ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 01

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 82

sermons for common man was to atleast keep his thoughts pure and knowingly not commit any sin.
The prayer, widely known as My Prayer 19, recited by most of the Jains on regular basis sums up the practice of Mahāvīra's teachings by common men/women.
4.0 Relevance today As said in the preamble, the state of affairs of the world is similar to what was in Mahāvīra's time except that the knowledge level of material world and the scientific discoveries have given even common men the benefit of prosperity also. Today we are more materialistic in our outlook and feel that accumulation and consumption of wealth is the only way to gain happiness. No doubt material wealth is essential to lead a comfortable life but it is not the allencompassing cause of happiness. There is a famous saying," If life were thing money can buy, the poor won't live and the rich won't die'. We are seeing that material prosperity generates problems of ecology imbalance, economic inequalities, enhanced tension / stress and other so called lifestyle health problems, terrorism, aids and even the fear of extinction of the human race itself. Experience also shows that these problems cannot be effectively solved by materialist outlook only. On the other hand we have seen above that Mahāvīra's teachings can assist us in minimizing, if not eliminating, the ill effects of most of these problems. Mahatma Gandhi used Mahāvīra's teachings effectively in leading his own life as well as solving the problems of the country as a whole. He took the five minor vows for his personal improvement and used the non-violent path of passive resistance (Satyāgraha or holding on the truth) path to resolve social and national problems. A testament to this is enshrined in the constitution of India as given below:
Explanation of the picture in the Calliographed Constituition of India: Vardhamana Mahāvīra,
19 Meri Bhāvanā (My prayer) by Jugal Kishore Mukhtar consting of 16 stanzas talks of the wishes of a true Jain about his way of life. Kit is recitred by Jains in North India primarily at least once a day.
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