Mantra Jñāna: Passage through the Sūkṣma Śarīra
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An Introduction to Jain Philosophy
Mantra Jñāna: Passage through the Sūkṣma Śarīra
Based on the Writings and Discourses by Ācārya Sushil Kumar
By Parveen Jain
Edited by Cogen Bohanec, PhD
“Mantra Jñāna: Passage through the Sūkṣma Śarīra,” the latest book authored by Dr. Parveen Jain, offers a comprehensive exploration of Jain mantra philosophy and its impact on the subtle body. Based on the teachings of Ācārya Sushil Kumar, the book delves into the metaphysics of language and the transformative power of mantras in spiritual progression. The text elaborates on how mantras interact with the subtle body, known as the sūkṣma śarīra, to produce profound effects on personal conduct and spiritual development. Mantras are depicted as instruments for awakening inner spiritual energies and harmonizing the practitioner's consciousness with universal truths. The book also highlights the intricate relationships between sound, light, and color in the context of mantra practice, based on Ācārya Sushil Kumar’s discourses, emphasizing the interplay between phonemes and the fundamental elements of nature – earth, fire, wind, water, and space (dravya-tattvas: pṛthivī, agni, vāyu, jala, ākāśa)—also called pañca-dravyas or pañca-bhūtas.
Ācārya Sushil Kumar explains how through mantra recitation, practitioners can access divine energies and progress towards liberation by invoking cosmic vibrations. By providing insights into the science of mantra creation, the text investigates how practitioners engage in mantra sādhana to elevate their consciousness and achieve spiritual enlightenment. "Mantra Jñāna" serves as a valuable resource for understanding Jain philosophy and the spiritual benefits of mantra practice. Ultimately, this book stands as both a source of inspiration for spiritual practice among practitioners and an essential case study of Jain mantra and language theory for scholars.
The Formation of a Word from a Thought to Verbal Articulation and Contemplation
As elaborated in this book, Ācārya Sushil Kumar explains the process, when we think of a word to contemplate or utter, there is an intriguing and structured process within our body, mostly at the subtle body (sūkṣma śarīra) level that is triggered at the first thought of what we contemplate or want to say. The outcome of this process has direct implications on our actions in mind, body, and speech. The process is elaborated in this book, but here is an abbreviated overview.
In the subtle body (sūkṣma śarīra) realm, every cognitive action or occurrence, whether during contemplation or otherwise, creates a speckle of powerful vital energy (ūrjā) at the mūlādhāra, the root cakra, located just above the tailbone. This speckle of ūrjā transforms into a pulsation (spandana) invigorated by an energy that is a replication of that sensed as emitting from the earth element (pṛthivī dravya-tattva) by virtue of the relationship between pṛthivī dravya-tattva and mūlādhāra. From there, the pulsation rises and strikes the sacral cakra (svādhiṣṭhāna) located a little bit above mūlādhāra and in the middle of the bladder and the uterus for women and prostatic utricle for men. Here it gathers an energy that is a replication of that sensed from the water element (jala dravya-tattva) by virtue of the relationship between sacral cakra and jala dravya-tattva. Then the pulsation moves on to the solar plexus cakra (maṇipūra). At the maṇipūra cakra, it gets energized with an energy that is aligned with the fire element (agni dravya-tattva) due to the relationship between maṇipūra and agni dravya-tattva. Finally, it arrives at the heart cakra (anāhata) and picks up an energy that is a replication of that sensed from the wind element (vāyu dravya-tattva) due to the relationship between anāhata and vāyu dravya-tattva. Then, the pulsation gets buoyed and gathers the ability to move up. At this stage, depending on the demeanor and spiritual state of the practitioner, it either acquires audible characteristics that can take extroverted vocalized form (vaikharī) – āhata form – or transforms into an internalized contemplative sensation (paśyantī) in anāhata form. For the rarest of the advanced practitioners who have undergone extended intense perseverance, the pulsation takes the form parāvāṇī, the ultimate, most blissful internalized state involving silent recitation. In all of these cases, the pulsation draws an energy that is a replication of that which is sensed from the space element (ākāśa dravya-tattva) and ultimately merges with it.
The movement of pulsations occurs in scientifically unmeasurable short duration of time—a few instances of samaya, the smallest conceivable unit of time from a dharmic perspective. It is not noticeable by ordinary individuals but could become perceptible to highly learned spiritualists like advanced ascetics (ṛṣis and yogīs).
The state of mind and quality of thoughts play catalytic roles in how these pulsations get transformed at the heart cakra. The formation of the types of letters or words (akṣaras or śabdas) depends on the quality of the cognitive actions or thoughts, and at the same time, conversely, the quality of the thoughts depends on the words being contemplated. In that sense, words and thoughts form a positive feedback mechanism for each other. When we begin in a state of anger, contempt, or other regressive sentiments, the pulsations that initiate from the mūlādhāra and rise from the heart cakra to transform into audible sound could become a speech conveying contempt or hatred as it passes from the heart to the throat and finally exits from the mouth. However, at the same time, even if the initial demeanor is regressive but the practitioner manages to redirect it to a wholesome state of mind and thinks of spiritually auspicious words, such as oṃ or the Ṇamokār Mantra, the demeanor could start transitioning to a virtuous tone, or possibly to an audible rendering of the mantra. When the process begins with a spiritually conducive demeanor in a meditative state (dhyāna) or a devotional state (bhakti), the thoughts trigger pulsations that transform into mantras in spoken or contemplative forms. In such a practice, the aspirant would attain an exhilarating state of spiritual elation and enjoy the spiritual beauty of the inner self.
As explained by Guru Jī in his writings, and presented by the author, Dr. Parveen Jain in this book, the transformation of thoughts into effective mantras that yield the results sought by a practitioner is a highly intricate process that is proficiently and carefully structured by learned spiritualists and ascetics (yogīs, ṛṣis and ācāryas) over the ages with intense research, validation, and practice. This rigorous, exhaustive, and iterative process parallels the methods deployed in modern science, except that the mantra creation is a millennia-old contemplative discipline at the level of consciousness, whereas scientific investigations are carried out at the physiological and largely material level.
“Mantra Jñāna: Passage through the Sūkṣma Śarīra,” expected to be released soon, describes the process in intricate details.
An Introduction to Jain Philosophy
By Parveen Jain
Foreword by Professor Rita Sherma
Prologue by Professor Jeffery D. Long
Edited by Cogen Bohanec
Publication Date: December 10, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-7332236-0-7
It is well known that the Jain tradition has been extremely influential in the development of Indian thought and culture. The Jain tradition teaches that there is an interdependence of perception, knowledge, and conduct unified by an axiomatic principle of non-violence in thought, speech, and action. In this way, non-violence defines the core of the Jain tradition, which has had a profound effect on other dhārmic traditions originating in India. Jain Dharma is so significant that in some ways it may be incomplete to attempt to understand other Indian tradition (such as Buddhism or Hinduism) without knowing the basics of the Jain tradition, since these other traditions developed in an ongoing dialogue with the insights and wisdom of Jain respondents and visionaries.
An Introduction to Jain Philosophy enables the reader to enjoy a comprehensive journey into the intricate world of Jain thought and culture in a way that is philosophical in its compelling rationality, deeply spiritual in its revelations, yet accessible in its language. The organization of this book allows the reader to engage in an overview of the central teachings of the Jain tradition, but also to ascertain the profundity of its depths. It can be read with equal efficacy in succession from beginning to end, or pursued by individual topics of interest to the reader. Either strategy will have the same effect: a systematic understanding of what the timeless teachings of Jain thinkers have to say about the universal issues of the human condition — and how we might understand our harmonious relationship with other living entities as a powerful and effective spiritual journey.
Scholar Reviews
Professor Christopher Key Chapple
In the eminently readable summary of Jain thought and practice, Parveen captures the essentials: history, philosophy, and key terminology. The pursuit of nonviolence is the highest of human endeavors: this book explains why life must be protected, and illuminates the ways to accomplish this goal, individually and as a society. For a practicing Jain, this book provides foundational resources for inspiration. For someone new to the tradition, this book provides a highly useful overview.
— Christopher Key Chapple, PhD, is Doshi Professor of Indic and Comparative Theology, and Director, Master of Arts in Yoga Studies, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California.
Professor Jeffery D. Long
Parveen Jain has done a great service to the Jain tradition, and to scholars and students of Jainism, by making the teachings of Acharya Sushil Kumar, until now accessible mostly to Hindi-speakers, available to the English-speaking world. This book will no doubt serve as an important primary source for scholars for generations to come, as well as a most useful teaching tool for instructors who wish to incorporate a Jain voice into their curriculum.
Jain’s [An] Introduction [to Jain Philosophy], covers an enormous range of topics, giving the reader a thorough introduction to Jain thought from the perspective of a practitioner of this tradition.
Jain Dharm [An Introduction to Jain Philosophy] is a comprehensive overview of Jain philosophy and, with Parveen Jain’s translation, it makes the subtlest, most difficult Jain concepts understandable to the average educated reader. I believe this book will become important both for scholars of Jainism and Indian philosophy as a whole, and for laypersons wishing to better understand these teachings.
— Jeffery D. Long, PhD, is Professor of Religious and Asian Studies, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.
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Professor Christopher Patrick Miller
For Jain practitioners and other spiritually inclined individuals, Parveen Jain has provided an encyclopedic storehouse of spiritual teachings…. I would especially recommend this book to those individuals seeking to further their basic knowledge of Jainism, or to members of the Jain community who would like to know more about specific interpretations of Jain teachings according to the lineage of Acharya Sushil Kumar.
For scholars, this book provides a treasure chest of fresh data for understanding one particular way that Jainism, as a religious practice, has been translated into contemporary global society.
Scholar-practitioners, as well as those who, at a minimum, are not necessarily Jains by birth but nevertheless continually seek to adopt the Jain way of life, An Introduction to Jain Philosophy provides inspiring Jain theological formulations we can turn to as we teach, and earnestly live, Jain principles.
— Christopher Patrick Miller, PhD, is Bhagwan Mallinath Assistant Professor of Jainism and Yoga Studies, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California.
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Professor Anand Jayprakash Vaidya
Parveen Jain's An Introduction to Jain Philosophy is a magnificent accomplishment for Jain scholarship and those interested in learning about world religions. In a careful and accessible manner, he introduces the core ideas of the Jain Dharma: from ethics and salvation, through epistemology and philosophy of language, to metaphysics. It is both historical and topically comprehensive across the main doctrines of Jain philosophy, such as ahimṣā, anekāntavāda, nayavāda, and syādvāda. But, importantly, it also discusses Jain psychology and Jain Yoga, two areas that are often not discussed in introductions, which desperately need much more attention. Finally, it includes a summary of Jain Mantras for those that wish to practice. I found the book a pleasure to read both for the fluidity of Parveen's writing as well as the insights the book brings out. I would recommend the book as an introduction to Jain Dharma and think it is suitable as a book, alongside primary texts, for teaching introductory courses on Jainism.
— Anand Jayprakash Vaidya, PhD, is Professor of Philosophy, San Jose State University, San Jose, California.
Professor David Pinault
My overall impression is that you [Parveen Jain] have written a very valuable book. You strive everywhere to be precise and succinct, focusing on what will be of universal interest for both Jains and non-Jains. … Particularly noteworthy is your clarity; no specialist knowledge is necessary for understanding what you've written. This is a difficult achievement.
This book has a lot to say to the situation today prevailing throughout much of the world in our internet age, where we are saturated by a great deal of information that is unaccompanied by very much true wisdom.
An Introduction to Jain Philosophy is a splendid achievement, thorough, carefully researched, and well-written. Congratulations!
— David Pinault, PhD, is Professor of Religious Studies, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California.
An Introduction to Jain Philosophy includes:
The topics covered in the book:
Characteristics of Jain Dharma and a Glimpse into the Past
Path to Salvation – Right Perception
Right Knowledge – Analysis of the Universe – the Fundamental Truth
Fundamental Doctrines: Nayavāda, Anekāntavāda, and Syādvāda
Jain Psychology
Jain Yoga: Meditation and Union with Divinity
Doctrine of Karma – Spiritual Progression
Right Conduct and Doctrine of Ethics
The Virtues of Jain Mendicants
The Lineage of Jain Dharma
Mantras and the Art and Science Behind Their Formulations
Foreword by Rita Sherma
Rita Sherma, PhD, is the founding director and an associate professor of the Mira and Ajay Shingal Center for Dharma Studies at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. Sherma is co-founder of the American Academy of Religion’s Hinduism Program Unit, and the founding vice president of the Dharma Academy of North America, a scholarly society for research on Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain religious and interreligious studies. She serves on the board of the Society for Hindu-Christian Studies, and is the founding editor of the Journal of Dharma Studies and serves on the editorial board for the Reading Religion journal.
Prologue by Jeffery D. Long
Jeffery D. Long, PhD, is a professor of Religion and Asian Studies at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania. He is the author of three books and a wide array of articles on Hinduism, Indian philosophy, and religious pluralism.
Edited by Cogen Bohanec
Cogen Bohanec is a PhD candidate at the Mira and Ajay Shingal Center for Dharma Studies at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) in Berkeley, California. He holds an MA in Buddhist Studies from the Institute of Buddhist Studies at GTU.
