JAINA Convention 2011 07 Houston TX

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

Page 91

AINA CONVENTION 2011
"Live and Help Live"
pass through this experience does that understanding become a living faith.
need of the hour. That too, he said was nothing but a translation of Lord's love! Though the first two editions were not published, they were still translations of the Lord's message.
(3) Expression of Love Just as merely thinking is not sufficient, an experience by itself too is inadequate. The experience of love must find its expression in life. A truly religious life is one of love in action i.e. when, in every activity, sitting, standing or walking, there is a continuous flow of love. When love manifests in thoughts, as an experience and finally in all actions, then alone does it attain completeness. Everywhere, there is sorrow, suffering and distress. Thus, if love does not actively flow towards others, how can one ever experience non-duality or oneness?
Thus, it is in its expression that the process of love becomes complete. Expressing love is an essential step. Love in action does not mean just building hospitals, schools or cowsheds. Even moving a stone off the footpath or bringing a smile on one's face is also love in action. It is important that love is expressed. How much love and how it is expressed is secondary. One may not even have huge plans, but a small gesture is enough to fulfill the journey of love. Compassion for all beings, a sentiment of relieving others from their suffering, an auspicious desire for every soul's well-being and an act of kindness is enough. People are not looking for too much, they just need a hand to hold and a heart that cares.
Love translated into compassion There was once a saint in Japan. In the autumn of his life, he felt the urge to translate Buddhist scriptures from Pali to Japanese, for the benefit of the Japanese natives. This was an enormous task and demanded a great deal of both energy and finances. Nevertheless, he was determined to achieve his goal. He travelled to many places gathering the necessary funds. After ten years and much effort, he managed to collect the amount required to begin.
May such love and compassion emerge in our hearts and in our conduct.
Just then, the region was struck by famine. His heart went out to the suffering masses and he offered all that he had collected towards famine relief. After this, for the second time, he began working relentlessly towards putting together the necessary resources. This continued for ten more years. As he was about to commence his work, floods hit the region, destroying almost everything. Unable to bear the misery of the people, as he had done earlier, he offered all that he had collected towards their relief.
The saint had now grown very old but, undeterred, yet again he set out to raise the necessary funds. He succeeded in this endeavor and was finally able to complete the translation. The text was published in Japanese. The words, 'Third Edition' were written on it, surprising the readers. The saint explained that the funds collected twice before had been given to charity as that was the
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