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JAIN DIGEST .. May 2011
and bringing peace and harmony to the community. Those who have extensively practiced nonviolence have not only made profound positive impact on society but have also given us hope for a harmonious future. Acharyashri realized that he and his dedicated disciples, alone, could only do so much. He needed to team up with other likeminded individuals to spread the power of Ahimsa. Mahapragyaji went out of his way to meet and collaborate with other Jain Acharyas and leaders to spread Jain philosophy and the essence of our ancient heritage. He also interacted with leaders of other faiths finding common ground and advancing the cause of Ahimsa. Acharyashri successfully convinced and motivated various renowned academicians, sociopolitical personalities, professional and business leaders towards projects leading to social upliftment constructed on the principles of Ahimsa. The collaborative work with Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam is a classic example of such endeavor. In the book, The Family and The Nation, written jointly by Acharya Mahapragya and Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. They put forwards compelling argument of needing both adhyatma (spirituality), and vigyan (science - but broadly defined as economic growth) for the country to progress. They prescribe a process to build ethics at all levels in the country: • A nation has to have ethics in all its tasks for
sustained economic prosperity and peace.
• If a nation is to have ethics, society has to
promote ethics and value systems. • If society is to have ethics and value systems,
families should adhere to ethics and value
systems. . If families have to evolve with ethics and value
systems, parenthood should have inbuilt ethics. Parental ethics come from great learning. value-based education and creation of clean environment that leads to righteousness in the
heart. How do we define a great master? Is it by the legendary qualities or by the legacy? The question was answered by Jain Sashan - we bow to Arihants before we bow to Siddhas. While the enlightened soul departed from the physical body on May 9, 2010, Gurudev Mahapragyaji lives on and his legacy remains alive. As we welcome the new Acharya Mahashraman, a gift to the world from his Guru, Acharya Mahapragya; , someone educated, nurtured, groomed and eventually empowered under his guidance, to carry forward the message of Bhagwan Mahavir. Acharya Mahashraman will not only advance the legacy of Acharya Mahapragya, his Guru, but in time, will establish his own legacy.
Acharya Mahashraman A Glimpse of a Great Soul
Tulsi and Mahapragya had reserved some of the Jain Dharma has given immense importance to
choicest words for their most worthy disciple the role of a guru in a soul's journey towards Mahashraman. An English translation of these enlightenment. Blessed
words would not do are those who have
justice as it would fail to received the kind and
define the unique nature insightful guidance from
of an enlightened soul. It the great spiritual
is only through leaders; especially if
Anupreksha (deep these spiritual gurus
meditation on selected include the visionary
words or phrases) that Gurudev Acharya Tulsi
we begin to understand and the legendary
the deeper meaning of scholar Gurudev
these seemingly simple Acharya Mahapragya. It
words that define the seems both Acharya
unique nature, Acharya Mahasharaman
allation Interational
