ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 03

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

Page 221

SCHOOL
TIONAL
OF
SELF STUDY IS THE SUPREME AUSTERITY,
स्वाध्याय परमं तप
STUDIES
person inflicted with disease, Jainism talks of the following incentives to those (doing so not for greed /money lego or attachment) caring the patients.
May be Religion i.e. to destroy Karmas
May bring prosperity, friends and respect
Giving or helping life is the best act of compassion or charity. It is a kind of penance
Some examples of popular healing systems being used by Jains these days 7. Meditation: Acharya Mahaprajna has developed a systematic method of Prekṣa-dhyāna (based on Jain doctrine) which is gaining popularity in curing even such deadly diseases like heart attacks, high blood press and cholesterol levels, diabetes, stress etc. This method is being taught and patients treated at hundreds of centres all over the world. Similar methods of meditation have also been developed by other Jain ācāryas and practiced at many Jain centres in India. This system is briefly described at the end of the paper.
8. Use of tantras, mantras, yantras and pūjas. Now a days the idol worshipping Jains are seen organizing and performing group pujas (like Yajñas) for freeing the society from various calamities and diseases. The monks and nuns have started coming up with mantras (navakāra, for overall prosperity, for eliminating the effects of poison etc) as well as rosaries, metal plates (called yantras) etc to their followers to keep the evils and sickness away or eliminate them.
9. Training and Research institute for holistic treatment Nagpur. They have devised an integrates system of treatment for almost all the diseases based on Bhaktamara-stotra and developing, meditation methods, environmental needs etc. for healing.
10. Mahavira Vikalanga (Jaipur foot). They have embarked on a massive movement to provide artificial limbs to those whose legs have been amputated. They have branches all over the world and have enhanced services for rehabilitation of such people, providing hearing aids etc. They claim it as the practice of compassion which is a part of social ahimsa in Jain doctrine.
11. Hospitals for cancer, eyes and general. Jains have set up several hundred hospitals and thousands of dispensaries to provide treatment to the patients.
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0