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Jiva RelatednessandRelationships:FormsofBecoming
NinaMehta - author NinaMehtalivesin New York,buttravelstootherplacesdoingsocialscienceandethnographicresearch. Sheplaysmusic, formerlyinringsandfirstnation, on AnimalCollective's Paw Trackslabel,andnowanewp rojectcalledearthbones. Sheisalsocurrentlymakingadocumentary,tellingdifferentJainstories, interrelatedversions, practices andexperiencesofandwith Jainism. Nunstravelingbetween London, Texas, Floridaandpilgrimagesin Rajasthan,anexmonklivingin New York,ananimalhospitalin Delhi,vegananimalactivistsin Bangalore,acooperativedair yfarmin Tanzania, templesinsuburbanNew Jerseyhomes,aresomeofthesitesandcharactersexplored.
Jain MeditationInternational Centerin New York In Jainphilosophy,soulsattachtobodies, flexibleinsizeandscope,sothatthesamesoulcanfitinsideahurricanean dtheuprootedtreethatlaysinitswake;soulsmovethrough,andsometimesfrom theformsofawhale,anant, ahuma naraindrop. Thesesoulschange,andthebodieschange,buttheyallexist, always. Theuniverseandeverythinginitiseternal. AccordingtoJainscriptures, elaboratedby Mahavira, the 24"handlastTirthankar[1].thereare8.4millionkindsoflivi ngbeings, orjivas[2]. Considering Jaincosmologiesandthekarmicconnectionbetweenlivingbeingsmaychangethewaysthatwethink aboutandrelatetosubjects, objects, things, livingtogether. Through Jainperspectivesonlifecycles, wemaycometodifferentformsofknowingandbeingrelatedtoothers,con nectedthroughsoultransmigrationandkarma. Thisconceptdoesn'tfollowalineartrajectoryfromatomstoanimalsinanevolutionarywayitisinteractionsthatmovebeingsthroughtimeandlifecycles. Jainformermonkandspiritualleader GurudevShreeChitrabhanu's Jainmeditationcenterin New York, provideso newaytoseeapracticeofthisphilosophy,andtheemergenceofaJainmoralself inrelationtolivingintheworld, toget her.
Jain MeditationInternationalCenter Chitrabhanuspentthefirstfiveyearsofhismonasticlifewalkingthroughwoods, mountainsandvillagesinsilence,f astingandmeditatingundertheguidanceofaJain Acharya,ormonkinstructor. In 1970, after28yearsasamonk, heacceptedaninvitationtothe Second SpiritualSummitConferencein Geneva,b ecomingthefirst Jainmastertoleavelndia. Choosingtotravelbyothermeansthanhisfeet,Chitrabhanurenouncedhisvows,andmarriedlongtimestudent, Pramoda. WhenlaskwhyhedecidedtoleaveIndia, hetellsme"Globalproblemsarecreatedbyglobalpeople. "So, hetranspor tedhismessageofnonviolenceandrespectforallformsoflifetoaglobalaudience,openingthe JainInternational Meditation CenterinNew Yorkin 1974, andavirtualcenterontheweb. Chitrabhanuhaswrittenover25books, andisaspiritualguideto Jaincentersthroughoutthe USandin England, Afric a, Japan, Singapore, DubaiandIndia. Chitrabhanuhopestobeanexampleofawareness,nonviolence,"rightvision, "toinspirepeaceandrespectforalllivingbeings. AfterawinterinIndia, Chitrabhanuisbackin New Yorkathis Jain Meditation Center, whichexistsintheformofWedn
| SR No. | 250394 |
| Book Title | Jiva Relatedness and Relationships |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Nina Mehta |
| Publisher | Nina Mehta |
| Publication Year | |
| Total Pages | 7 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Article |
| File Size | 41 KB |