Vicharmala Granth Satik Pustak 1 To 8 - Book Summary

Here is a comprehensive summary in English of the Jain text "Vicharmala Granth Satik Pustak 1 to 8" by Anathdas Sadhu, with commentary by Govinddas Sadhu, published by Gujarati Chapkhana:

This work, "Vicharmala Granth Satik Pustak 1 to 8," is a profound philosophical text in the Jain tradition, authored by Sadhu Shri Anathdasji and commented upon by Sadhu Shri Govinddasji. It was revised by Pandit Shri Raghuvanś Sharma and published for the welfare of all seekers of liberation by Hariprasad Bhagirathji at the Gujarati Chapkhana in Mumbai. The first edition was published in Samvat 1967 (1832 AD).

The text is presented as a series of eight "Vishrams" (sections or rests), each dedicated to exploring different aspects of spiritual knowledge, primarily drawing from Vedanta philosophy and presenting it in an accessible language, making it suitable for a wider audience.

Overall Purpose and Context:

The preface highlights that while numerous Sanskrit texts like Sutras and Bhashyas exist for spiritual seekers, their complexity makes them inaccessible to those unfamiliar with Sanskrit. Therefore, Sadhu Shri Anathdasji, in accordance with a verse in the eighth Vishram, composed "Shri Vicharmala" at the suggestion of his friend Shri Narottam Puri. This book, written about 241 years prior to its publication, is considered a foremost and first-of-its-kind philosophical work in the vernacular language, encapsulating the profound essence of all Vedanta texts.

The text's profound and subtle subject matter is difficult to grasp without commentary. This work includes an extensive Sanskrit commentary and a detailed commentary of 8,000 verses in vernacular. However, finding these too complex for the less intelligent, Shri Govind Dasji, an exceptionally talented Daḍūpanthī, composed the "Balabodhini" commentary at the request of Shri Hariprasadji, disciple of Baba Bankhandi. This commentary is designed to clearly unfold the meaning of the main text, making it highly beneficial for all spiritual seekers. Pandit Hariprasad Bhagirathji, under the chairmanship of Pandit Vrajvallabh Hariprasadji, got it edited by Shastri Raghuvanś Sharma and published it.

Structure and Key Themes (as indicated by the Index):

The book is meticulously structured into eight Vishrams, each exploring distinct stages and concepts on the path to spiritual realization:

Vishram 1: Shishya Ashanka Varnan (Description of the Disciple's Doubts): This section begins with invocations and introduces the disciple's initial confusion and questions. It covers the nature of the four types of silence (including knowledge-silence), the importance of guru-praise for overcoming ingratitude, the disciple's prayer to the guru, the causes of inner suffering, the guru's guidance on dispelling mental fickleness through association with the wise (Satsang), and the glory of the author's guru.
Vishram 2: Sant Mahima Varnan (Glory of Saints): This section delves into the importance of Satsang, defining the characteristics of saints. It compares the happiness derived from Satsang to worldly pleasures, even those of emperors and Brahma, and emphasizes the superiority of Satsang. It also mentions the four gatekeepers to liberation.
Vishram 3: Gyan Bhumika Varnan (Description of the Stages of Knowledge): This section describes the seven stages of knowledge on the path to liberation. It begins with the difficulty of imparting spiritual teachings and the possibility of attainment through proximity to saints. The seven stages are: Shubh Ichha (good desire), Suvicharna (right thinking), Tanumanasa (subtle mind), Sattvapatti (attainment of reality), Asansakti (non-attachment), Padārthābhavini (apprehension of non-existence of objects), and Turiya (the fourth state).
Vishram 4: Gyan Sadhan Varnan (Description of the Means of Knowledge): This section details the practices and disciplines necessary for acquiring spiritual knowledge. It discusses renouncing worldly attachments (lust, desire, contemplation), the ill effects of women, procreation, and wealth. It explains the process of listening, contemplation, and meditation, and the cessation of action due to firm knowledge. It also elaborates on the nature of attachment to the world and the heedless pursuit of sensory pleasures.
Vishram 5: Jagadātma Varnan (Description of the World and the Self): This section explores the relationship between the world and the Self. It addresses the question of the world's reality and unreality, and the Self's detachment from worldly fluctuations. It explains how the Self, devoid of true understanding, perceives the world and how the universe appears as a transformation due to limiting conditions.
Vishram 6: Jagat Mithya Varnan (Description of the Illusory Nature of the World): This section further elaborates on the illusory nature of the world. It discusses how the perception of the false world is dispelled, and the non-existence of the world separate from the Self. It highlights that the world's perceived existence is illusory and ultimately leads to sorrow.
Vishram 7: Shishya Anubhav Varnan (Description of the Disciple's Experience): This section details the disciple's realization and experience after understanding the teachings. The disciple expresses gratitude to the guru, describes the dispelling of doubts, and articulates their own experience of the Self, transcending concepts of ignorance and knowledge, good and evil, and the distinctions between the divine and the individual soul.
Vishram 8: Ātmavān Sthiti Varnan (Description of the State of the Self-Realized Person): This final section focuses on the state and conduct of an enlightened individual. It discusses the nature of a realized person's behavior, which may appear ordinary but is free from ego and attachment. It explains how the actions of a liberated soul are not binding, their detachment from praise and blame, happiness and sorrow, and their equanimity in all situations. It also emphasizes the finality of liberation and the profound nature of self-knowledge.

Key Philosophical Concepts:

Throughout the eight Vishrams, the text delves into core Vedanta concepts, including:

Brahman: The ultimate reality, the singular, all-pervasive, unchanging, and blissful consciousness.
Atman: The individual soul, which is ultimately identical with Brahman.
Maya: The illusory power that conceals the true nature of reality and projects the world of appearances.
Moksha: Liberation from the cycle of birth and death, achieved through self-knowledge.
Satsang: The company of the wise and virtuous, considered essential for spiritual progress.
Vairagya: Detachment and dispassion towards worldly pleasures.
Jnana Yoga: The path of knowledge, involving listening, contemplation, and meditation on the truth.
The Seven Stages of Knowledge: A progressive path of spiritual understanding and realization.
The Illusory Nature of the World: The understanding that the perceived world, with its phenomena, is ultimately unreal and a manifestation of Maya.

Commentary and Accessibility:

The "Balabodhini" commentary by Govinddas Sadhu is crucial for making the profound teachings accessible to a general audience. It clarifies complex philosophical points and provides scriptural references, making the text a valuable resource for spiritual seekers in the Jain tradition who wish to understand Vedanta principles. The publisher's emphasis on affordability and clarity further underscores the intent to disseminate this wisdom widely.

In essence, "Vicharmala Granth Satik Pustak 1 to 8" is a systematic exposition of the path to self-realization, guiding the seeker from initial doubts and the importance of righteous company to the profound understanding of the Self's identity with Brahman and the eventual state of liberation.