ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 04

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

Page 455

Some examples of popular healing systems being used by Jains these days
Meditation: Ac Mahapragya has developed a systematic method of Preksha dhyana (based on Jain doctrine) which is gaining popularity in curing even such deadly diseases like heart attacks, high blood press and chlororestral 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 acaryas and practiced at many Jain centres in India.
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Use of tantras, mañtras, yantras and pujas: Now a days the idol worshipping Jains are seen organizing and performing group pujas (like Yajoas) for freeing the society from various calamities and diseases. The monks and nuns have started coming up with mantras (navakara, for overall prosperity, for eliminating the effects of poison etc etc) as well as rosaries, metal plates (called yantras) etc to their followers to keep the evils and sickness away or eliminate them.
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Training and Research institute for holistic treatment Nagpur. They have devised an integrates system of treatment for almost all the diseases based on Bhaktambar stotra and developingn, meditation methods, environmental needs etc for healing.
Mahavira Vikalank (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
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Hospitals for cancer, eyes and general. Jains have set up several hundred hospitals and thousands of dispensaries to provide treatment to the patients.
Health camps by local Jain groups. This is a method whereby small local groups of Jains organize health check up and treatment camps to bring health to the neighbours (primarily in remote and slum areas. These are extremely popular and we see them almost on a daily basis. The latest and the largest camp is being organized at Palitana for ten days where they plan to provide health services by specialists as well as offer 25000 sets of Jaipur foots and hearing aids to the needy person.
A few stories from Jain literature on healing
Mainasundari (by Raj Bahadur Jain Anubhava Prakashan 946A Nehru Road Kotla Mubarakpur Delhi)
Long long ago, before Mahavira's time, there was a beautiful, prosperous and peaceful city called Champanagari. It was ruled by a brave, religious (Jain) and benefactor of his subjects. His name was Aridaman. He had a beautiful and religious wife Kundanprabha, a young brave handsome and virtuous son Shripal. Everything in the kingdom and its protectorate was ideal and people loved their king and his administration. However King Aridaman had a younger brother Birdaman who was exactly opposite of Aridmana in nature and was a source of continuous worry to Aridaman.
On a fateful night of lunar eclipse, Kind Aridaman called his son to his bedroom and gave a sermon bout Jain doctrine (Karma and its significance, Ahinsa parmo dharma and Live and let live etc). He told his son that he has to go as a result of his karmas leaving his empire in his (son) hand and guidance of his wife Kundanprabha. However he was worried about his younger brother and cautioned his son about him. He then died leaving everything to his adolescent son Shripal.
Death of king Aridaman brought a strong feeling of detachment from worldly affairs in Shripal's mind. He started going to Jain monks to learn about its karma doctrine and path of spiritual purification and lead a life of a sage. Worried, his mother wrote a letter to King of Ujjaini in Malwa district, Pahupal, who was a childhood friend of Aridaman and sought his advice to bring back Shripal back to normalcy
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STUDY NOTES version 4.0