JAINA Convention 2017 07 Edison NJ

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

Page 9

ਦੀ ਡੀ
ਵੀ ਹੈ ਵੀ ਤਾਂ ਵੀ ਤਾਂ ਵੀ ਓ ਵੀ ਵੀ
ਵੀ ਹੋ ਵੀ
ਵੀ
ਵੀ ਖੋ ਵੀ
JAINA CONVENTION 2017
this activities, I never forget my values. I successfully maintained balance between religion and social life. But today looking back at that life, I would definitely say that my religious roots became stronger after going to USA. Many ups and downs came in my life but my religious beliefs bailed me out of those situations.
My urge for religion became so strong that one day I decided to come back to INDIA. I had strong thought in my mind to find a "GURU" from whom I get good knowledge about Jainism. After coming back, I started spending more time in derasar and reading religious books. At the same time I was in search of GURU. I started going in vyakhyan (religious discourse) to get knowledge. During charturmas I came in contact with Acharya Shri Vijay Padmajay Surishwarji Maharaj (Then Ganivarya padmajay Vijay M.S.). I attended all his vyakhyan during charturmas and started studying sutra's with him. I accepted him as GURU but I never told him about it until I joined him. Somewhere deep in my heart I had urge to take diksha but I knew that my family will not support me for taking this decision so I didn't express my feelings with anyone. One day while studying sutra with my Gurumaharaj, we started chatting and during conversation I started my feeling for taking diksha with him. He thoroughly made me understood that how difficult this path is and I firmly said that I want to walk on that path. He advised me to do two things; one is to find GURU and second is to convince family members. First thing was easy for me as I had accepted him as my GURU from heart so I conveyed my feelings for him. But conveying my decision and convincing my family was a herculean task for me. With his support, I expressed my feelings with my parents on the day of Gyan Panchami. They were very saddened and unhappy about my decision but since I was firm, I left home to get trained for becoming monk on day of Charturmas Parivartan. On that day, my journey started as "MUMUKSHU" (Person who is going to take Sanyas). Due to my firmness and determination, I was able to convince my parents and other family members and by bhagwan Mahavir's grace, on the auspicious day of MAUN AGYARAS (10th December 2016) I took new birth and became MUNI PADMAHARSH VIJAYJI from mumukshu Anuj. Here I would like to express my gratitude to Ms. Nisha Kapasi who also took diksha who planted seeds of vairagya in my soul. We did lot of satsang (religious discussion) together until she took diksha.
Everyone says being a monk is very difficult and to maintain one's soul and mind in diksha is like to walk on the edge of sword. But being a matured person I have seen & experienced both life (as sansari & monk); I can definitely say that life of a monk is much easier to live. Life of a common man is like a maze. Every morning he wakes up with new responsibilities and tensions. He struggles to lead and live his life happily. He searches for happiness in outside world but he doesn't understand that real happiness lies in his soul. Whereas though a monk is a part of society, he lives his internal life. He is happy doing his own aaradhana. He has no connection with outside world.
I would like to take this opportunity to advise that do not find happiness in outside world; do not sacrifice this human life for fulfilment of other's wishes. I am not saying that you run away from your duties and responsibilities but maintain balance between your external and internal lives. Spend some time for yourself. Try to find real happiness inside. Do your soul searching. Do what your soul likes to do and not what others like you to do. Have little faith in GOD. Try to walk on the path shownby him. Not everyone can take diksha but try to adopt and adapt to some principles of Jainism in your day to day life. Once your soul takes firm decisions for you, no barrier can stop you.
If I have said anything against VITRAG PARMATMA, then I would like to say ......... "MICHACHHAMI DUKKADAM"
GURU CHARANSEVAK