Six Essentials For Blissful Living - Book Summary

Here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Six Essentials for Blissful Living" by Mihir Gajrawala:

The book, "Six Essentials for Blissful Living," by Mihir Gajrawala, draws from Jain knowledge to propose six fundamental practices for achieving a state of lasting happiness, or "blissful living." The author acknowledges that many Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Ardhamagadhi terms lack direct English equivalents, and his interpretation aims to convey the essence of the concepts rather than a literal translation.

Gajrawala begins by addressing the common pursuit of contentment and happiness, noting that the modern world's prescribed path of schooling, economic pursuits, and material achievements often fails to deliver lasting bliss. He posits that Jainism, many eons ago, discovered six essential activities or rituals that, when practiced with honesty and belief, can lead to such a state. He counters resistance to rituals by arguing that all activities, including modern life, are essentially rituals, and that true progress comes from conduct based on knowledge, not just knowledge itself. Knowledge without the intent for good conduct is ignorance, and conduct without the intent for liberation is an illusion.

Defining Blissful Living:

The author clarifies that from a spiritual perspective, bliss is synonymous with "liberation" or "Moksha." From a worldly perspective, it encompasses a healthy body, healthy mind, healthy relationships, and a healthy career. The six essentials are tools to attain and sustain these four aspects.

In Sanskrit, these are known as "Shadavashyak," meaning "six essential requirements." These essentials are applicable to both renunciates (monks) and laypeople, despite their differing lifestyles.

Each act, including these essentials, has three parts: the object/goal, the doer, and the method. While the author will focus on the objective and method, he notes the importance of the doer's eligibility.

The Six Essentials are:

Samayik (To experience equanimity):
- Objective: To instill the understanding that "I am better than none and less than none." The root of conflict is fear and insecurity, stemming from comparisons that lead to feelings of superiority or inferiority. Samayik aims to free one from these complexes, allowing for objective analysis and a state of being like a newborn child.
- Connection to Yoga: The author equates Samayik with Yoga, citing definitions from the Bhagavad Gita (equanimity and dexterity in action), Patanjali's Yoga Sutras (cessation of mental perturbations), and Hemchandracharya's Yogashastra (technique for liberation). Samayik is considered a practical form of Raja Yoga, focusing on the mind through self-discipline.
Chauvisathao (To cultivate higher aspirations):
- Objective: To develop and internalize aspirations of the highest degree. Humans tend to become what they believe in. Just as knowing about Mt. Everest inspires a climber to reach greater heights, knowing about the 24 Tirthankaras (enlightened beings who have achieved the highest state of being, free from all conflicts) inspires higher aspirations.
- Jain Philosophy Context: The author briefly touches upon Jainism's concept of "Pudgal" (that which is created and destroyed simultaneously), relating it to modern science's understanding of the dynamic nature of the vacuum. Jainism emphasizes "becoming" rather than "being," focusing on the doer and discovering one's true nature, free from influences. The Navkar Mantra, for instance, focuses on qualities and states of being, not individuals. Chauvisathao is not about worshipping Tirthankaras but about internalizing their qualities to inspire personal growth.
Vandana (To develop gratitude):
- Objective: To foster gratitude towards learned beings, particularly "gurus" or those who have dedicated themselves to knowledge and liberation (monks and nuns). These individuals exhibit right knowledge, right perception, right conduct, and penance, demonstrating coherence between their deeds, words, and actions.
- Significance: Respecting and surrendering to such individuals is the first step towards bliss. Gratitude is a paramount quality for a seeker. Vandana, or bowing, is an act that prepares the seeker for surrender, opening receptivity to higher qualities. It's compared to celebrating Teachers' Day to cultivate gratitude for teachers.
Pratikramana (To recalibrate the self):
- Objective: To achieve self-calibration through introspection and retrospection. The soul can become displaced from its original position due to various factors, including indifference. Pratikramana is the process of bringing the self back to its true self, especially after indulging in digressions.
- Modern Relevance: This is likened to corporate goal-setting and performance reviews. The author highlights that focusing too much on the future can lead to forgetting the lessons of the past. Without retrospection and introspection, one is prone to repeating mistakes. Pratikramana is the disciplined practice of looking within and learning from past experiences.
Kayotsarga (To treat a transgressed mind):
- Objective: To experience the self beyond physical boundaries, shifting focus from matter to non-matter. The self is composed of both, with non-matter trapped within matter. Kayotsarga means "upward movement of the body," signifying an act to experience the self beyond physical limitations.
- Overcoming Challenges: This is presented as a solution for deep-seated negative habitual patterns that hinder progress, even when one has a clear vision or mission. While modern management might suggest breaks or job changes, Kayotsarga offers a technique to overcome such perturbations by experiencing the non-physical part of the self. It is described as a deeper form of meditation.
Pratyakhyan (To develop discipline):
- Objective: To cultivate discipline by gradually learning to "not do" actions whose fruitlessness is realized. This involves building upon present realizations with future resolve.
- Method: This is achieved through taking vows of self-control. Similar to how corporate executives log their learning to build future strategies, Pratyakhyan involves self-control for spiritual progress. The author emphasizes that discipline and self-control are crucial for any of these essentials to be beneficial.

Conclusion:

Gajrawala stresses that the effectiveness of these rituals depends not only on the "technology" (the ritual itself) but also on the eligibility of the "user" (the doer). These six rituals are the essential, compulsory activities for attaining a permanent state of blissful living. He summarizes them as: Equanimity, Higher Aspirations, Gratitude, Re-calibration, Meditation, and Self-discipline.

The author notes that the combined practice of these essentials, performed sequentially, is what is known in layman terms as "Pratikramana." Pratikramana is performed at various intervals (daily, monthly, quarterly, yearly), with different essentials emphasized at each interval.

The book is presented as an "Interpretation" based on extensive reading, discussions with scholars, and personal observations, rather than a formal research paper. Gajrawala aims for conciseness to encourage engagement and intends to explore each essential in greater detail in future work. He humbly accepts his limited capacity and apologizes for any errors.