Sirichandvejjhay Painnayam

This document is an excerpt from the Jain text "Sirichandavejjhay Painnayam" (सिरिचंदावेज्झय पइण्णयं). Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided pages:

Overall Purpose: The text is a discourse on key principles for spiritual progress within Jainism, focusing on Vinaya (Humility/Discipline), the qualities of an Acharya (Spiritual Teacher), the qualities of a Shishya (Disciple), the importance of Vinaya-Nigraha (Control of Discipline), the merits of Knowledge (Jnana), Conduct (Charitra), and a Peaceful Death (Marana). The overarching goal is to guide individuals towards liberation (Moksha).

Introduction and Salutation:

• The text begins with salutations to Lord Adinath and Acharya Shri Vijay Rajendra Surishwarji.
• It emphasizes the significance of studying this sutra after performing three Ayambils (a type of fast).
• The book is published by Guru Ramchandra Prakashan Samiti and lists the Gujarati translator as Acharya Shri Kalapurnasurishwarji and the Hindi translator as Muni Shri Jayanandvijayji.

Core Teachings and Structure:

The text systematically discusses several important aspects of spiritual life:

1. Vinaya (Humility/Discipline):

   • Definition and Importance: True knowledge gained from an Acharya becomes fruitless if the disciple disrespects or disrespects the teacher. Disrespect leads to disgrace and lack of fame.
   • Benefits of Vinaya: One who learns knowledge from the Guru with humility receives support, trust, and fame everywhere.
   • Consequences of Avinaya (Disrespect): Even well-learned knowledge is destroyed or rendered ineffective by the attitude of disrespecting the Guru. The disrespecter of knowledge and the Guru's qualities is compared to a scripture-killer and destined for lower realms.
   • Vinaya as Primary Learning: It is better to learn Vinaya thoroughly than to pursue knowledge without it. True knowledge becomes easily accessible to the humble.
   • Knowledge and Vinaya are Intertwined: Knowledge gained through Vinaya leads to happiness in the afterlife.
   • Acharya's Role: Acharyas are the givers of knowledge, and disciples who receive it with joy and complete memorization experience its fruits.
   • Rarity: In this era, knowledgeable Acharyas and disciples free from the four passions are rare.
   • Universal Praise: Vinaya is praised in both monks and householders; the disrespectful person never attains fame.
   • Karma's Influence: Even knowing the importance of Vinaya, some individuals, influenced by strong karma and passions, do not practice it.
   • Vinaya over Knowledge: The text highlights that even without extensive knowledge, humility and self-control can lead to widespread fame, suggesting Vinaya's primacy.
   • Knowledge is Fruitful with Fortune: Knowledge only yields results for fortunate individuals; it is not fruitful for the unfortunate.

2. Acharya's Qualities (आचार्यके गुण):

   • Role of Acharya: Acharyas are expounders of proper conduct, navigators of the ship of knowledge, and possess hundreds of thousands of virtues.
   • Comparisons: They are praised for being like the earth in tolerance, like Mount Meru in steadfastness in Dharma, and like the moon in gentleness.
   • Other Qualities: They are faultless in revealing the faults of disciples, learned in the causes and effects of things, profound, unvanquishable by opponents, knowledgeable of time, place, and circumstances, patient, unagitated, inspiring, honest, learned in worldly, Vedic, and Samayika (Jain) scriptures, and masters of their own and other doctrines.
   • True Acharyas: Those who are genuine guides to the path of liberation in the Nirgrantha (Jain) tradition, as taught by the omniscient, are true Acharyas.
   • Impact of Acharyas: Like a lit lamp illuminating other lamps, Acharyas illuminate themselves and others.
   • Devotion to Acharyas: Devotion to such Acharyas brings fame in this world, a good destination in the next, and unwavering faith in Dharma. Even gods in heaven honor them.
   • Consequences of Disrespecting Acharyas: Disrespecting Acharyas is equated to disrespecting the teachings of the Tirthankaras and leads to a state similar to a scripture-killer.

3. Shishya's Qualities (शिष्यके गुण):

   • Essential Qualities: Humility, lack of ego, knowledge of virtues, gentleness, understanding of the Acharya's intent, tolerance of heat, cold, wind, hunger, thirst, discomfort, and all adversities.
   • Equanimity: Maintaining a calm demeanor during gains and losses, having few desires, and being content.
   • Knowledge of Vinaya: Understanding the six types of Vinaya.
   • Service and Study: Diligence in ten types of service (Vaiyaavachya) and in studying scriptures.
   • Praiseworthy Disciple: A disciple who sings the praises of the Acharya, is part of the monastic community, enhances the fame of the teachings, has sharp intellect, and is dedicated to their goal.
   • Discipline: To achieve discipleship, one must conquer pride. True disciples have disciples, while the undisciplined do not.
   • Endurance: A disciple should patiently bear both pleasant and unpleasant words from the Acharya.
   • Tests of a Disciple: The text outlines external qualities like good birth, form, youth, strength, courage, equanimity, good speech, lack of envy, humility, and freedom from greed. Also, physical attributes like intact limbs, healthy body, deep eyes, and broad vision.
   • Internal Qualities: Devotion to Jainism, attentiveness to the Guru, steadfastness, faith, freedom from passions, and mastery over hardships.
   • Rejection of the Undisciplined: Even if knowledgeable, an undisciplined and proud person is not praised by the learned.
   • Value of Vinaya: The learned consider a learned but undisciplined monk as less knowledgeable than a truly disciplined, even if less learned, monk.
   • Qualities of a Good Disciple: Devotion, humility, sincerity, and diligence in scripture study.
   • Instruction: Such disciples should be instructed in the scriptures.
   • Disciple Testing: Gurus must test their disciples for their suitability for spiritual pursuits.

4. Vinaya-Nigraha (Control of Discipline):

   • Gateway to Moksha: Vinaya is the door to liberation.
   • Power of Vinaya: Even someone with little knowledge can overcome karma through Vinaya.
   • Conquering Through Vinaya: Conquering indiscipline with discipline, immorality with good conduct, and sin with righteousness leads to conquering the three worlds.
   • Vinaya and Karma: Vinaya is essential for overcoming karma.
   • Knowledge and Vinaya: Knowledge is gained through Vinaya, and Vinaya is understood through knowledge. They are mutually supportive.
   • Essence of Conduct: The essence of all conduct lies in Vinaya. The learned praise those who possess Vinaya.
   • Consequences of Lack of Vinaya: Even extensive scriptural knowledge is useless without Vinaya, just as millions of lamps are useless to a blind person.
   • Importance of Subtlety: The text emphasizes the importance of understanding the subtle meaning of scriptures through Vinaya.
   • Purpose of Vinaya: The purpose of Vinaya is to achieve the highest goal (Moksha).

5. Knowledge (Jnana - ज्ञानगुण):

   • Vastness of Knowledge: The knowledge taught by the Jinas is immeasurable and profound.
   • Praiseworthy Individuals: Those who are knowledgeable and also possess good conduct are fortunate.
   • Understanding the Universe: Through scriptural knowledge, one can understand the upper, lower, and middle realms, including gods, humans, and other beings.
   • Knowledge of Truths: Knowledge helps understand the nature of soul, non-soul, merit, demerit, influx (asrava), stoppage (samvara), bondage (bandha), and liberation (nirjara).
   • Dharma Sadhana: Renouncing known faults and practicing known virtues are achieved through knowledge.
   • Knowledge and Conduct: Knowledge without conduct, or conduct without knowledge, is not enough for liberation. Only knowledgeable individuals who practice conduct can cross the ocean of worldly existence.
   • Knowledge and Virtues: Even a knowledgeable person remains bound by faults if they do not cultivate virtues like patience and relinquish vices like anger.
   • Overcoming Karma: Knowledge, combined with proper conduct, helps eradicate the karma accumulated over countless lives.
   • Holistic Approach: Just as a warrior needs a weapon and a weapon needs a warrior, knowledge needs conduct and conduct needs knowledge for liberation.
   • Path to Liberation: Righteousness (Samyaktva) leads to knowledge, knowledge leads to conduct, and correct conduct (Charitra Shuddhi) is achieved through knowledge.
   • Importance of Austerity: Knowledge is illuminating, austerity (tapa) is purifying, and restraint (samyama) is protective. The combination of these three leads to liberation.
   • Value of Learned Ones: People naturally look to the faces of the highly learned, just as they look to the moon.
   • Guidance of Teachings: The words of the learned, like the cool rays of the moon, provide solace and guide individuals across the difficult path of worldly existence.
   • Importance of Scriptural Study: Diligent study of scriptures is paramount. It is more beneficial than all other austerities.
   • Overcoming Karma through Study: Even karmic accumulations of innumerable lives can be dissolved through diligent scriptural study (Swadhyaya).
   • Source of Answers: The omniscient are the ultimate source of answers; in their absence, the highly learned serve this purpose.
   • Knowledge and Detachment: Even a small piece of knowledge that leads to detachment (vairagya) is true knowledge.
   • Sustaining Vairagya: Once a path of detachment is found through a teaching, it should be followed until death.
   • Liberation through Detachment: By focusing on even a single teaching that inspires detachment, one can overcome the net of delusion through spiritual practices.
   • Importance of Single Teachings: At the time of death, remembering even a single verse or teaching in its proper context is considered sufficient for attaining liberation.
   • Attaining Liberation: A well-disciplined monk who meditates on a single teaching at the right time is considered an achiever by the Jinas and can attain liberation within three lives.
   • Practical Application: The text encourages the pursuit of knowledge and its application.

6. Conduct (Charitra - चरणगुण):

   • Liberation through Conduct: Those who diligently practice the Dharma taught by the Jinas, free from worldly attachments, are fortunate.
   • Stability in Death: Those who follow the Jinas' teachings with a pure heart do not experience despair even at the time of death.
   • The Difficulty of Samyam: Even after attaining the rare human birth and the state of a monk, failure to control oneself on the path of suffering leads to misery.
   • Overcoming Suffering: Those with firm resolve and a focused mind who seek well-being in the afterlife transcend all suffering.
   • Path to Ultimate Happiness: Those who are diligent in destroying anger, pride, delusion, greed, restlessness, and aversion achieve ultimate happiness.
   • Regret for Lost Opportunity: Those who squander the rare human birth and the monastic life face regret later, like boatmen whose boat is broken.
   • Joy of Right Conduct: Monks who practice conduct without deviating are joyful, like sailors who have secured a boat.
   • Rarity of Milestones: Human birth is rare, spiritual awakening (Bodhi) is rarer, and becoming a monk is even rarer.
   • Challenges in the Path: Even after becoming a monk, understanding the secrets of scriptures is rare, and purifying one's conduct is even rarer.
   • Emphasis on Conduct and Samyaktva: The text questions whether one should prioritize Samyaktva or Charitra if both are attainable.
   • Samyaktva without Conduct: Samyaktva without conduct is like that of King Shrenik. However, those with conduct always possess Samyaktva.
   • Importance of Samyaktva: Even if one deviates from conduct, one should still strive to retain Samyaktva, as liberation is not possible without Samyaktva, even with conduct.
   • Maintaining Purity: A monk whose mind is firm, with the five Samitis and three Guptis, and who avoids attachment and aversion, has pure conduct.
   • Diligent Practice: Therefore, strive diligently in the duties of religion and do not neglect Samyaktva, conduct, and knowledge.

7. Marana (Peaceful Death - मरणगुण):

   • Importance of Preparation: Just as an untrained soldier fails in battle, one who has not practiced self-control and endured hardships will struggle during the time of death.
   • The Role of Austerity: Austerity and the desire for equanimity are crucial for facing death.
   • Conquering Death: One who has diligently practiced (e.g., fasting, renunciation) can conquer the "army" of death with the "sword" of right understanding.
   • The Impact of Indulgences: Those who have not practiced diligently, who are swayed by sensory pleasures, will struggle during the final moments.
   • Focus on the Goal: Even less knowledgeable monks who have practiced diligently can maintain composure and perform the final rites.
   • The Danger of Sensory Attachment: A monk who is learned but attached to senses may or may not maintain composure during death.
   • Overcoming the Obstacles: Those who are strong in their practices are not affected by the hardships of death.
   • The Analogy of the Archer: The text uses the analogy of an archer hitting a target to emphasize the importance of focus and practice for achieving a peaceful death.
   • Avoiding Distractions: Just as an archer can miss the target if distracted, one must remain focused on the spiritual path to achieve a peaceful death.
   • Purification of the Soul: To achieve a peaceful death, one must purify the soul through virtues like Samyaktva and by repenting for past mistakes.
   • Importance of Repentance: Repentance (Pratyakhayana) and confession (Alochan) are crucial for purifying oneself and avoiding the cycle of birth and death.
   • The Role of the Guru: Seeking guidance from the Guru and accepting their penance is vital for purification.
   • The Nature of True Monks: True monks are those who are free from passions and attachments and live according to the teachings of the Jinas.
   • Consequences of Uncontrolled Passions: Uncontrolled passions, even in small amounts, can lead to downfall.
   • The Power of Equanimity: Equanimity in the face of adversity and equanimity in the face of the cycle of birth and death are essential.
   • The Illusion of External Support: At the time of death, wealth, family, and worldly possessions offer no support.
   • The Goal of Achieved Death: The ultimate goal is to achieve a death that is free from worldly afflictions and the cycle of rebirth.
   • The Process of Purification: The purification of oneself from sins and the removal of inner impurities are achieved through various spiritual practices and adherence to the teachings.
   • Final Plea: The text concludes with a plea to live a life that avoids the suffering of the womb, death, rebirth, and the lower realms by practicing Vinaya, honoring Acharyas, cultivating knowledge and conduct, and preparing for a peaceful death.

In essence, the "Sirichandavejjhay Painnayam" is a profound guide that stresses the interconnectedness of humility, the guidance of a spiritual teacher, the qualities of an ideal disciple, the power of knowledge, the practice of righteous conduct, and the ultimate aim of achieving a peaceful and liberated death. It emphasizes that these virtues are not isolated but form a holistic path towards spiritual realization within Jainism.