Jain Heritage and Beyond

Author(s): Shailesh Shah
Publisher: Oshwal Associations of The UK

Page 92

I for Integration
Then the "I" in Ahinsa is for integration. Integrate every thing: body, mind and soul. Let us bring equanimity, equality and consideration to all races, all religions, all ethnic groups, and all life. Take out the division from your mind. Take out: "She is a Christian. He is a Jew. She is Chinese. He is Indian." These are all walls of conditions. These walls are not outside; they are built inside our mind. These walls are separating us from others and the presence of our own life.
Integrate! Be integration! We need a heart which integrates all, a heart which understands that all want to live, all want to have peace, all want to eat; there is no difference among all of us. Love does not have time to waste on hate. Love knows how to forgive. Love knows how to forget. Love knows how to move on. This way we are working on integrations and slowly we feel integrated.
First, start with the mind, then with the words, then with the deeds. We integrate the way we think, speak and act. When we say, "Thank you," the thanks is first in our thinking, then it comes in our words, and then in our action. If a person is receptive, the feelings touch him or her. But for vibrations to be sincere, they must be harmonious, integrated and whole.
N for NOBILITY
Nobility reminds us of our magnanimous quality of the soul. It generates the feeling of generosity and compassion of all living beings. Nobility is a generous virtue of thought, word and action. It knows how to forgive. Forgiveness is liberation - liberation from hate, revenge and animosity - which comes from conditioning. By forgiving we liberate our soul from the negativity. Nobility also knows that not to forgive is a commitment to sorrow and suffering.
Nobility is the nature of the spirit. It is never mean, it does not discriminate, it does not come from birth or wealth, post or position. It emanates from compassionate heart of amity. Its feeling of love flows towards all - small or big. It has no walls of prejudice of group, race or religion. S for Service
The "S" in Ahinsa stands for service. Serve somebody. Let your life be a service. Through service we become alive. Have you thought how many people and things serve us? We breathe air; we drink water; we eat vegetables; we wear clothes; always we are receiving the services of other living beings. And in exchange, what are we giving? We exploit people, animals and the earth. Day by day, the earth is losing its beauty, its energy. If we don't respect the earth, we will not respect life anywhere.
We need to serve and make service a part of our living. We need to live and help to let live. Some people ask, "Where can I go to serve?" First start with yourself; serve yourself not to be victim of your emotions: hate, anger and prejudice, and then serve wherever you are with purity of head and heart. In this way we contribute wherever we are. Each serving person is a blessing to Self and to the world.
A for Abstinence
The last "A" of Ahinsa stands for abstinence. Abstinence from those things which pollute our vibrations. Abstinence from products which cause pain and suffering. Abstinence from liquor which confuses our thinking. Abstinence from foods which do not give health. Unhealthy foods may taste good but they hurt our body, thinking and life. Our cells are created from the foods we eat, and according to the foods we eat, our vibrations are created. It influences our thinking, our reasoning, our sensing. To promote vibrations of peace and harmony, therefore, we need to abstain from harmful products and the foods which come from violence and suffering. The senses are a gateway to all kinds of vibrations. So, my friends, let us recognize ourselves that we are travellers on this earth to realize that we have inherent potentiality to be Siddha by overcoming our weaknesses as Arihanta did.
AHINSA PARMO DHARMA
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