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JAINA CONVENTION 2011
"Live and Help Live"
see?" I was very honest and I said "Yes." I did not lie.
Asteya means non stealing. I never take the things that do not belong to me without asking. I never spy on other people's conversation nor do I say wrong things about other people. I never attempt to fake my parents' signature on daily homework sheet.
Non-violence: Non-violence (Ahimsa) means not fighting. Every time my sister hits and hurts me, I tell her to stop doing that. Sometimes I get mad at her, but try not to hit her back. I would like to teach my sister to do Ahimsa and not hurt anyone. You should practice non-violence in your daily life. This is the main principle of Jainism.
The AAA's described above are just a small part of Jainism but I chose them because they are relevant to my daily life. I also do pooja and nityakram everyday and I say sutras like "Khamemi Savva Jive" before going to bed. Jainism is an art of living, and practicing it gives me a peace of mind.
Self control: Self control is when you do not tempt yourself to do things you are not supposed to do. For example, when my mom tells me not to eat a cupcake before lunch and it is right in front of me on the table, I just keep calm and resist myself.
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(4) Charmi Kothari (Class 3)
Ages 10 to 12 2nd Place
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(5)
I have been going to Pathshala and learning Jainism for the last six years. Some of the Jain principles that I have been taught are: nonstealing, helping others, being honest, nonviolence and self control.
Kunal Shah (Class 6) Ages 13 to 15 1st Place
Non-stealing: Non-stealing is not taking things that do not belong to you. For example, when I found a $5 bill on the ground one day, I gave it to the teacher instead of taking it. He asked everyone in the classroom and it turned out that it was indeed somebody's money that she lost. I was glad that someone found her lost money.
Jain Pathshala teaches me conceptual Jainism while the application of the principles learned influences my life. Young Jains attend Pathshala from preschool to high school. Teachers pass on tradition and educate the eager children in hopes that those teachings will carry out into the child's adulthood. I have already applied many Jain principles in my life and hope to continue living with those morals.
Helping others: You should always help others. As an example, if a new kid comes to your school, you should be friendly to her and help her with any help she needs. You should help her to make new friends. An applicable quote is "You should never judge a book by its cover." When there were new kids in our school, I helped and showed them around the school.
Ahimsa, meaning non-violence, is the most important lesson I have learned in Pathshala. Throughout my day I try to incorporate nonviolence. I try to minimize cruelty to living beings ranging from one sense to all five senses. I protect water, which is composed of many one-sensed organisms, by turning off the tap when brushing my teeth, not wasting water in the shower, and by reusing water used to wash vegetables to feed plants. Electricity is generated by water and also has life, and I conserve it by turning off unnecessary lights and avoiding the use of the
Honesty: Honesty is when you do not lie at all and you always tell the truth. Honesty is the best policy. For instance, when I was playing the game "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" and was blind-folded, someone asked "Can you
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