Jain Spirit 2002 03 No 10

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

Page 30

Balance Is A Struggle
reflecting on who I am, what I want of this life, and how I'd like to emotional and often mental violence that accompany us get there. Perhaps quieting the mind, resolving the internal driving ourselves so hard to succeed in every aspect of our conflicts and listening more carefully
lives. to my soul will provide the answers.
Jainism tells us that we don't The internal stresses have far more
"The true benefit of being a bring anything with us into this life to do with my Jain awareness and very
except for our soul which has all of little with being a woman. As a Jain, I Jain is that I have the tools to our past karmas attached to it. know better than to think that what I
Also, we won't take anything from achieve in my career and material life help me strike the balance."
this life except again our soul and will go with me, yet I have continued
the attached karmas. In some ways nurturing that life more than my spiritual self. Perhaps this is still this clearly means that the material, career and external part of my journey from the Jain householder or layperson stage of life that I've devoted so much time to doesn't really matter life, or perhaps this is part of being a woman and not wanting to
when it comes to nurturing and cultivating my soul so disappoint or be seen as less than equal. When we add things like
that it may eventually break out of this cycle of rebirth. ego, money, greed, power and success to the equation the issues Knowing this and having faith in it are just two of the become even more clouded. This is why so many of us at
three jewels of Jainism. Changing my behaviour and this householder stage in our lives are susceptible to
actions, achieving the third jewel, is the chasm that I devoting more energy to our external lives rather
have yet to cross and it will require greater than our internal ones.
levels of knowledge, faith and spiritual The true benefit of being raised a
growth. Jain is that I have the tools and the
Jainism, through its many awareness to change how I live my
principles, can provide solace life. When, what and how much I
but it can also be a prison when chose to do with those tools will
you cannot harness the right come in time I hope, but there is no
knowledge and faith. Perhaps question for me in believing what
some would say that you truly Jainism teaches and what it
don't have the faith if you cannot promises in essence. It's the daily
change your actions, or perhaps and consistent practice of Jain
others would say that our daily lives principles that remains somewhat
are like quicksand: absorbing us elusive for me and for many in my
even though we have the knowledge generation. For me, despite all the
and the faith to get out. material gains and career successes
What I know for sure is that the I've achieved in my young adult life,
spiritual growth required to cross I cannot say that I am at greater
the chasm to changing my actions peace with myself than I was ten
lies within my spirit along with the years ago. In fact, I'm starting to
many answers I seek, but I cannot realise that many of those
get anywhere near them until I clear successes have come at a price.
away the "noise" that I've allowed There is a loss in not devoting Working mothers are continuously juggling with the
to pile onto my soul. Bliss and enough time to my family and demands of home, family, society and work
happiness are not elusive, nor is a friends, and sometimes behaving in
full and balanced life. I honestly ways not consistent with what Jainism teaches us.
believe that being at peace with myself is one of the hardest The difference now is that even though I continue down this things to do. If I can truly achieve it for just one moment only, path of material and career success, I do it with a slightly different I'll be able to silence my soul long enough to hear my spirit perspective. I've realised that what I need is a job that affords me speak. The more often I can do this, for longer periods of time, greater levels of satisfaction and free time. I still have a tendency I'll see myself and the world through a completely different to take on more assignments both in the Jain, non-Jain and lens; one that is shaped by greater levels of love and business communities, but the good news is that I finally seem to acceptance. have a greater awareness about what saying "yes" is costing me in terms of spiritual time with myself. Life in today's world is a Jugna Shah runs her own health care consulting practice balancing act. Jainism provides some solace as we have a from Minneapolis, St. Paul and has for many years been active framework of principles that help us understand how to quieten the in the Young Jains of America and Young Jain Professionals mind and spirit. Our values show us how to minimise the groups.
Rice FeeNELSE
RIET VERHELST
March - May 2002. Jain Spirit
29