Jainism in a Global Perspective - Collection of Jain papers of 1993 Parliament of World Religions, Chicago

SR No.: 014010
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain, Shreeprakash Pandey
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1998
Total Pages: 402
Language: English
Classification: Seminar & Articles
File Size: 23 MB

Page 316

Aņuvrala the Jaina Path to Self-Transformation and World Peace 287
tively motivated by the maxim :
In small proportion we just beauties see; And in short measures, life may perfect be.
Ācārya Tulasi began his mission by carefully drawing up a code of conduct for all individuals in society. The Movement embodies a vision of a harmonious society free from exploitation and conflict. There is a striking similarity between his vision and that of Tagore's heaven of freedom as pictured by him in his immortal work Gītāñjali.
The most important thing about the Movement is that it strives after the middle path steering clear of the two extremes of absolute asceticism (mahāvratas) and unbridled materialism resulting in moral torpor. The Anuvrata Movement aims at ushering in an era of self-awakening - the antithesis of the Atomic Age.
Acārya carries his message far and wide covering thousands of miles on foot, enjoining on the people the discipline of aņuvrats. The voice of the Movement has by now permeated the masses focussing their attention on the importance of self-restraint. The phenomenal rise in incidents of communal clashes and racial riots in the fast-growing multicultural societies mushrooming all over the world giving rise to frenzied massacres like the ones the world watched helplessly in Sri Lanka, Lebanan, South Aftica, Middle east and Bosnia makes it imperative for everyone to carry the Movement across the seas to ensure amity and reconciliation between differing groups and cultures.
Ācārya Śrī realized in the wake of his experiment of enjoining the discipline of anuvrats on the individuals that a radical attitudinal change in man was not possible merely through the advocacy of the anuvratacode of conduct. It must be accompanied by another effective tool that can gradually induce him to introspect. Yuvācārya Mahāprajña (now an Ācārya) came up with a bright idea of a unique technique of meditation called Prekşā Dhyāna as a means to bring about a mass psychological transformation. Acārya Śri added Prekṣā meditation to his programme of reconstruction of moral and spiritual values. Fortified with this potent means of an attitudinal change in man, the Aņrvrata Movement has added a new and important dimension. A follower of aņuvratacode has to practise