realization of its inherent divine nature. This is achieved through unwavering adherence to the Jain principles of non-violence, truthfulness, and extreme self-discipline, with a constant focus on detachment from the material world.

In essence, "Sannyasa Dharma" serves as a comprehensive manual for those aspiring to the ascetic path in Jainism, detailing the stringent requirements, profound virtues, and ultimate spiritual aims of this way of life.