Jain Digest 2018 10

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

Page 24

JainDigest Dharma Bhavana By Mahendra Khandhar Mahendra Khandhar was the first president of Jain Center of Southern California in Los Angeles. He served on the Executive Committee for over a decade. He was instrumental in the formation of JAINA and its First Convention in LA in 1981. He taught Pathshala for 14 years and organized children's camps. He conducted Swadhyay for 18 years in LA and does it regularly in Koba (Shrimad Rajchandra Adhyatmik Sadhana Kendra, near Ahmedabad), where he spends 6 months in a year. Dharma Bhavana: This Bhavana is also known as Dharma Durlabh Bhavana. When referred to as What is true happiness? Shrimad Rajchandra says "Dharma Bhavana" the contemplation focuses on that any happiness, followed by misery, is not true proper understanding of what Dharma - religion - is and happiness. Further, he says that getting worldly how beneficial it can be for worldly as well as spiritual happiness (external, sensual, delusive) eliminates life. When referred to as "Dharma Durlabh Bhavana" spiritual happiness (internal, non-sensual, real) in it also includes scrutiny about the rarity or difficulty in Mokshamala Lesson-67. proper understanding of Dharma or difficulty in finding a Guru that can explain what the real Dharma is. In this Kundkundacharya says that the so-called worldly article we will focus on the importance of Dharma, its happiness is external, with obstacles, in pieces, various definitions and its benefits. causing bondage and non-uniform, while spiritual happiness is plenty, soul-generated, non-sensual, Importance of Dharma incomparable, time-infinite and continuous (Pravchansar-76,13). The Indian Aryan culture states that there are 4 eternal truths: 1. Everybody (all living beings) desire happiness Bhagwan Mahavir said that happiness is non-anxiety 2. However, everybody is unhappy (miserable) and misery is anxiety. Enlightened ones say that 3. Misery can be removed real happiness is independent, internal and self4. There are means to eliminate misery. controlled, while delusive happiness is dependent, external and outside-controlled. Why is everybody miserable? Because they have not understood correctly their true nature, their Infinite souls have been wandering in the world of blissful state. They have not experienced what true four destiny of human, hell, heaven and animals since happiness is. Since the understanding and goal time immemorial due to lack of real understanding are wrong, the path and means are wrong and as a of true happiness. Shrimad Rajchandra said that we result they become miserable. all suffered infinite pain, not knowing the reality of true happiness (Atmasiddhi-1). True Happiness is found within ... After understanding the true happiness, question may arise as how to get it, i.e. what are the means to achieve it? Tirthankar Bhagwan says that happiness is achieved only by Dharma (religion), be it real spiritual or delusive worldly, and without religion man is like an animal. STOP searching for it and start living Dharma does good to us, in this life and then beyond. It does good to all living beings and the whole universe. It gives peace, bliss and serenity. Externally, Dharma is a set of rituals with do's and don'ts. Internally, Dharma is soul-centered and souloriented.