Bhagwan Mahaweer : the Incredible Psychologist

 Bhagwan Mahaweer : the Incredible Psychologist

Tirthankar Mahaweer had in-depth knowledge and comprehension of human mind (मानस), psyche (चित्त), spirit (अन्तःकरण) and self (आत्म, स्वयं). Margaret Stevenson admires the all-embracing command of the Jain Thinkers in her book 'The Heart of Jainism' (1915) thus, "Their saints have deep understanding of human psychology." Sigmond Freud (1856-1939), the founder of modern Psychology stated, "Expressing one's worry to someone (a psychiatrist) helps one getting relief from its pain." Thorn of that pain keeps pricking until its burden is not shared. This is of course dependence of an individual on somebody else. Christ exhorted (during first decade AD) people saying, "Confess your sin before God. He will redeem and deliver you on the day of apocalypse." This too means relief from the suffering and again makes the being dependent. Lord Mahaweer explained (550 BC) to his audience, "तस्स मिच्छा मि दुक्कडं।" i.e., may that (transgression of mine) become infructuous. This was to be expressed after due repentance or penance. This is done independently without relying on any celestial help.

Bhagwan Mahaweer further elaborated, "तस्स उत्तरीकरणेण पायछित्तकरणेणम् विसोहिकरणेणम् विसल्लीकरणेणम् ... ।" i.e., to make my-self better, to repent, to purify and to become thorn-free ... ... (I keep away from sins). This result is expected from (and achieved by regular practice of) the daily Samayik or Prtikraman, the everyday Jain Meditative processes of 48 minutes. The significant term is 'thorn-free'. Everyday a human being commits, knowingly or unknowingly, acts of transgression towards other living creatures, ant or elephant, animal or bird, plant or human being. And during the 48 minutes spiritual, soulful observance by a devotee everyday he cleanses his mind, psyche and heart of the burden of those transgressions.

The devotee goes beyond mere one-way act. They seek forgiveness from all the living beings in the universe for their acts of sin and, in reciprocation, forgive every being in the universe too: "खामेमि सव्वे जीवा, सव्वे जीवा खमंतु मे।" This is in recognition, on daily basis, of mutual dependence for peaceful co-existence. The plant of universal peace is being irrigated every day. Having spread the message of peace, the devotee then works for all-inclusive friendship. Engrossed deeply in the meditative pose (कायोत्सर्ग) they chant a verse: "मित्ती मे सव्व भूएसु, वेरं मज्झम् ण केणइ।" which means I have friendship with all the beings in the universe; I hold no enmity against any creature, from 1-sensed to 5-sensed beings, in the universe. Thus, the devotees dedicate themselves to celestial brotherhood every day, an ajatshatru state, i.e., one who has no enemy.

Jain thinkers minutely analyze the body activity processes as well. The pure soul (आत्मा), present in the body of a being, provides impetus for action by the being. It always gives positive vibes, because it is pure. These vibes enter the tainted self (आत्म) through the principle of parallelism and get colored due to the instincts, passions and acts of the spirit (अन्तःकरण). These affected vibes create feelings (वेदन) in the form of a wave of flutter (अध्यवसाय) that passes through the karmic and fiery bodies. This wave causes emotion (भाव) in the psyche (चित्त) that creates thought in the mind (मानस/मन) which results in action (क्रिया) in the endocrine gland system (अंतरस्रावी ग्रंथी प्रणालि) of the body. Suitable hormones (ग्रंथिरस) are secreted by the glands and the nervous system moves/orders the organs to perform appropriate activity. Since science does not recognize the existence of soul, sich a detailed fine process is not described by them.

"Positive Thinking" is the talk of the current times. It has become a catchphrase during the last 3-4 decades. But Mahaweer's Philosophy is designed, 2550 years ago, wholly on this theme. All the fundamental principles -- non-hurt (अहिंसा), truth (सत्य), non-theft (अस्तेय), celibacy (ब्रह्मचर्य) and non-accumulation (अपरिग्रह) -- together form the foundation of this constructive philosophy, nay, the way of living life for the humankind. The way these principles have been deeply analyzed is a unique approach of this philosophy, hardly found in any other philosophy, oriental or occidental, of this world. Acharya Umaswati in his book 'Tattwarth Sutra' writes, "परस्परोपग्रहो जीवानाम् (उपकारः भवति)।" It means, interdependent living is the function of all the mundane living beings. The recognition of this 'interdependence' as the core parameter of peaceful co-existence is the essence of this treatise, which is at the center of universal brotherhood, love, compassion, care, concern, respect, kindness, trust, belief, faith, welfare, wellbeing of not only of mankind bur the whole living world forming the indivisible environment.

Personality change is attainable by the methods presented by the Great Psychotherapist Mahaweer. What you eat determines what you become. There is evidence that vegetarian food is the best suited food for human beings. How much you eat determines your health. Mahaweer prescribed various kinds of fasting methods taking into account the vast spectrum of diseases. What you like hearing/seeing/smelling/tasting/touching affects your sense organs. Mahaweer proposed simplicity in leading life. Science also hypothesizes that human behavior can be changed by twicking some genes a little. But these changes in personality won't be permanent as are achieved by Mahaweer's practices.