$JES 983 Being Jain In College An Experiential Guide 2nd Edition

Author(s): Sonali Vakharia
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

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PRACTICING JAIN RITUALS
10 - Spirituality and Practicing Jain Rituals
I realize not everyone feels comfortable praying or partaking in rituals. But, taking 3-5 minutes (more is better, and to really hit that sweet spot, anything more than 20 minutes is ideal), to sit in silence and practice some deep breathing will make a huge difference in your day. It does have a cumulative effect, so staying consistent in your practice is ideal. You hear that silence and being mindful is so important, and may even ask yourself, what can a few minutes really do anyway? The proven effects of deep breathing, meditation, and yoga are endless - it has reduced stress levels immensely, reduced anxiety and anger significantly, cured disease since many toxins are eliminated through the breath- like I said, the effects are endless. It gives you that time to sit, reflect, and be still. I practice something called pranayama before doing certain kriyä and yoga, all of which have literally changed my life. I highly recommend trying out different types of deep breathing, meditations, and yoga. You'll most likely be able to find meditation and yoga groups on campus.
If praying is something that feels right to you, I do recommend trying to make some time to pray each day, even if it's just 2 to 3 minutes. You could keep a few photos or small idols of Bhagawän in your dorm if you feel comfortable doing so. If you feel strongly about Jainism, it will be a constant reminder of the tenants of Jainism and culture. This of course depends on how strongly you feel about these things. At least, let it be a reminder of Jain philosophy and its vows, which can be applied to any person regardless of faith: non-violence, truth, celibacy, nonpossessiveness, and not stealing.
You can always take some time to recite the Navakär Mantra at the very least each day. You can always recite more sutras if you want to and if you have time. If you'd rather not put up any photos or idols, then you can take a few minutes in the morning and at night to recite Navakär Mantra in your head. Also, just an interesting thing to keep in mind, these prayers which have been passed down to us are said to be very powerful as they create a channel into the universe to bring in divine energy. I have seen some miraculous things happen in my own life, and being involved in some kind of prayer frees your mind from thinking negatively as
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BEING JAIN IN COLLEGE