Jain Digest 2018 10

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

Page 17

in control of your emotions. Soon you will start to experience detachment also. You will discover that you stay undisturbed under circumstances that previously made you anxious, stressed, angry or agitated. You will find that you can handle your daily affairs of life
in a calm and relaxed way.
Buddha was asked what have you gained from meditation? He replied, "Nothing however Buddha said let me tell you what I lost: Anger, Anxiety, Depression, Insecurity, Fear of Old Age and Death."
JainDigest
Sam var bhavana tells us how crucial it is to bear our karma with fortitude. Our oneness with our suffering creates a cyclical bind of new karma whereas bearing our pain calmly relieves us of that karma at some point. Knowledge of right awareness goes a long way in practicing samvar. Awareness of an object - any idea, thought or emotion that stems from attachment - has to be forfeited as it breeds attachment. Awareness of the self is real awareness that protects us from creating new karma. Meditation helps create such awareness.
3) Service (Seva):
Selfless service is also a very important spiritual practice. We are detached because self-less service means that there is an absence of selfishness and our hearts are filled with compassion and love. We experience universal love and our own pristine purity and glory.
One should therefore contemplate the purpose of life, carry out spiritual practices, read spiritual books, donate money and time to spiritual activities and perform service for others without any intention of reward. Such activities are important, or rather essential for spiritual development and no spiritual development can happen without them.
The samvar bhavana empowers you to carve the spiritual path which will end the cycle of birth and death. The samvar bhavana invariably leads to 'nirjara bhavana' The first moment of oneness with Higher Self is called samvar and the succeeding moments are called nirjara. During this inner connection, all the external activities of mind, body and speech have stopped and therefore the new karmic bondage has also stopped. The absence of external focused attention is termd as 'samvar' and the internal oneness with Higher Self is termed 'nirjara'. Thus the samvar and nirjara are two sides of the same coin.
Don't beat yourself up for falling into old habits. The first step in making change is recognizing what it is you want to change. Instead of getting frustrated or disappointed when you fall back into an old habit, celebrate that you are now noticing when you repeat the pattern of thought or habit. In time, this will allow you to transform your behavior.
Your heart must become
A sea of Love.
Your mind must become A river of detachment.
SAMVAR BHAVANA - CONTEMPLATION OF STOPPAGE OF KARMA
To keep the mind engaged in activities such as seeking right knowledge and practicing meditation: thereby refraining from actions that will bind karmas to the soul is Samvar Bhavana.