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Acharya Tulsi
Birth Centennial of an Engaged Spiritualist
Samani Unnata Pragya
Instructor Professor Florida International University
We celebrate the birth centennial of the harbinger of morality, His Holiness Acharya Tulsi. Legacy of this day dreamer, converting impossible to inevitable, starts in the soil of India, born in small town, Ladnun, Rajasthan in 1914. This gifted child, at a tender age of eleven, committed his entire life to nonviolence, the path of Jain asceticism. Very soon he won over the trust of Acharya Kalugani, his Guru. Tulsi grew up into a brave, brilliant, intellectual and spiritually vigilant monk. At the young age of 22, Tulsi's infringing vitality coroneted him as the 9th Acharya of Terapanth order in 1936. Acharya Tulsi, an epitome of spirituality was an engaged spiritualist. Engaged spirituality means, a spiritual effort which yields not mere self-realization for the person himself or herself but impacts the other in escalating the other into spirituality. Like Gandhi fasted. Gandhi's fasting was far more fetching for the country's peace and nonviolence. Acharya Tulsi's passion for Jain Unity was so high that he resolved to quit
sugar until Jain Unity is fetched to some extent. Our pride, one Jain University, as a deemed University in 1991. flag was a spirited inspiration of Acharya Tulsi.
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Such was the might of Gurudev Tulsi that his golden jubilee celebration was but a movement of empowerment and cultural destigmatization. The struggle and passion of Gurudev Tulsi was his engaged spirituality which unveiled women, empowered with courage and enlightened for cultural uplift by nayamoda (1960) i.e. movement for social reformation. These women now efficiently and magnificently are enterprising projects like save girl, adopt villages, adopt child education, donate limbs and more. Anuvrat movement: Acharya Tulsi's dynamic leadership exposed the un-trodden path of social progress. In 1948, Anuvrat movement emerged, with the watchword of purifying socio political structure. The audacious endeavor to resonate the voice of "religion beyond religious dogmas, spirituality without religion, propounding universal religion was a paradigm shift in the sectarian frenzy world. He marched to President's residence to farmer's field with the slogan, "Self-restraint is survival". Humanitarian Tulsi breathed Anuvrat, to liven every slumber soul of the immoral world.
Shikshan Sansthan in 1948. He sought to rediscover Jain meditation with Acharya Mahaprajna which led to evolve the scientific technique of Preksha Dhyan or Meditation in 1975 for self-realization. The essence of humanity, unshackled from the sectarian clutches was presented on academic platform as Jeevan Vigyan (1978) i.e. Science of Living. A value based education, with the mission of education for enlightened citizens; an integrated balanced personality.
Samans and Samanijis: Envisaging the need of the future, in 1980, commenced a unique milestone in the entire history of Jain tradition; the Saman order, a modern asceticism to spread the preachings of Jainism worldwide. Saman and Samani's reached far and wide, states and countries, universities and organizations to echo the voice of Mahavir. This group is established in the society rendering its multi-dimensional services in the field of education, administration (as Vice chancellor, Head of Departments, Principal and Director and on other academic and administrative posts with the pursuit of spiritual realization and ascetic rules in the personal life. Jain Vishva Bharati: Jain values and cultural survival was aimed at by a seven point program which includes education, service, penance, Jain values, research, literature, and harmonious living as a mission of Jain Vishva Bharati organization founded in 1970. Jain Agama, the infinite treasure of pristine knowledge was explored by convening a council under the erudite guidance of Acharya Tulsi. An arduous venture of exploring the gem of Jain Agam; unraveled the academic world of research, translation and annotation in oriental studies. This foundational step turned into an edifice as UGC recognized Jain Vishva Bharati
Samans and Samnijis: With the conviction of empowering the verdicts of ahimsa, Acharya Tulsi commenced the training for a spiritual life, an ascetic trained for asceticism by establishing the institute Parmarthik
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Resistance never stopped him, nor did he walk alone. To carry the crowd with him was his prodigy. Acharya Tulsi travelled 1 lakh kms from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, embarking un-trodden places sowing the seed of Jain values. Acharya Tulsi's detachment soared new heights. Gurudev Tulsi renounced his Acharyaship enthroning Mahaprajna as the successive Acharya. Coronation of the successor by his own Guru, was a splendorous unique history making sight.
Gurudev Tulsi's endeavor crossed the boundaries of self and paved the way for enlightening, empowering and enriching the humans, society, nation, culture and everything. Every Spiritual effort of Tulsi was his engaged spirituality modeling society for a brighter future. The work and contribution to society, religion, literature, art and philosophy made him immortal.
His life, a lamp to light lamps His life, a living message
His life, an edifice of better future Let us enlighten our selves Let us live him, to revere him
As he says, "Seek not my physical autograph but let the message shine in your life as an eternal signature."
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