Tran Ratno

This document is the Gujarati translation and commentary of "Tray Ratno" (Three Jewels), a compilation of the essence of three seminal works by Acharya Kundakunda: Panchastikaya, Pravachanasara, and Samayasara. The book is compiled and edited by Gopaldas Jivabhai Patel and published by Jain Sahitya Prakashan Mandir in Ahmedabad in 1937.

The book aims to present the core teachings of Acharya Kundakunda, who is highly revered in the Digambara Jain tradition, second only to Lord Mahavir and Acharya Gautam. The introduction provides a historical context of the Digambara and Shvetambara sects, tracing their origins back to the time of the great famine and the subsequent divergence in practices. It also discusses the legendary lives and the approximate time period of Acharya Kundakunda, highlighting the challenges in establishing precise historical details.

The text then delves into the philosophical underpinnings of Jainism as presented by Kundakunda, covering topics such as:

Book Structure and Key Themes:

The book is divided into two main parts, each with several chapters, exploring both practical and ultimate truths.

Part 1: Practical Viewpoint (વ્યાવહારિક દૃષ્ટિબિંદુ)

• Introduction and Invocation (પ્રાસ્તાવિક મંગળાચરણ): Begins with auspicious verses and emphasizes the importance of scripture for understanding reality and achieving liberation. It highlights that the teachings are for those who are already familiar with Jain terminology.
• The Necessity of Scriptural Knowledge (શાસ્ત્રજ્ઞાનની આવશ્યકતા): Stresses that without scriptural knowledge, one cannot understand the true nature of things, achieve concentration, or destroy karma, leading to the attainment of liberation.
• Dravya Vichar (દ્રવ્યવિચાર - Consideration of Substances):
  • Definition of Sat (સત્ની વ્યાખ્યા): Explains that existence is characterized by creation, destruction, and permanence.
  • Definition of Dravya (દ્રવ્યની વ્યાખ્યા): Defines a substance as that which undergoes changes in its qualities and states (paryaya) while maintaining its essential nature.
  • Qualities and States (ગુણ અને પર્યાય): Discusses the relationship between inherent qualities and transient states of a substance.
  • Astikaya (અસ્તિકાય): Identifies the five categories of existent substances that occupy space: soul (jiva), matter (pudgala), medium of motion (dharma), medium of rest (adharma), and space (akasha). Time (kala) is also considered a substance but not an astikaya.
  • Classification of Substances (કેન્યેાનું વિવિધ વર્ગીકરણ): Differentiates between sentient (jiva) and non-sentient (ajiva) substances, and sentient (murt) and non-sentient (amurt) substances, detailing the properties of each. It explains the nature of sound as a modification of pudgala, not a quality of space.
• Soul (Jiva) (આત્મા):
  • Types of Jiva (જીવકાચના છ પ્રકાર): Classifies souls into six types based on the number of senses and the presence of mind, from one-sensed immobile beings (ekendriya) to fully developed beings with five senses and mind (manas-sahita).
  • Perishability of the Soul (જીવની પરિણમશીલતા): Explains how the soul undergoes transformations due to karmic influences, leading to various embodiments.
  • Karmic Bondage (કર્મ બંધન): Discusses how actions, driven by passions like attachment and aversion, lead to the bondage of karma.
  • Agency of the Soul (જીવનું કર્તાપણું): Examines the soul's role as both a cause and experiencer of karma, explaining how actions and passions lead to bondage.
  • States of the Soul (જીવના શુભ, અશુભ, શુદ્ધ ભાવે): Categorizes the soul's states as auspicious (shubha), inauspicious (ashubha), and pure (shuddha), linking them to karmic outcomes.
• Pure Nature of the Soul (આત્માનું શુદ્ધ સ્વરૂપ: ‘સ્વયંભૂ’):
  • Omniscience (સર્વજ્ઞતા): Describes the soul's inherent nature of complete knowledge.
  • All-pervasiveness (સર્વાંગતતા): Explains how the soul, through its consciousness, pervades all things.
  • Knower (જ્ઞાયક્તા): Highlights the soul's function as the knower.
  • Freedom from Bondage (બંધરહિતતા): Describes the liberated state of the soul, free from all karmic ties.
  • Essence of Ultimate Happiness (પારમાર્થિક સુખરૂપતા): Defines the soul's ultimate nature as one of pure bliss and consciousness.
• The Path (The Three Jewels) (માર્ગ : જ્ઞાન, દર્શન, ચારિત્ર):
  • Ascent and Stoppage of Karma (આસ્રવ અને સંવર): Explains how influx of karma (asrava) is stopped through self-control and detachment (samvara).
  • Shedding of Karma (નિર્જરા): Details the process of shedding accumulated karma through penance and right conduct.
  • Conduct (ચારિત્ર): Elaborates on the importance of right conduct in achieving liberation.
  • Renunciation (સન્યાસ): Discusses the path of renunciation and detachment.
  • Fundamental Virtues (મૂળ ગુણા): Outlines essential virtues like non-violence (ahimsa), non-possession (aparigraha), scriptural knowledge, devotional service, and humility.

Part 2: Ultimate Viewpoint (પારમાર્થિક દૃષ્ટિબિંદુ)

• Introduction (પ્રાસ્તાવિક): Reemphasizes the distinction between practical (vyavaharic) and ultimate (paramarthik) viewpoints, stating that true liberation is attained through the ultimate perspective.
• The Soul's Delusion (જીવ મિથ્યા દૃષ્ટિ): Discusses how deluded souls mistake the non-soul for the soul, leading to karmic bondage.
• Karma and Time (કર્યાં અને ક : કર્માંધના પ્રકાર): Analyzes the nature of karma, its causes, and types of bondage from an ultimate perspective. It clarifies that while karma is a modification of matter, the soul's passions (bhava) are the cause of bondage.
• Merit and Demerit (Punya and Papa): (પુણ્યપાપ: શુભાશુભ કર્મ): Argues that both auspicious and inauspicious karma are ultimately impure as they bind the soul, and true liberation comes from transcending both.
• Influx of Karma (આસવ): Explains how passions and activities lead to the influx of karma.
• Stoppage of Karma (સંવર): Defines true samvara as the cessation of passions and the influx of karma.
• Shedding of Karma (નિર્જરા): Describes how the soul, through detached observation of experiences and the cessation of passions, sheds accumulated karma. It emphasizes that the enlightened one experiences karmic results without attachment.
• Bondage (અધ): Clarifies that bondage is not caused by external actions but by the soul's own deluded passions and mistaken identity.
• Liberation (મેક્ષ): Defines liberation as the soul's realization of its pure, unconditioned essence, free from all karmic bonds.
• Pure Knowledge (સવિશુદ્ધજ્ઞાન): Elaborates on the nature of the soul's inherent, all-encompassing, and pure knowledge, distinct from sensory or scriptural knowledge. It emphasizes that the soul is neither the doer nor the experiencer of karma in its pure state.
• Subhashita (સુભાષિત): A collection of insightful verses summarizing key Jain principles, such as the importance of knowledge for liberation, equanimity, understanding karma, and the true nature of the soul.

Key Philosophical Concepts:

• Nayas (दृष्टि / Nayas): The text highlights the importance of understanding different perspectives, particularly the distinction between the practical (vyavaharic) and ultimate (paramarthik) viewpoints, to grasp the true nature of reality.
• Soul as Pure Consciousness: Kundakunda's teachings, as presented here, strongly emphasize the soul's inherent nature as pure consciousness, free from all external influences and karmic attachments in its ultimate state.
• Rejection of Dualism: The book critiques views that attribute agency to external forces or that identify the soul with its karmic modifications or physical attributes.
• Transcendence of Karma: A central theme is the soul's ability to achieve liberation by transcending both auspicious and inauspicious karma, recognizing them as external modifications.

Overall Significance:

"Tray Ratno" serves as a comprehensive guide to the core philosophical tenets of Jainism as articulated by Acharya Kundakunda. It aims to elucidate the path to spiritual liberation through a deep understanding of the soul's true nature, the principles of karma, and the practices of right faith, knowledge, and conduct. The book's methodical approach, moving from practical explanations to profound metaphysical insights, makes it a valuable resource for understanding Jain philosophy.