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Living the Jain Way
I try to be a good Jain. In my everyday life, I follow as many Jain principles as I can. Some are more obvious than others: I believe in non-violence and choose not to eat meat. The idea of non-possessiveness is less prominent in my life. I try to have fewer things with me, but that, like other things, is one thing I must still work on. Sometimes, I find Jainism's principles are a little extreme, so I follow them up to a reasonable point.
Urvashi Jain
Jainism taught me to think differently and it has changed the way I perceive things. I constantly ask myself, "What is another way to look at this?" That is why I have befriended people with very different ways of thinking. They are my best friends because they open my eyes to things I did not see before. I have become more accepting of different viewpoints, which is one important Jain principle.
Another belief I use in my everyday life is the concept of compassion. I listen to my friends when they come to me with their problems, but compassion is more than just being nice toward individuals. It is about forgiveness as well. I try to forgive those who have wronged me, and I can only hope they do the same for me when I have hurt them. It is not easy to forgive, which is why this is something I still need to practice more.
When I wake up, I say three Navakär Mantras. In school, I have to make decisions based on being Jain. In English, when a philosophical question is asked during debates or discussions, I first think of what Jainism's point of view would be. Once I ponder this, I know my answer to these questions. Sometimes I think about whether these answers would fit in today's society. As one can see, I am still a work in progress. I can still improve on how I follow Jainism in many ways and I will try my hardest to be a good Jain.
Urvashi Jain is a Pathshala student and winner of the essay competition in the 16-18 age group.
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