Jain Digest 2018 10

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 22

JainDigest
Bodhi Durlabh Bhavana By Pravin L. Shah
Pravin L. Shah is a scientist in the field of Newtonian physics. He has studied Jain Agam texts and classic texts of Acharya Kundkund, Haribhadra, Upadhyay Yashoivijayji and Anandghanji, and Shrimad Rajchandra in great depth for the last forty years. He is fluent in Sanskrit and Prakrit and has conducted spiritual discourses and Paryushan programs for over three decades. He has published a ground-breaking book entitled, Atmasadhnana Na Amrut Anusthan", which was released in July 2017 at the Jaina convention in NJ. He lives in Reading, PA and his email is: pshahusa@yahoo.com
Bodhi Durlabh Bhavana: This bhavana contains two words that we need to understand - Bodhi and Durlabh.
The word Bodhi means knowledge; acquiring knowledge of who we are. It also means having right faith - faith in the teachings of Lord Mahavir - which also means achieving "Samyak-Darshan". The word "Durlabh" means difficult to achieve. Indeed, Samyak Darshan or Self Realization is difficult and is achieved by very few. The subject of Bodhi Durlabh Bhavana is contemplation and practice of what is necessary to achieve Samyak Darshan.
Why is it difficult to achieve Samyak Darshan?
In Uttaradhyayan Sutra, Lord Mahavir cites following well-known verse:
Chattari Parmanganam, Dulhanin Jantuno; Manusatam Sui Shraddha, Sayammiya Viryam (Uttaradhyayan Sutra - chapter 3 verse 1)
During his last sermon Lord Mahavir spoke about the importance of above verse in his non-stop forty-eight hour sermon on the most precious and rare four entities required to attain Bodhi to Pujya Gautam Swami.
1) Human life: Human life is very precious and rare, attained after infinite birth and death cycles in lower life forms like vegetation and animal kingdom. It provides unique opportunity to every soul to pursue spiritual growth and liberate from the bondage of karma. However, the quality of human life required to attain liberation requires additional conditions as listed below.
2) Shruti or keen interest in Jain scriptures: According to Jain teachings, a person becomes eligible for pursuing genuine spiritual growth after one is exposed to the teachings of Jain masters with keen interest and develops genuine quest to know his real Self. So the word Shurti in above verse means listening to and study of Jain scriptures from a self realized master to awaken one's consciousness or soul. According to Jain Agam texts, all of us have had numerous human experiences in the past lives, but never did we truly wake up to pursue the path of enlightenment. Due to our endless desire for material pleasures, we do not have any inclination towards spiritual advancement or interest in knowing our
true nature.
3) Right Faith: Finding a genuine self realized Sadguru or teacher is very rare according to above verse which makes it difficult to develop right faith and acquire a burning desire for liberation. Having right faith is the most important attribute or quality to attain self-realization or Samayak Darshan, and it requires a lot of self-discipline and commitment to acquire right spiritual qualification.
4)Spiritual Practice: The last few words in above verse mean that a seeker needs to practice and live his life according
to the teachings of Jain masters. This is also not easy to do. Due to the many shortcomings we have - mental, emotional, physical - it is difficult for most people to devote time and energy towards satsang, penance, religious rituals, etc.
The only useful purpose of the present birth is to turn within and realise the Self. There is nothing else to do.
Sri Ramana Maharshi: Talk 219.
As described above, even though we have been blessed with a very rare human life and have all the facilities to advance spiritually, many of us fail to do so. We are too deeply attached and involved in whatever is happening in our daily lives. We fail to realize that this is all a game of good and bad karma and everything is temporary. We get too involved in the drama of life and forget that we are a soul playing a role. Our lives and actions are influenced by passions, wrong beliefs and our desires. Add to that the difficulty of deciding the path, and finding the Guru to follow, most people give up the search for eternal happiness.