JAINA Convention 2011 07 Houston TX

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

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JAINA CONVENTION 2011
"Live and Help Live"
Jain Culture in Philately
Sudhir Jain
Sudhir Jain is Senior Executive in a large industry based at Satna (M.P.) India. He collects Stamps, Currency Notes, Match Boxes, Bells, News Papers, Jokers etc. and won medals in State, National and International Philatelic Exhibitions. He is Secretary of Central India Philatelic Society. Patron of Indore Philatelic Society and life member of P.C.I. He has written hundreds of articles and edited dozens of Souvenirs. He is associated with Lions International since 1975 and also office bearer of various Social, Religious and Industrial Associations."
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Jain religion is a very old religion. The followers believe that Jainism is an "Anadi Anant" religion. Anadi means one which has no beginning and Anant means which has no ending. Jainism is a pre-Aryan religion which is preached by the Tirthankaras. Jains believe that in every fourth Kal (A Period in the Cycle of Time), there are 24 Tirthankaras. In the preceding fourth Kal, Bhagwan Rishabhnath was the first Tirthankara and Bhagwan Mahaveer was the 24th Tirthankara. We are now in 5th Kal of spiritual dilution. The five ethics of Jainism are - Ahimsa (non-violence). Satya (pursuit of truth), Asteya (non-stealing and honesty), Aparigraha (non-possession and non-attachment) and Brahmacharya (celibacy). These are also called the five Vratas (ethics). A distinction is made between these ethics or Vratas for the ascetic (Saints or Muni) and for the layman (Sravak). The saints have to practice the Vratas rigorously. But the Sravakas have to and can practice to a lesser degree. The Jain philosophy states that reality is complex. It can be looked at from different point of views. Each point of view gives the picture of reality which is as valid and real as the picture of reality seen from other points of view. Jainism has contributed to the philosophy of life in its insistence that the pathway to perfection is threefold. Samyak-Darshana Right Faith/Right Perception), Samyak-Jnana (Right Knowledge) and Samyak - Charitra (Right Conduct). "Jiyo Aur Jine Do" (live and let live) is the main slogan of Jainism which was given by Bhagwan Mahaveer about two thousand five hundred years ago. There are two main branches of Jainism - Digamber and Shwetamber. Digamber word comprises Dig (Disha/direction) and Amber (cover/sky). It means only clothes are the directions i.e. without clothes. They worship idols of Tirthankara bearing no clothes. Their saints also do not wear any cloth. Shwetamber word comprises shwet (white) and Amber (cover/sky). Their idols and saints wear white clothes.
Sammed Shikharji (Bihar), Kailash Parwat (a peak of Himalaya), Champapur (Bihar), Girnar (Gujarat) and Pavapur (Bihar) are considered as the most sacred places where from, as per scriptures, Tirthankaras have attained Nirvana. Other important Jain pilgrimage centres are Shravanabelgola, Palitana, Khajuraho, Karkal, Rajgir, Banaras, Moodbidri, Dharmsthal, Hastinapur, Mount Abu, Chittorgarh and many others. Jain Darshan (philosophy) is very rich in Granthas (scriptures), old manuscripts and literature. Large numbers of saints have guided to
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