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2015 JAINA Convention
Jainism World of Non-Violence
Religion - A Festive Dimension
-Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshbhai
way and it should not happen that way'-such a wrong attitude will only breed complaints, and complaints will induce you to make efforts to change the situation which will result in nothing but disappointment.
our individuality is lost. We become like a drop in the ocean. In 'yes' the ego does not survive, and that is why it is so difficult to say that 'yes'.
you are not enjoying it. If you play just to win, it becomes work, then what is going on is not important, but the result is important.
The Grammar of Happiness and Sorrow
In business the result is important, in festivity the act is important. If you make any act significant in itself, then you become festive and you can celebrate it. Whenever you are in celebration the narrowing limits are broken. They are not needed, they are dispensed. You are no longer choosing: but allowing everything that comes. And the moment you allow the total existence to come in, you become one with it. There is a communion
Punya Gurudevsher provides invaluable insight on how religion is the art of staying in a state of celebration. With the simple yet powerful Technique of glad acceptance, sound becomes music, movement becomes dance, mind becomes meditative and life becomes a festival
This communion, this celebration, this choiceless awareness, this non-business like attitude is religion. The festivity is in the moment, in the act, not in bothering about results, not in achieving something. There is nothing to be achieved. You can enjoy that which is here and now,
The flow of the river of existence, the natural So then should we allow whatever happens in life flow of life, the inherent flow of change of any to happen? Do we just sit around with our arms substance cannot be compelled to go in the crossed and not make any effort? direction of our desires. It flows according to its own natural course. If we try to swim upstream, Acceptance does not tell you to be lazy or lethargic; we will feel that the river is opposing us, the river it does not even advise you to run away from your is fighting against us, pushing us in the other duties or responsibilities. This is only a pointer to direction. But neither does the river know us, nor the secret of happiness. It is not only the outward does it wish to fight us, it is we who are fighting change but also an inner transformation which is with the river, because we are trying to swim implied in the life of a seeker. Therefore, carry on against the current
with your work, but do not interfere. Life works
at its own pace, sometimes slow and peaceful Why do we do that? Why are we not positive sometimes fast and turbulent. Walk with it, for in towards life? Why do we harbour a negative that lies the real meaning and happiness of life. attitude? Why this continuous conflict? Why are to be in harmony with reality, to accommodate we not ready to flow with life in its entirety? What any situation and accept even unpleasant noise is is the reason behind not adopting the attitude of the true way. peaceful acceptance?
If you understand and accept things, they remain It is the ego. Our ego can survive only if it swims the same and even if you do not, they still remain against the flow of the river, not if it remains in the same, but our happiness or sorrow, acceptance harmony with the river. If we have to peacefully or opposition, consent or complaint, depend on accept everything that happens, then it does not our understanding or lack of it. The root cause boost our ego. It is when the ego fights back, when of unrest, sorrow or anger is not an object, an it says no, that it experiences its own existence. individual or a situation but our own attitude. If it always has to say yes, then it cannot survive. If we understand, we arehappy and if we do not Let us examine our behaviour, the way we act understand, we are unhappy-this is the grammar and react. Mark how easy it is for our mind to say of happiness and sorrow. no, and how difficult for it to say yes, because by saying no, the ego is nourished and by saying yes,
Let it Flow
Religion means transforming life into a celebration. The dimension of religion is the dimension of the festival. The festive dimension is the most important thing to be understood. We have lost it totally. By festive, I mean capacity to enjoy, moment to moment, all that comes to you.
Whatever you receive, whatever the occasion, accept it completely. Be content. Raise no demand for anything other than that to happen. We keep making efforts to change the course of events because our minds have been moulded to believe that certain things give us happiness and certain other things give us sorrow. Our belief that an object, an individual or a situation is favourable or profitable results in a liking towards it; and if we suspect the slightest disadvantage or loss from it, we develop an aversion for the same and try to change it. It should happen this
We have become so conditioned and habits have become so mechanical that even when there is no business to be done our minds are business like. Even when you are playing
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