Jain Spirit 2000 03 No 03

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 54

ANUVRAT: A JAIN ATOM BOMB?
• WHAT ARE THE ANUVRATS? THESE who is very much worried about the (small or atomic vows) pledging
ARE BASIC VOWS TAKEN IN THE present state of the world. He is Tulsi, themselves never to resort to black
PRESENCE OF SAINTS. aged 36, the preceptor of the Jain marketing, bribery, exploitation, Terapanth, which is a religious communalism, adulteration and organization having faith in violence.
1. I will not willfully kill any nonviolence. Acharya Tulsi founded the The Anuvrat Movement has Anuvrati Sangh in 1949... When he has since grown into a mighty banyan
innocent creature. succeeded in making all Indians tree with its branches spreading in 2. I will not attack anybody. undertake the vows, he will try to all directions. It has shown light to 3. I will not take part in violence or convert the rest of the world to the life thousands of people all over the of a prati", wrote Time Magazine country. We have hosted four
any destructive activities. published from New York in its issue on international conferences on Peace 4. I will believe in human unity and 15 May 1950 under the caption "Atom and Non-Violent Action. More
not discriminate. Bomb'.
and more people are looking upon The editorial comment was the Acharya as a beacon to light
5. I will practice religious tolerance. prompted by an unusual event that had their path to a bright tomorrow, 6. I will observe care in business and taken place on the last day of April with peace and love reigning
the workplace. within the sprawling precincts of the everywhere. The Acharya realized Municipal Corporation in Chandani in the wake of his experiment to
7. I will set limits to my possessions Chowk - the busiest centre of Old encourage the people to practice and acquisitions. Delhi. The occasion was the first All anuvrats that a radical attitudinal
8. I will not encourage evil customs. India Conference of the Anuvratis change in man was not possible
9. I will lead a life free from addictions. organized after one year of its inception. merely through the advocacy of Seated on the dais was the Acharya, the anuvrat code of conduct. It 10. I will always be alert to keeping the young and extremely handsome. His must be accompanied by another
environment pollution-free. disciples, wearing their traditional effective tool that can gradually dresses characteristic of their profession, induce him to introspect. had gathered to listen to his special After the death of Acharya Tulsi his responsible citizens, free from the message on this historic occasion. The successor, Acharya Mahapragya, is the narrow prejudices of caste, colour and young Acharya declared that he had new spiritual patron of the Movement sect. He pins his hope on this young resolved to launch a crusade against Acharya Mahapragya came up with a generation to transform mankind into immorality in social life, and dedicate his bright idea of a unique technique of one family. As head of a religious sect he entire life to the cause of nonviolence meditation, called Preksha Dhyan, as a has set the pace for other religious and unity of all human beings. He means to bring about a mass leaders. If they take their cue from him, exhorted his disciples to volunteer for psychological transformation. Acharya the world that lies steeped in communal the disciplined life of an anuvrati. Shree added Preksha Meditation to his and ethnic violence today is certain to
Acharya Tulsi said: "If an atom has programme of reconstruction of moral awake into a 'heaven of freedom'. in it the monstrous power to destroy the and spiritual values. Fortified with this In conclusion, we might remember world, amply demonstrated in the potent means of an attitudinal change in Neil Armstrong's spontaneous unprecedented holocaust at Hiroshima man, the Anuvrat Movement has added utterance on first stepping on the soil of and Nagasaki, I want to tell the world a new and important dimension. A the moon, 'One small step for a man that we have its counterparts in follower of the anuvrats code has to but a giant leap for mankind'. Who anuvrats - a small or atomic vow - practice Preksha Meditation every day, knows, Acharya Tulsi's small steps which alone has the power to ward off which inclines him naturally to imbibe (anuvrats or basic vows) may eventually and counter the threat of an atom the anavrats discipline. It ultimately turn out to be a giant leap for bomb."
becomes an integral part of his mankind. The appeal had a magical effect on character. the audience. It was astounding that Acharya Mahapragya has launched a Dr. S.L. Gandhi has travelled all over the more than six hundred of his disciples, new scheme of Jivan Vigyan for world to promote Jainism. He has written mostly businessmen, stood up, as if they educating youngsters in the doctrine of a number of articles on Jainism and is had all been propelled by the force of a anuvrats so that they may grow up as the Secretary General of the Anuprat divine power, and accepted anavrats disciplined, broad-minded and Global organisation, based in Jaipur
March - May 2000. Jain Spirit
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Jain Education Intemational 2010_03