Jain Digest 2016 08

SR No.: 527140
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA
Publication Year: 2016
Total Pages: 44
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, USA_Jain Digest, & USA
File Size: 6 MB

Page 23

Digest
Grow Non-Violence
Head of Dining and improved several of the university violence in words and policies to make it easier for fellow Jains to carry out their actions. This boded practices. For instance, I had the staff mark new serving well for me while in utensils for vegetarians at each food station to avoid cross college, but additional contamination when serving meat and vegetarian food to challenges arose while the students.
in the workplace,
where there is a clear I remember getting frustrated, going out to eat at restaurants sense of hierarchy. I and having such limited options on the menu. Asking if the was speaking to my houalets, Words. Desde Pad Thai was made with fish oil or if the dough in the dinner father recently and rolls were baked with eggs was sometimes an inconvenience he told me a story for others at the table, as well as a further limitation on about a cockroach in his office: "I remember one day a few what I could consume. However, each time I overcame and years ago when I was at work, there was a cockroach on the persevered through the difficult choices I had to make, I felt floor in my office. My boss kept yelling at me to 'step on it, a great deal of willpower and deeper respect for myself. I step on it! Even though I reported to her, I felt the need learned that those who respected and admired me for being to challenge her on this. I rationalized with her: 'if I step true to my principles turned out to be the friends I wanted on the cockroach, then it will die. "That's exactly my point, to keep close.
she had replied, 'kill it!' I explained to her that I could not
and would not kill the bug, If you attend a university in
because I did not willingly the U.S, you are bound to
Jaluta Guds kill any living beings. At
Your beliefs become your attend a party where there is
first, she was shocked at this thoughts, alcohol and other substances. Your thoughts become your
response, as it was a different Drinking alcohol is a social
words,
experience for her to hear norm, everywhere, and it is very Your words become your
that someone did not want difficult to steer away from the actions,
to squish an ugly, potentially peer pressure while following Your actions become your
harmful insect. The following the principles of Jainism. It is
habits,
week, I brought this incident hard to say "no" when everyone Your habits become your
up in a diversity training else around you is saying “yes”.
values,
session with the staff. To my In a hard time facing social Your values become your
pleasure, my colleagues were destiny. pressures, such as this one, it is
very appreciative for the new important to remember that how
point of view and impressed people treat you is their karma,
by the compassion that how you react, is yours. A student from Rutgers University Jainism has for all living things." I think it is so imperative to shared their story with me on this exact issue. "You are seen remember when leading our daily lives, at home, in school, as the 'weird person because you do not consume alcohol, or in the workplace that the most important principle of the and it may even be a reason why you are not invited to environment: is that you are not the only element. social gatherings in the future. I faced this when I was a freshman; while my friends encouraged me to drink, and Mahatma Gandhi, a strong leader who was heavily influenced as I continued to decline, I saw my group of friends get by Jainism once said “Keep your thoughts positive, because smaller and smaller. Even though I lost some friends, I kept your thoughts become your words. Keep your words the ones that matter. It's a decision I do not regret” she said positive, because your words become your behavior. Keep to me. Social pressures like trying buffalo chicken wings or your behavior positive, because your behavior becomes a beer are challenges which invite individual decisions and your habit. Keep your habits positive, because your habits self-discipline. In the same token, meeting people who have become your values. Keep your values positive, because different backgrounds, principles, and values of their own your values become your destiny." My father's story and the can help in understanding and practicing anekantawada. words of the father of India have stayed with me every time Another important lesson is to keep a healthy level of I encounter a similar situation in my life. tolerance and acceptance for those who do not agree with your opinions, which will help you avoid bad karma. I have always had a natural desire to avoid violence, not only in terms of my diet, but also by practicing non