Walk With Me

Here's a comprehensive summary of "Walk With Me: The Story of Mahavir - A Remarkable Revolutionary," based on the provided text:

Overview:

"Walk With Me" is a book that recounts the life and teachings of Lord Mahavir, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, from the perspective of his first disciple, Indrabhuti Gautam. Authored by Acharya Chandanaji and Vastupal Parikh, the book aims to present Mahavir not just as a spiritual leader but as a revolutionary who brought about significant social and spiritual change in ancient India. The narrative is framed as Gautam's personal account, offering a unique and intimate look at Mahavir's journey.

Mahavir as a Revolutionary:

The book emphasizes Mahavir's revolutionary nature, highlighting how he preached a philosophy rooted in ancient traditions yet managed to transform society and inspire generations. He is presented as a figure who:

• Challenged the Caste System: Advocated for equality regardless of caste or social standing.
• Uplifted Women's Status: Ordained women as monks (sadhvis) and appointed them to leadership roles, a radical concept in his time. The story of Ajja Chandana illustrates this, showcasing her leadership and resilience.
• Championed Ahimsa (Non-Violence): Promoted absolute non-violence not just towards humans but towards all living beings, including animals, plants, and the environment. This involved stopping animal sacrifices and advocating for compassion in all actions.
• Initiated Social Justice Movements: His teachings addressed widespread social injustices, discrimination, and exploitation.
• Promoted Universal Love and Compassion: Preached a message of love and respect for all living beings, fostering a sense of unity and interdependence.

The Narrator: Indrabhuti Gautam:

The book's unique narrative voice is Indrabhuti Gautam, a learned Brahmin scholar who initially adhered to Vedic traditions and ritualistic practices. His profound intellectual curiosity and unease with certain Vedic concepts led him to seek answers. His encounter with Mahavir at Pava was a transformative experience. Mahavir's ability to address Gautam's deepest questions, his compassionate demeanor, and his profound wisdom convinced Gautam to abandon his pride and become Mahavir's first disciple and a 'Ganadhar' (group leader). Gautam walked with Mahavir for 30 years, providing him with an intimate understanding of Mahavir's life and teachings.

Key Themes and Stories:

The book delves into various aspects of Mahavir's life and teachings through individual chapters, often structured around encounters with specific individuals or events:

• The Disciple - Indrabhuti Gautam: The initial encounter and Gautam's conversion from Vedic scholar to Mahavir's disciple.
• The Sraman Sangh - Brotherhood: The formation of Mahavir's organized four-fold sangh (monks, nuns, laymen, laywomen), emphasizing equality and the ordination of women.
• Ajja Chandana - Women's Liberation: The story of Chandana, a princess who endured great hardship and became the first female monk, illustrating Mahavir's commitment to women's empowerment.
• The Birth - The Liberator has Arrived: Details Mahavir's birth, the auspicious dreams of his mother Trishala, and the celebratory atmosphere.
• Young Vardhaman and the Cobra: An early incident showcasing Mahavir's innate compassion and ability to communicate with animals, even a vicious cobra named Chandkaushik.
• Vardhaman - Education and Ordainment: Explores Mahavir's (then Vardhaman) early education, his intellectual curiosity, and his decision to leave his royal life for 12 years of intense spiritual practice (sadhana).
• Sadhana: Discusses the process and purpose of Mahavir's rigorous 12-year spiritual quest, emphasizing self-discipline, control over passions, and the ultimate goal of self-realization.
• Ahimsa and Social Justice: Expands on the concept of ahimsa, distinguishing between intentional and unintentional violence, and highlighting Mahavir's call for social reform and his opposition to discrimination.
• Mrigavati - War and Peace: Recounts how Mahavir intervened in political disputes, showcasing his role as a peacemaker and the impact of his teachings on rulers like Queen Mrigavati.
• Keshiswami - Anekanta Dialogue: Describes a dialogue between Mahavir's followers and the followers of Acharya Keshiswami (from the older Parshva tradition), demonstrating the convergence of their philosophies and the eventual merger of their sanghs, highlighting the principle of Anekantavada (multi-faceted truth).
• Meghkumar - Youth Revolution: Features a young prince who joins Mahavir's sangh, illustrating how Mahavir inspired youth towards spiritual pursuits and social change.
• Chandkaushik - Universal Language: Further elaborates on the encounter with the cobra Chandkaushik, explaining the concept of "Divya Dhwani" or the universal language of pure souls, achieved through soul purification.
• Mahashatak - The Family: Addresses the challenges of maintaining spiritual practice within family life, as seen in the story of Mahashatak and his wife Revati, and Mahavir's advice on dealing with marital conflict.
• Anand - The Art of Living: Explains how laypersons can practice sadhana and achieve liberation while fulfilling their worldly responsibilities, as exemplified by Anand.
• Puniya - Purchasing Sadhana: Illustrates the true nature of spiritual practices like 'Samayik' (meditation) as a process of self-purification that cannot be bought or sold.
• Anathi - The Orphan: A young monk teaches Emperor Shrenik about the true meaning of being an orphan and a guardian, emphasizing the soul's independence from the body.
• Prasannachandra - Mind & Action: Discusses the importance of controlling the mind and the consequences of dying with a disturbed mind, using the example of King Prasannachandra.
• Taamali of Tamralipti - Extreme Penance: Explores the concept of extreme penance (santhara) and its spiritual significance, cautioning against misinterpreting it as suicide.
• Gautam's Guardian: Gautam's personal struggle with attachment, even to Mahavir, and Mahavir's guidance on how to achieve complete liberation by transcending all attachments, including to one's Guru.
• Nirvana - I Am Alone: Gautam's reflections on Mahavir's passing and his realization about the true nature of detachment and universal love, leading to his own spiritual awakening.

Relevance and Message:

The book emphasizes that Mahavir's message is incredibly timely for the modern world, offering solutions to contemporary issues such as war, terrorism, environmental degradation, social injustice, and poverty. It encourages readers to reflect on their own role in society and to be inspired by Mahavir's path of compassion, non-violence, and self-discipline. "Walk With Me" aims to guide readers towards understanding Jainism not just as a religion but as a practical philosophy for living a meaningful and transformed life.