Vilamb Karta Pahela

This is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Vilamb Karta Pahela" (Before Delaying), authored by Priyam:

The book "Vilamb Karta Pahela" is a spiritual guide that strongly discourages procrastination, especially in matters of religious and spiritual significance. The central message, echoed throughout the text, is to act promptly and decisively when opportunities for spiritual advancement arise, drawing heavily on Jain philosophy and scriptures.

Core Theme: The book emphasizes that delays in performing divine deeds, pursuing spiritual goals, or acting upon righteous impulses are detrimental and lead to missed opportunities, ultimately hindering spiritual progress and perpetuating the cycle of birth and death.

Key Concepts and Illustrations:

• The Urgency of Spiritual Action: The opening pages quote the Uttaradhyayana Sutra, urging Gautam to hasten across the "great ocean" of existence, likening reaching the shore and then hesitating to a foolish act. It highlights that even a moment's delay in spiritual pursuit is unacceptable.

• Defining "Vilamb" (Delay): The text provides numerous vivid analogies to illustrate what constitutes delay:

  • A daughter growing old while waiting for a suitable groom.
  • Holding onto attachment to the world and its attractions even when faced with impending doom or the call of liberation.
  • Letting fresh food cool down and become stale before eating.
  • Ignoring the best doctor until the patient is on the brink of death.
  • Applying a hot iron to the forehead instead of removing a thorn.
  • Remaining asleep in a burning house.
  • Watching a glass spill without acting.
  • Failing to respond when God himself comes to call.
  • Not leaving a patch of wasteland even after receiving a pass to an "orchard of bliss."
  • Watching a tiger attack without reacting.
  • Not claiming a lottery prize when it can still be cancelled.
  • Not disembarking from a train at its station.
  • Keeping a car stopped when the signal is green.
  • Not escaping a predator's mouth when it opens.
  • Not escaping when a butcher is careless.

• The Cost of Procrastination:

  • Wasted Opportunities: The book stresses that divine opportunities (avsar) are rare and do not wait for us. Procrastination on these occasions is described as the act of the most foolish. The analogy of a starving person ignoring a delicious meal is used to highlight this extreme foolishness.
  • Hindrance to Salvation: Delays in spiritual practice are directly linked to delays in attaining happiness and liberation (moksha), as religion is presented as the sole cause of true happiness.
  • Binding of Karma: Indifference and cold responses to spiritual opportunities lead to the binding of severe karma, making spiritual attainment rare for a long time.

• The Importance of "Sambharam" (Eagerness/Zeal):

  • Referencing Niti Shastras, the book explains that "sambharam" reflects affection. When a dear guest arrives, one's immediate enthusiastic response signifies love.
  • This concept is then applied to spiritual opportunities. An enthusiastic and joyful reception of the "arrival" of Dharma (religion or righteous path) demonstrates one's deep affection for it. A lukewarm response is seen as neglect or even subtle hatred, which the soul should actively avoid.

• Dharma as the Ultimate Guest: The text elevates Dharma to a status far superior to any worldly guest. When Dharma approaches, one should be overjoyed, enthusiastic, and welcome it with immense eagerness, just as one would greet a highly revered guest. This zealous welcome is a testament to one's love for Dharma.

• The Analogy of the Tree and the Serpent: The text uses the powerful imagery of a banyan tree about to fall, with a python waiting in a well below and bees stinging the person. In this dire situation, if a benevolent deity offers salvation from his aircraft, the person's response should not be to wait for a drop of honey from the bee's nest but to cry out for rescue. Similarly, when faced with the opportunity for spiritual salvation, any delay is akin to choosing a trivial desire over one's life.

• Human Life as Transient: The book highlights the extreme transience of human life, comparing it to a dewdrop clinging precariously to a blade of grass. Life can end in an instant, making any delay in self-realization foolish.

• Rarity of Human Birth: It is emphasized that human birth, especially within the Jain tradition, is incredibly rare, achieved after eons. Furthermore, the fruits of karma are potent. Therefore, wasting even a moment of this precious human life through procrastination is a grave error.

• The Decisive Moment: The text distinguishes between a mere "moment" (pala) which has no significance if wasted, and a "decisive moment" (nirnayak pala). Losing a decisive moment means losing "everything." Past lives were characterized by mere "moments," while the present human life is a "decisive moment" offering the chance for liberation. The analogy of a river emphasizes that time, like water, flows only once.

• Time Planning and Promptness: Just as timing is crucial in activities like boarding a moving train, performing a dangerous circus act, or hitting a target, similar promptness is required to seize spiritual opportunities. Failure in worldly pursuits might lead to one death, but failure in spiritual pursuits through negligence can lead to an eternity of deaths.

• The Train of Liberation: The arrival of a spiritual opportunity is likened to the arrival of the "train of salvation," which the soul has awaited for countless cycles of existence. The train is about to depart, its horn already blown, and the question is posed: what are we doing?

• The Influence of Mohraja (Attachment/Illusion): The text personifies attachment and illusion (Mohraja) as a force that consistently urges one to delay spiritual actions with phrases like "not now, later." This is presented as the ego's attempt to perpetuate the cycle of suffering.

• The Dangers of Procrastination: The book warns that delaying spiritual action is akin to being consumed by the wildfires of existence, being slaughtered in the abattoirs of the world, or drowning in its oceans. It highlights the imminent threats of the "demoness" of aging and frailty, the "demon" of disease that can cripple the body instantly, and Yama (the god of death) who can arrive at any moment.

• The Call to Action: The final pages urge the reader to shed laziness, fill their bodies with enthusiasm, and take the hand offered by spiritual guidance (represented as "my finger") to walk forward. It warns against misinterpreting spiritual concepts (like karma or destiny) as excuses for inaction. Instead, these should be understood as a call to action with renewed vigor.

In essence, "Vilamb Karta Pahela" is a powerful call to awaken from the slumber of procrastination and to seize every moment for spiritual upliftment, recognizing the preciousness of human life and the immense opportunities it offers for liberation.