Coming Off Auto-Pilot: Applications of Purushärth
Written by Deesha Ajmera
The five Samvayas, or causal factors
Jainism recognizes the 5 Samvayas as causal factors linked to every event that takes place in the universe. These are defined in Jainism as the following: Käl (time), Swabhäv (nature), Niyati (destiny), Karma, and Purushärth (self-effort) — check out this resource for a quick overview. Having developed a basic understanding of the meaning of each of the aforementioned factors, we will now dive into how they apply to our day-to-day lives.
Each and every event that occurs does so as a result of these causes. It is important to understand that while these Samvayas may exist individually, we observe their combined effect in the form of any event.
What, if anything, is within our control?
At the same time, an important thought comes to mind — if these 5 causes are previously defined, what, if anything, is within our control? Consider the following breakdown:
As Jains, we realize that we are incredibly fortunate to have been born as humans with access to and belief in the Jain faith (most of us within a Jain family, as well; for these various aspects to line up is remarkably rare). How can we make the most of this birth, then? What actions can we exert to further ourselves spiritually? That is, which of the Samvayas can we directly shape?
- We may be able to turn a clock backwards, but we can’t truly change time.
- We may be able to create new inventions and innovations, but the nature of a given substance will stay the same as governed by its makeup of atoms, molecules, and/or characteristics.
- We may think our actions can change destiny, but our destiny is predetermined and unalterable.
- We may think we can free ourselves from our Karmas, but we all have to face the consequences of our past. Karmas that are bound to our soul must come to fruition.
Thus, all that remains is Purushärth, or self-effort, as this Samvaya is the only one that is forward-looking and within our control. Purushärth allows us to make deliberate, conscious decisions to shape future events (as Doctor Strange from the Marvel Cinematic Universe does — read more here). Implementing well-intentioned self-effort allows one to work towards eradicating their Karmas and achieving spiritual upliftment.
Self-effort in an everyday scenario
Let us consider a typical day in the life of a young Jain, such as myself. I might wake up at eight o’clock in the morning, but lay in bed for another hour before getting out of bed. Then, I brush my teeth and freshen up before I head downstairs to the kitchen for breakfast. After cooking and cleaning, my day of school or work begins. I come home and decide to make pasta for dinner, boiling a pot of water and prepping vegetables. After dinner, I tidy up a bit. Tonight I have plans with my friends, so I get ready to meet them. We decide to watch a movie, and I spend a few hours with them before returning home. I get ready for bed and browse on my phone until I feel tired enough to fall asleep.
Now, ask yourself: where did I exercise self-effort during my day? Where could I have exerted greater self-effort? Most of us amble through our daily routine without a second thought. We wake up, eat, work, relax, sleep, and repeat. However, understanding the importance of and applying Purushärth allows us to make changes to our intent and resulting thoughts, words, and actions.
Reconsider the scenario above.
- Waking up and going to sleep: Our sleeping patterns and behaviors can be lazy or intentional. If someone goes to sleep significantly late at night, they will likely either take a nap during the following day or wake up still feeling restless. In contrast, one who goes to bed early and sets an alarm for the next morning is planning to start their day off on the right foot. In fact, Maharaj Sahebs, or Jain ascetics, sleep for around 4 hours each night because they believe that this much rest is enough to make the most of their day (which is dedicated to religious study). Rather than sleeping as we please, we must train ourselves to follow a schedule.
- Cooking and eating: Our eating habits can involve the choices we make for the good of ourselves and others. We may decide what to make based on the groceries we have and the amount of time available to cook a meal. Here is another example: one may consider adopting a vegetarian diet with the goal of living a healthier lifestyle. However, as Jains, we can put in the self-effort to follow a vegetarian or vegan diet and avoid consumption of root vegetables with the intent of practicing non-violence. Taking slow steps towards achieving these goals is a good place to start (ex. not consuming eggs, following a vegan diet on certain days of the week, avoiding a few kinds of root vegetables to begin with, etc.). Our ultimate goal is to reduce our attachment to taste and eat to live — not live to eat.
- Utilizing our time at work and home: While we might be able to make it through a day at school or work doing the bare minimum, the work we complete as a result typically has a limited impact. We should, rather, put our full energy into everything we do with the intent of using our time wisely and in a manner that will benefit others. When it comes to spending time at home, we can continue to be deliberate with our choices and prioritize religious study when given the opportunity. Dedicating ten minutes a day towards introspection and learning is a good place to start!
As seen above, we can employ Purushärth, controlling our actions and the intent behind them, in everyday situations. Making decisions that will benefit ourselves and others ultimately allows us to gain control over and stop the influx of Karma into our souls. Such changes allow us to begin on the path to spiritual progress, our ultimate goal.
Self-effort in the context of spiritual progress
How can we employ Purushärth in a religious context? We will now examine how Purushärth plays a role in one’s spiritual journey. Consider the following scenario, once again involving a young Jain, such as myself:
My spiritual journey might have begun during my upbringing. Perhaps my parents/guardians and grandparents taught me Sutras or drove me to Pathshala, if I had a Jain community nearby. After graduating from Pathshala and leaving home, I may decide to become further involved with Jainism by joining a YJA Committee or volunteering to teach Pathshala to younger students. When moving out, I continue to follow a vegetarian diet and practice Ahimsa (non-violence). I could pick up hobbies like meditation and yoga along the way.
Ask yourself once more: do these steps display one’s intentions to progress spiritually? What can we do at each step to practice Purushärth for the betterment of our souls? Let us delve into this mock spiritual journey further.
Reconsider the scenario above:
- Pathshala: Some students might have been forced to attend Pathshala, while others might have been naturally curious and interested in the material being taught. If you were able to attend Pathshala, think back: did you make the most out of that experience? Were you the child that made fun of the teachers in the back of the classroom or did you ask questions about everything? Would you go home and complain about class or would you tell your parents about everything you learned? Purushärth is more than simply going to class — it necessitates putting in the effort to learn and gain knowledge. Learning about Jain principles and concepts gives us the knowledge needed to better understand our souls and the world around us. That learning has no limits nor an end — if you didn’t have the opportunity to attend Pathshala as a child, you can still start your studies in Jainism today!
- Involvement: There are several ways one can be involved with the Jain community, both locally and nationally (ex. through organizations like JAINA and YJA!). Many people might be attracted to certain opportunities solely to socialize and have fun. True involvement, however, goes one step further. How can we be involved in ways that benefit our community and give us an outlet to do good? While this can vary based on one’s passions and skill sets, such involvement is motivated by a desire to stay close to and incorporate Jain principles into one’s activities. Whether directly or indirectly, it is never too late to get involved in Jainism-focused initiatives; a number of such opportunities are available to youth today.
- Application: We each practice Jainism through different means and with different intentions. While our parents might have raised us as vegetarians, did we continue this behavior after moving out simply because it felt normal or because of a personal desire and conscious decision to practice Ahimsa? Another example is that of meditation, which has become a mainstream activity often marketed for its health benefits — do we make an active effort to meditate to become closer to our souls, as Jain ascetics have been doing for years? While practicing alertness, mindfulness, and gratitude can help one be a better person, they can also help one be a better Jain when energy is focused towards spiritual upliftment. After being given the necessary knowledge and opportunities, it is now our turn to actively utilize these resources to strengthen our faith and our conduct.
Coming off autopilot
So, how do we move forward? Keep in mind that self-effort is not a one-time decision, but rather an intention one holds when making any choice. Being mindful of Jain values based on how convenient that mindfulness is will only hinder our spiritual progress. Make an active effort to exercise Purushärth with every thought, word, and action. Remember, while many things are out of our control, exerting self-effort is within our reach. In response, we should strive to take full advantage of this Samvaya throughout our everyday lives and spiritual journeys.
To learn more about the five Samvayas and explore examples around the categorization and analysis of causal relationships, please check out the YJA Pathshala module on Samvayas at https://yja.org/pathshala!
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If anything in this article has offended you or gone against the teachings of Bhagwan Mahavir, we sincerely ask for forgiveness. Michhami Dukkadam!
