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JAINA CONVENTION 2011
"Live and Help Live"
dependence that forms the basis of the modern day science of ecology.
The worldview of rugged independence - we have learned to value so much, has given us a false sense of success. In fact that has made us arrogant and selfish. This notion of independence stems from underlying insecurity within us. In an individualistic point of view, 'I write therefore I am a writer'. In a Jain view of interdependence, 'you are the readers, therefore I am a writer'.
I AM, BECAUSE YOU ARE; without you I am nothing. It is a viewpoint based on relationship and connectedness. It is the statement of humility and gratitude. Understanding "Paraspargraho Jivanam" gives us this humility. It helps us build relationships that are built on the pillars of respect, understanding, acceptance and appreciation. Mahatma Gandhi once said "Tolerance is not enough, we don't want people to tolerate each other, we want them to understand and Respect each other".
Learn to move on'... A wise man once sat in the audience
& cracked a joke. All laughed like crazy. After a moment he cracked the same joke again and a little less people laughed
this time. He cracked the same joke again & again, when there was no laughter in
the crowd,
he smiled and said, "When u can't laugh on the same joke
again & again, then why do u keep crying over the same thing over and over again" Learn to move on'...
Satish Kumar a former Jain monk and the author of "Path without Destination", in his visit to Yale said "When you meet someone as an Indian, you will meet an American or a Mexican or a German etc... If you go out in the world as a Jain, you will meet a Christian or a Muslim or a Jew. But if you go as a human being, you will only meet a fellow human being". He even went further in saying that if you go just as a 'being', then the entire universe is your friend and you will come in touch with other beings of the universe. A refreshing way, to put "Parasparopgraho Jivanam' in practice. Let me end here with a stanza from Tagore's poem.
IUM
"Go not to the temple to pray on bended knees,
First bend down and lift someone who is down trodden"
Poster by Shiva Ayyar
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