Tattvagyan Pathmala 1

This document is the first part of the "Tattvagyan Pathmala" (Path of Knowledge of Truth) series, authored by Dr. Hukamchand Bharilla and published by Todarmal Granthamala, Jaipur. This particular volume, Part 1, is designed as an educational text for Jain students, as indicated by its designation by the Shri Vitrag Vigyan Vidya Peeth Examination Board.

The initial pages (1-4) are introductory, including acknowledgments, version history, and publisher information. Page 5 contains the table of contents, listing nine individual texts or "lessons" within this volume.

Here's a summary of the content of each lesson as presented in the provided pages:

1. Shri Simandhar Pujan (Page 6-9): This section is a devotional prayer (pujan) dedicated to Lord Simandhar, a living Tirthankara in the Jain tradition residing in Mahavideha Kshetra. It includes verses (chhand) and mantras for offering symbolic items like water, sandalwood, rice, flowers, food, lamp, incense, and fruit, all with spiritual interpretations. The puja emphasizes the qualities of Lord Simandhar as pure consciousness, devoid of the cycle of birth and death, and a source of infinite knowledge and bliss. The "Jaimala" (victory garland) praises his virtues and connects his teachings to the spiritual classic "Samaysar."

2. Seven Principles and Related Misconceptions (Page 10-16): This lesson focuses on common misunderstandings about the seven fundamental principles (Jiva, Ajiva, Asrava, Bandha, Samvara, Nirjara, Moksha) within Jainism. It begins with a biographical sketch of Pandit Todarmal, a renowned Jain scholar and author of "Mokshamarg Prakashak," highlighting his scholarly contributions and prolific writing. The lesson then meticulously details the incorrect beliefs people hold regarding each of the seven principles, contrasting them with the correct Jain perspective. For example, it clarifies that both auspicious (punya) and inauspicious (papa) actions are causes of bondage, and that true liberation comes from pure, detached consciousness.

3. Characteristics and Fallacious Characteristics (Page 17-22): This section delves into the philosophical concepts of "lakshana" (characteristic) and "lakshanabhasa" (fallacious characteristic). It introduces the scholar Abhinav Dharmabhushan Yati and explains the importance of understanding correct definitions (lakshana) to discern truth from falsehood. The text explains that a valid characteristic must be present in the subject (lakshya) and absent in anything else (alakhya). It details three common flaws in definitions: avyapti (under-inclusion), ativyapti (over-inclusion), and asambhav (impossibility). Several examples are used to illustrate these concepts, particularly in relation to defining the soul (Jiva).

4. Eleven Vows of a Householder in the Fifth Stage of Spiritual Development (Page 23-34): This lesson discusses the eleven vows or stages (pratima) undertaken by a householder (shravak) who has progressed to the fifth stage of spiritual development (Vam Gunasthan). It features the life and work of Kavi Banarasidas, a prominent Jain poet and author of "Ardha Kathānak." The text explains that these stages represent a progressive purification of the soul and adherence to vows, starting with the basic purification of faith (Darshan Pratima) and progressing through stages of increasing detachment and adherence to vows like abstaining from certain foods, celibacy, renunciation of external possessions, and eventually offering complete assent. It emphasizes that true adherence to these stages is rooted in inner spiritual experience rather than mere outward rituals.

5. What is Happiness? (Page 35-39): This philosophical discourse explores the nature of happiness, distinguishing between fleeting sensual pleasures and true, eternal bliss. It critiques the common misconception that happiness is derived from material possessions and sensory gratification, arguing that such happiness is illusory and ultimately leads to suffering due to its transient nature and the constant pursuit of more. The text asserts that genuine happiness lies in the self, in the soul's inherent nature of bliss, attainable only through introspection, self-knowledge, and detachment from external objects and desires.

6. Five Sentiments (Page 40-46): This lesson, based on the teachings of Acharya Umāswāmi from his "Tattvārthasūtra," explains the five "asādhāraṇ bhāva" (unique sentiments or states of the soul): aupshamika (due to suppression of karma), kṣāyika (due to destruction of karma), miśra (mixed, due to partial destruction and suppression), audayika (due to fruition of karma), and pāriṇāmika (natural, inherent state of the soul). It details the classifications and significance of each, emphasizing that the ultimate goal is to achieve the kṣāyika state through the inherent pāriṇāmika nature of the soul.

7. Four Types of Non-Existence (Page 47-55): This section, drawing from Acharya Samantabhadra's "Āpta Mimāṁsā," explains the concept of "abhāva" (non-existence) in Jain philosophy. It categorizes non-existence into four types: prāgabhāva (prior non-existence), pradhvaṁsābhāva (posterior non-existence), anyonyābhāva (mutual non-existence), and atyantābhāva (absolute non-existence). The text uses examples like milk and curd to illustrate these concepts and explains their importance in understanding the nature of reality, causality, and the distinctness of substances. It highlights how understanding these concepts helps in shedding negative qualities and cultivating positive ones.

8. The Five Pandavas (Page 56-64): This lesson presents the story of the five Pandavas, prominent figures from the Mahabharata epic, within a Jain context. It begins with a narrative illustrating the dangers of gambling and betting. The story then recounts the lineage of the Pandavas and Kauravas, their rivalry, the events leading to the Mahabharata war, and their eventual renunciation of worldly life to pursue spiritual liberation. It emphasizes lessons on the ill effects of attachment, desire, and gambling, and the ultimate importance of spiritual pursuit over worldly achievements. The story also highlights the significance of Shatrunjay Hill as a pilgrimage site.

9. Bhavana Battisi (Thirty-two Meditations) (Page 67-69): This lesson presents a collection of thirty-two verses (bhāvanā) attributed to Acharya Amitagati. These verses are a devotional and reflective work, offering guidance on cultivating virtues like compassion, equanimity, detachment, non-violence, and self-control. They encourage introspection, the renunciation of worldly desires, and the pursuit of the soul's true, pure nature. The verses express repentance for past wrongdoings and a fervent prayer for spiritual progress and liberation.

In essence, "Tattvagyan Pathmala - Part 1" serves as a foundational text for understanding core Jain philosophical concepts, devotional practices, ethical principles, and the lives of significant spiritual figures and events within the Jain tradition.