Yogakshema Sutra

This Jain text, "Yogakshema Sutra" by Niranjana Jain, published by Jain Vishva Bharati, is a compilation of aphorisms and sayings extracted from the sermons of Acharya Tulsi during the "Yogakshema Year." The year was celebrated in honor of Acharya Tulsi's 75th birthday.

The book is presented as a selection of concise and impactful statements ("sukti") that aim to convey profound meaning in a brief form. The author, Kumari Niranjana Jain, undertook a year-long spiritual practice including partial silence and fasting. This book is a personal record and study material for her, but also intended for others to benefit from.

The text is structured into numerous short sections, each focusing on a specific theme or concept related to spiritual practice, ethical living, mental well-being, and the Jain philosophy. These themes are presented through a collection of numbered points, offering guidance and wisdom on various aspects of life and spirituality.

Key Themes and Concepts Covered (based on the provided page titles):

• Auspiciousness (Mangal): What constitutes true auspiciousness, both material and spiritual.
• Happiness (Sukh): Exploring the nature of happiness, its sources, and how to cultivate it.
• Life: Viewing life as a song rather than a story of suffering, emphasizing acceptance and finding joy.
• Peace of Mind: The importance of mental peace, its cultivation, and its benefits.
• Health: Defining what it means to be truly healthy, encompassing both physical and mental well-being.
• Silence (Moun): The profound significance of silence as a spiritual practice.
• Goodness/Virtue: The value of accumulating good deeds and virtuous qualities.
• Easy vs. Difficult: Identifying what is readily available versus what is rare and valuable.
• Duty: The sweetness and importance of fulfilling one's duties.
• Patience/Endurance: The inherent nature of endurance and its role in spiritual growth.
• Dualities/Pairs (Dvikon, Chatushkon, Trikon): Exploring concepts through pairs or groups of three or four related ideas.
• Freedom of Action: The principle of "Do as you wish" within ethical boundaries.
• Art of Living: Practical advice on how to live a meaningful and fulfilling life.
• Strength and Weakness: The idea that strength is life, and weakness is death.
• Joy of Solitude: Finding happiness and growth in being alone.
• Purity of Food: The connection between pure food and a pure inner self.
• Speech: The importance of speaking gently and avoiding harsh words.
• Laughter: The life-affirming power of laughter.
• Adversity: How misfortune can be a source of strength and growth.
• Problem-Solving: Strategies for overcoming challenges.
• Timeliness: The importance of acting in the present moment.
• Anger: The destructive nature of anger.
• Resilience: The importance of not giving up.
• Cause and Effect: Understanding that actions have consequences.
• Prudence: The value of caution and foresight.
• Forgiveness/Ignoring: The wisdom of overlooking minor issues.
• Effort and Reward: The sweetness of fruits born from hard work.
• Beauty: Recognizing beauty not as an aspiration but as inherent bliss.
• Self-Mastery: Being the ruler of one's inner kingdom.
• Equanimity: Not being overjoyed in happiness or overly sorrowful in sadness.
• Knowledge and Awareness: The role of knowledge in awakening consciousness.
• Stress: Managing stress and finding equilibrium.
• Quotable Sayings: Reflections from various thinkers and personalities.
• Scientific Facts: Brief mentions of scientific principles.
• Cheerfulness: The innate purity of the heart leading to happiness.
• Words of Wisdom: General pieces of advice.
• Charitable Giving: The act of giving and its significance.
• Purity of Mind: The impact of a clear mind on one's well-being.
• Enlightened Mind: The connection between an illuminated mind and the world.
• Love: Building a temple of happiness with the bricks of love.
• Glimpses: Brief inspirational snippets.
• Purity of Conduct: True religion lies in the conduct of a pure heart.
• Attitude: The importance of one's disposition for maintaining beauty.
• Words of the Arhat: Teachings and sayings attributed to enlightened beings.
• The Unspoken: Recognizing that not everything needs to be said.
• Skin Color and Disposition: The connection between one's inner nature and outward appearance.
• The Act of Smiling: The importance of smiling and not overthinking small matters.
• Sayings: Common sayings and proverbs.
• Perspective: The value of seeing things from a different angle.
• Bitter Words: Avoiding and dealing with harsh speech.
• Freedom: The yearning for freedom as the soul's music.
• Inner Suffering: The torment of a wicked heart being hell for the living soul.
• Self-Reliance: Understanding that one creates their own entanglements and solutions.
• Awakening: The call to rise and gain wisdom.
• Non-Violence: Recognizing suffering (dukkha) and happiness (harsh) as forms of violence.
• Contentment: True happiness lies in contentment.
• Refuge in Dharma: Finding refuge in one's own inherent nature (Dharma).
• Humility: Gaining greatness through humility, and losing God through pride.
• The Path to Happiness: The way to achieve happiness.
• Celibacy: The observance of celibacy in the human life form.
• Spiritual Practice: The foundation and essence of spiritual practice.
• Mortality: How death can lead one to become a spiritual seeker.
• The Sutra of Yogakshema: The core principles of well-being and prosperity.
• Good Thoughts: The inner beauty derived from positive thinking.
• Companionship: How supportive companions elevate an individual.
• Food for Thought: Reflections on life and existence.
• Gems of Knowledge: Snippets of wisdom.
• Devotee of God: How devotion brings inner peace.
• Realization: The difficulty of becoming human versus finding God.
• Empty Mind: How an empty mind can be a home for God.
• Live and Let Learn: The principle of living by example.
• Foolishness: Recognizing that a fool sees the bait, not the trap.
• Worldly Pleasures: The cycle of enjoyment and liberation.
• Internal Sin: The nature of deception and inner sin.
• Aging and Desire: How age decreases while desire increases.
• Self-Improvement: The practice of refining one's personality.
• Mending and Joining: The importance of connection over breakage.
• Longevity: The key to a long life.
• Learning from Others: The value of learning from various sources.
• Inner and Outer Life: The principle of living internally while acting externally.
• Self-Conflict: The futility of fighting others when the real battle is within.
• Truth: The power of truth, which is unaffected by circumstances.
• Motherhood: The unparalleled value of a mother.
• The Quadrilateral: Concepts presented in fours.
• Depth vs. Shallowness: The victory of depth over superficiality.
• The Blessing of Motherhood: The preciousness of being a mother.
• The Seeker: Guidance for those on the spiritual path.
• Detachment: Living detachedly while engaged in worldly activities.
• Woman: The multifaceted nature and importance of women.
• The Joy of Illness: Finding value even in sickness.
• Don't Hold Back Tears: The importance of expressing emotions.
• Early to Bed, Early to Rise: The path to health, happiness, and contentment.
• Lifelong Learning: The continuous pursuit of knowledge.
• Time: The ephemeral nature of time.
• Moderation: The importance of staying within limits and avoiding extremes.
• Changing Perspective: The need to change one's inner state rather than external circumstances.
• Pestilence of the Mind: The intoxicating nature of negative emotions.
• The Triangle: Concepts presented in threes.

The book serves as a guide to living a more conscious, virtuous, and spiritually fulfilling life, drawing inspiration from the teachings of a prominent Jain spiritual leader.