Jain Journal 1981 07

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

Page 35

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JAIN JOURNAL
conquer his or her own inner enemies ; and ultimately we must each discover our own pathway to samyag darśana, samyag jñāna and samyag cāritra, right belief, right knowledge and right conduct.
Approximately seventy-five people of all ages engaged in the traditional practice of fasting, taking only boiled water for one, two, eight, and even more days. A remarkable number of young men and women took up this form of penance, and their commitment and inner strength were very inspiring.
One of the most significant features of the week was this participation by the young people of the Samaj. The Youth Group was largely responsible for preparing the church for the week's activities, and they worked long hours for weeks in advance to make it ready. During the eight day festival, they continued to give their energy freely in service. Their intelligence and sincere devotion impressed every visitor. A beautiful rapport was established between them and Gurudeva Chitrabhanu, and it was a great sign to see such an enthusiastic response to the ancient teachings by the generation of the future.
As the week of forgiveness went by, the feeling of sharing in a great experience, a new beginning for the teaching of ahimsa in the West, grew. At the end of the week, all joined together for the traditional observation of samvatsart pratikramaņa. Pratikramana means literally to step back. At that time we retreat within to examine our thoughts, words and actions of the past year. We look at our lives, as the artist does his canvas, and we then retouch ourselves and remove any passion, heaviness or injury we find. Then we feel refreshed and invigorated, free to return to the world to carry on a new life.
This was the message of Paryuşaņa in Leicester in September, 1980; and as the seekers who gathered there scattered again to the corners of the earth, there was a feeling that doors had been opened to new horizons of spiritual expression and genuine human communication.