Jain Digest 1995 04

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

Page 31

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Jain Monks Tour Europe
and Isreal
After a successful six-month tour of the United States, Saman Sthitprajna and Saman Shrutprajna, disciples of Acharyashri Tulsi of Jain Vishva Bharati, Ladnun, Rajasthan, India, were invited to visit Europe and Israel. They spent one week in Switzerland, ten days in Austria, four days in France, three days in Spain, three days in Greece, and three days in Israel. During their visit to these places, Samans gave lectures on Anuvrat and non-violence, and conducted classes on Preksha Dhyan. The first ever, Preksha Meditation and Yoga Center has been established in Meiningen, Austria and will be managed by Gerhard and Margreth Kuhn. A similar center in United States has been established in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In New York, the Samans had an opportunity to visit the United Nations and meet
Mr. Joseph Reed, special representative of UN Secretary General. They talked to him about Anuvrat, Science of Living, Preksha Meditation, and non-violence. In United States the Samans visited and delivered lectures at various places in New York, Connecticut, Texas, Wisconsin, and Colorado.
Jain Monk Fasts for 201 days
Shri Sahajmuni Maharaj, a 61 year old Jain monk, ended a record breaking 201 day fast on January 9, 1995 in Bombay. This is believed to be the longest period a human being has survived without food and surpasses the well known fast of 180 days undertaken by Lord Mahavir over 2500 years ago.
Shri Sahajmuni Maharaj was born in the Punjab and was initiated into monkhood at the age of twenty. At thirty-three, he fasted for 21 days; increasing these fasting periods to 31 and 93 days shortly thereafter. Experts say that the fasting requires a tremendous amount of will power and Sahajmuni seemed to have it in abundance.
March 1995 Jain Education International
During the fasting period, he lived on just two glasses of warm water daily, one in the morning and the second just before sunset.
Although he lost about 80 lbs, it is reported that there was no impact on his mental health. His objectives for putting himself through this unprecedented fast were, self purification and world peace.
Shri Sahajmuni Maharaj.
While fasting, he stayed at Ahimsa Bhavan located in Khar, a northwestern suburb of Bombay. Thousands of Jains and Indians of other faiths came to take a glimpse of this extra ordinary person and helped raise over $300,000 for religious charities.
Fasting has been practiced by the major religions of India through out the ages. Even the Greek philosophers, Socrates and Plato, used to fast for 10 days, once a year. Jainism in partricular has placed a very heavy emphasis on fasting for internal purification, self control and for achieving Moksha. In fact, Jain history is replete with the stories of people having made significant spiritual progress by fasting. Sahajmuni's record breaking fast seems to have generated a renewed interest in fasting among Jains and non-Jains alike. It has also challenged the common belief in the medical profession that a man can not live for more than 30 days without food. Mind over matter!
Here is a sampling of the wonderful congratulatory notes that were received by Sahajmuni. "Your successful fast will
shower blessings on the community and mankind as a whole." "When a Saint shines the world shines." "You are blessed by Mahavir and you have passed those blessings on to us." "Your selfless sacrifices for a good cause have set an example for devotees and others." "Your fasts have strenghtened the morality of mankind." "Those who sacrifice for others, others learn to sacrifice for them."
JAIN DIGEST
"In the sacrificial spirit we find the height of life, you have proved it."
"The Light of your sacrifice, overpowers the darkness of ignorance."
The more we sacrifice, the more we become humble"
continued on page 33
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