Jain Digest 2016 08

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

Page 9

Digest
Academic Bowl, and becoming more involved with YJA. individualism, which seem beneficial, however, in the In the same way, parents and educational leaders can long term, they corrupt the path towards purity. My do the most by instilling the importance of faith in the pathshala teachers have helped me understand the path minds of young Jains when they need it most.
towards happiness and have provided me with 5 positive actions that will help eradicate my negative emotions.
How much water do you use?
1) A positive action to become happier is to recall all
your belongings with gratitude in your mind and be flush a toilet 5-7 gallons / Fish
thankful for everything you have, such as a nice family, job, friends, etc. Gratitude does not cost anything, but
when embraced, it is invaluable. Many people take their take a shower 7-10 gallons / minute
belongings for granted and forget that they are blessed
to have so much to look forward to. Instead, they should fill a bathtub 36-50 gallons
make gratitude the new attitude, and be happy with what
they have. brush your teeth 10 gallons
2) Another action to decrease the negativity harnessed
in your mind is to make a list of goals in life that are wash your hands 2 gallons
not selfish, job-related, etc. and be more content with what you have and see the people around you happy. As
related to being grateful, making a list helps the person And second, we need to begin to apply the teachings of follow a certain pathway or checklist to accomplish all of Mahavir Swami into our communities and our projects. the goals.
The YJA Convention this year has done exactly that 3) Also, being empathetic and being aware of your with its theme - Agents of Change. We hope this idea surroundings helps you understand and feel the can grow like a virus and extend its reach as these 700 emotions of the people surrounding you. Empathy helps young Jains start applying these ideas to their lives, with spiritual growth, as well as, team building. their communities, their projects, and their passions. 4) Giving a donation is another action that increases Some may wake up tomorrow and see the truth in Dr. positive emotion. However, you should Jeoraj Jain's mission to bring a massive cultural shift to donate something that is very valuable to not only boil water, but also to redirect our focus on the you because that shows the decrease in DONATE conservation, preservation, and appreciation of this vital attachment, greed, and reliance. substance that keeps humanity afloat. And who knows, 5) Lastly, eliminating minor addictions, perhaps that very young Jain may solve this crisis we face such as decreasing the amount of chocolate or ice cream as our entire freshwater supply on Earth dwindles and is eaten for dessert, because addiction usually leads to may very well disappear by 2040.
more addictions, and dependence on anything leads to
sorrow in the long run. Sohail Daulat, Age 14 Jain Center of Greater Phoenix These five actions can help everyone reach a new level
of happiness, decrease in individualism and greed while More than being a religion, increasing gratitude and empathy within everyone. After Jainism is a philosophy, which following the teachings, I am more aware of how lucky guides people towards happiness I am because I live in a nice house, have great friends, and liberation. In pathshala, my and being born in a Jain family. I also have become more teachers have instructed me on empathetic, in that I can recognize when a person feels
how to connect Jain principles disturbed or is sad, and try to help them feel better. By to my day-to-day life to become a happier individual. realizing how lucky I am, as well as, being able to help my I have learned that happiness derives from gratitude surroundings, while not being dependent on it, makes and awareness of surroundings rather than greed and me a happier individual.