Self-Realization - a Deep Study
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[[ Vandittu Savva Siddhe ]] Self-Realization - A Deep Study An English Translation of Atma-Siddhi Anushilan Author Pandit Fulchand Shastri English Translation by Dr. Shilpa Pradip Mehta Publisher Adhyatmik Sadhana Kendra Umarala - 364 330. Dist - Bhavnagar (Gujarat), India Ph.: +91-2843-235203 E-mail : [email protected] Website : www.fulchandshastri.com First Edition of Atma-Siddhi Anushilan: February 2008 English Translation: July 2012 Price: Rs. 50/- Design: Urvi Compugraphics A2/248, Shah & Nahar Industrial Est., Lower Parel (W), Mumbai 400 013. Tel.: 2494 5863 e-mail : [email protected] Print, Binding: Genius Graphics & Offset “Ganga Bhuvan”, Old Pailot Dairy Road, Opp. Kangalpurigam, Nr. Shrirang Society, Kankaria Road, Ahmedabad 380 022, Gujarat Available At: Adhyatmik Sadhana Kendra Umarala - 364 330. Dist. Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India Ph.: +91-2843-235203 e-mail : [email protected] website : www.fulchandshastri.com Foreword to “Atma-Siddhi Anushilan” Atma-Siddhi Shaastra is a scripture, a sacred book. The author of Atma-Siddhi Shaastra, Shrimad Rajchandra, is one of the adored, holy, true spiritual Masters the world has ever known. He was an Atma-Jnani, a knower of self, and his state of existence was without attachment for a position, wealth, fame and even the body, though in embodied condition. Atma-Siddhi Anushilan (Self-Realization-A Deep Study) has been written in order to make it easy for the reader to understand the essence of Atma-Siddhi Shaastra. The viewpoint of the author, Pandit Fulchand Shastri, gives rise to something new, special and different from each stanza. Each stanza has been further explained by giving simple examples. This makes the book interesting and appealing for the readers and inspires them to attain self-realization. This will reflect the success of the author of this book. I wish all the readers who make the effort to read Atma-Siddhi Anushilan attain self-realization. Dahyabhai C. Mehta, Mumbai (Former Judge) Self-Realization - A Deep Study Foreword to “Atma-Siddhi Anushilan” Shrimad Rajchandra was a self-realized Soul and respected by all. His scripture, “Atma-Siddhi Shaastra”, in poetry form, is applicable to all people, for all times. It is based on the science of the Soul. If one goes deep into this ocean of knowledge, one can find the true pearl of the Soul. For this one needs enthusiasm. The author’s success has been proved by the fact that he has awoken this enthusiasm in many people. He has used the appropriate explanations to lead the reader to spiritualism. The author has to be congratulated for clarifying each stanza using simple language, short sentences and examples from daily life. I wish that everyone who reads this Atma-Siddhi Anushilan (Self-Realization-A Deep Study) is converted from a bigot to a true seeker of the Soul and attains self-realization and moksha. Suryavadan Thakoredas Zaveri Self-Realization - A Deep Study Preface “Atma-Siddhi Shaastra”, written in Gujarati language by Shrimad Rajchandra, is an invaluable scripture. It explains the nature of the Soul from multiple viewpoints. Pujya Kanjiswami has praised Shrimad Rajchandra as a self- realized Soul and also given lectures on “Atma-Siddhi Shaastra”. I bow down with reverence to Shrimad Rajchandra and Pujya Kanjiswami. “Atma-Siddhi Anushilan” was written in order to explain this sacred text in a simple and concise language, giving examples from daily life, using a combination of Shrimad Rajchandra and Pujya Kanjiswami’s viewpoints. Many students from abroad and India, who were not fluent in Gujarati, requested me to translate this book into English. “Self-Realization-A Deep Study” is the English translation of “Atma-Siddhi Anushilan” by Dr. Shilpa Pradip Mehta. We have spent over two years translating this book to the best of our ability. I deeply thank her and her mother, Smt. Sumanben Ramniklal Kothari, for their effort and support. I am extremely happy to have met both of them. I sincerely thank my grandparents, Shri Shyamdev Swami and Smt. Ratandevi, and my parents, Shri Kishorebhai and Smt. Nirmalaben Jain, for their upbringing and for inspiring me to study Jainism. I am extremely grateful to my religious guide, Dr. Hukamchand Bharill and the Pandit Todarmal Jain Siddhant College for the education imparted to me for five years. I thank all my sponsors for their generous contributions. I got immense support throughout my stay in Mumbai from Shri Dineshbhai M. Kothari. My heartfelt thanks go to Shri Harshanandan Trivedi of Urvi Compugraphics and Mr. Jignesh Gohel / Rakesh Gohel of Genius Graphics & Offset. This book is also available online on the website: www.fulchandshastri.com. I welcome any feedback and suggestions for improvements by email or post. Pandit Fulchand Shastri Website: www.fulchandshastri.com Email: [email protected] Self-Realization - A Deep Study From the Publisher They are not Jains by birth, but they do not have alcohol, non-vegetarian food, honey and other non-eatable food, they do not eat after sunset, go to the temple everyday to worship omniscient God and are also devoted to Sadguru, do saamayik thrice a day. This is not imaginary, but real. To meet such people one should visit Adhyatmik Sadhana Kendra in Umarala, Gujarat. We are sure these disciples of Jainism will impress you. Jainism, the religion, described by omniscient God, has no boundaries. There is no prejudice between different castes and communities. A person who lives his life with good conduct is a real Jain. In spite of not being born in a Jain family, many people in India and abroad have converted to Jainism, inspired by spiritual saint Shri Shyamdev Swami, who himself was also not a Jain by birth. Umarala is the birthplace of Shri Kanjiswami. Inspired by Shrimad Rajchandra, Adhyatmik Sadhana Kendra has been established to assist people going through a discipline for attaining moksha. Pandit Fulchand Shastri, grandson of Shri Shyamdev Swami, will be conducting lectures every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Jnana and bhakti will be obtained in parallel. We hope that this venture will be very successful. A Gaushala (place where cows are housed), a Jeevdaya Kendra and a spiritual study center will be opened soon at Umarala by Shri Shyam Smarak Trust. This trust will also cater to the needs of scholars spreading Jainism. Everyone is invited to visit us. Boarding and lodging will be arranged. Umarala is 20 km from Songadh, 43 km from Palitana, 40 km from Bhavnagar and 160 km from Ahemdabad. There is a direct train (Bhavnagar Express) to Umarala from Mumbai. Self-Realization - A Deep Study Atma-Siddhi Anushilan Self-realization: A Deep Study (Translation into English) keÀneve jepe keÀes keÀj veceve, keÀ© ceneve ³en keÀepe~ Deelceefnle keÀer ÒeeeqHle nsleg, cebieuece³e megKe meepe~~ Kahaan raaj ko kar naman, karun mahaan yah kaaj. Atmahit ki praapti hetu, mangalmay sukh saaj. We bow down to Shrimad Rajchandra and Pujya Shri Kanjiswami, as this immense task is being undertaken. Our aim is for the reader to attain self-realization and to promote well-being and happiness Atma-Siddhi means attainment of self-realization. The liberated Soul will then eternally reside steadily at the top of the universe (Siddhapad). “Atma-Siddhi Shaastra” is the religious scripture, which involves deep thinking and research into six pada or philosophical aphorisms: 1. The Soul exists. 2. The Soul is eternal. 3. The Soul is the doer of its own karma. 4. The Soul is the sufferer of its own karma. 5. The Soul’s liberation (moksha) exists. 6. The Soul’s path to liberation exists. The famous intellectual scholar, Shrimad Rajchandra, has composed this renowned and eminent religious text. The first 42 stanzas explain the signs of an enlightened living Soul (sadguru), bigot (mataarthi - one who is obstinately convinced of the superiority or correctness of his own opinions and prejudiced against those who hold Self-Realization - A Deep Study different opinions) and a true seeker of self (atmaarthi). The last 100 stanzas give the solutions to the doubts of the disciple while explaining the above six pada. The greatness of the Soul is not because either the Soul knows others or that the Soul is known by others. The greatness of the Soul is that one’s own Soul knows Himself. This religious text, Atma-Siddhi Shaastra, makes one realize one’s own Soul. Atma-Siddhi Shaastra explains that to attain self-realization is to attain the Self. One has to observe the Soul, realize the Soul and deeply concentrate on the Soul to attain self-realization. There has been a debate as to whether to call this book a “Shaastra”, because only a book written by a self-realized monk (Acharya, Upaadhyay or Sadhu) can be called a “Shaastra” and Shrimad Rajchandra was not any of these. However, Jainism is based on True Knowledge (Samyak-Jnana), which is authoritative and reliable knowledge. Therefore, a scripture written by a layman with enlightened understanding and true knowledge can be called a “Shaastra”. There were many self-realized laymen before Shrimad Rajchandra who had written scriptures called “Shaastra” e.g. “Mokshmarga Prakaashaka” by Shri Todarmalji, “Chha Dhaala” by Shri Dolatramji and “Naatak Samaysaar” by Pandit Banarasidasji. Hence, it is correct to call this scripture by Shrimad Rajchandra as a Shaastra. Dev-Shaastra-Guru Jinendra Bhagwaan (Omniscient God), Religious scriptures, True monk are instrumental for the Soul to attain liberation. The disciple has to take the support of Dev-Shaastra-Guru with a decision to understand his own Soul as well as the remaining Universe. This is essential for attaining Self-realization. In the book Samaysaar, it is written that the various media essential before Self-realization are: a study of religious scriptures, deep thought from multiple viewpoints and listening to preaching directly or indirectly from an enlightened sadguru.