Jain Journal 1979 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 33

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JAIN JOURNAL
student on campus? Also, friends of mine visited New Delhi in March, and on my behalf visited the Jain temple. And was I delighted!!! The one carrying a camera in leather case was denied admission! I myself use no products of animal origin, not even cosmetics, ... now I feel even closer (if possible) to Jainism.
February 22, 1970 You know how I feel about verses by Cidananda, translation (or transcreation!) by Ganesh Lalwani. So I was delighted to have the July 1969 issue Verses for my study collection. Favourite lines : “Awake ye, my soul/ Drink the beauty of the Jina's face! Cast aside attachment for things mundane And follow the Right way." ...
Do you know how contented I feel to have found Jainism? I feel my personal identity, my cultural heritage and my soul's eternal goal all are combined in this great compassionate religion of the theory and practice of non-injury to all living beings.
November 4, 1970 ... and the book Jlva Vicāra Prakaranam ... lists of uneatable articles, page 57 of the book. (It) astounds me---already given up root vegetables but I didn't know about many fruits, sprouts, etc. If only I knew how the Jain laity deals with this ...
“Kill not, restrain and give thyself to penance" from Thus Saith Our Lord (translated by G. Lalwani) ... this has become my Mantra, I think “Mantra” the proper word, I mean, my ideal in life. I repeat constantly, first awake and last before sleep, et cetra.
October 15, 1971 Your taking time away from your busy life as editor, artist and translator of Cidananda to inquire about me makes me feel very close to you, "my brother in Jainism”. As regards the tragic refugee problem near your city, are Jains refugees also ? At any rate, it is a tragedy of Himsā and the vibrations of suffering reach you and disturb your creative work, of course. But in my opinion, it is a splendid thing in the face of such tragedy to be able to hold to the fine arts of painting and poetry, and keep the Journal in existence, it is the strong thing to do ...
December 6, 1973 Should you believe, I am devoting myself fully to writing a biography of the Lord Aristanemi! It involves much research (all Jaina sources) plus much meditation at the lotus feet of my painted (photo) image of the Lord Nemi.