Jain Spirit 2002 10 No 12

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

Page 28

FEATURES
TRANSFORM YOURSELF
malla voit pa bosiminima
Rakesh Zaveri
S
PIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT is essential to human progress and selfdevelopment. We cannot succeed in life unless we have inner depth and wellbeing. We focus our work on spiritual education and have set up several groups for children and young people based on their age and peers. There are 24 brahmacharis who work with me full-time and are totally devoted to the spiritual and moral upliftment of people. All of them are double graduates. I personally left studies at the age of sixteen and went to learn classical music and philosophy. I also told my parents that I did not want to get married and wanted to pursue the spiritual path full-time.
I embarked on a crash course to get a degree, followed by a two-year MA at Bombay University where I studied Hinduism, Buddhism and all the ancient spiritual traditions of India. I have always been interested in these subjects, so I enjoyed it tremendously. Then, I pursued my PhD on Shrimad Rajchandra with Professor Ramanlal Shah. I think there should be a balanced diet in food as well as in selfstudy (sadhana). Continuous study is an important part of sadhana, and I encourage all the youths to undertake scientific study of religion first. Many of the youths in our wing have completed the MA at Bombay University. I recommend that people should spend three hours a day on meditation and study and then do their work or service. This really keeps everyone sharp and fresh, and we feel that every soul has this potential.
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A dynamic Mumbai-based guru, Rakesh Zaveri talks to Jain Spirit about his interpretation of Jainism
.
One day, a sceptical young Jain from New York came to me and had a large number of questions and concerns. I spent 17 hours with him and after detailed interrogation, he came to understand and accept our Jain philosophy and now his life has changed dramatically. To transcend our soul, we need to transcend our mind and therefore I place a very strong emphasis on intellectual study. I welcome and invite questions all the time. Without understanding, religion will ultimately become empty and routine. Jainism is so scientific, so perfect and coherent that it gives immediate satisfaction to any genuine seeker. First, you must desire to achieve salvation, then you plan out the strategy, execute it and finally you will achieve liberation.
26 Jain Spirit September November 2002
Religion is not about activity but about attitude.
In our group, we use a variety of different techniques to educate and inform including art, theatre, computers and presentations. We draw on different religions and groups for ideas and suggestions. For example, from the Aurobindo ashram in Pondicherry, we learnt that there would be problems in day-to-day management of the spiritual institutions, but the trick is to elevate yourself. From a rooftop, a problem looks much smaller, so when we elevate ourselves we automatically begin to resolve any traffic jams. This is precisely what religion is about. It enables us to understand the nature of life's problems and challenges, and thereby helps us transcend it.
We encourage people to learn and understand, and then to transform their lives through practical actions. We actively invite dialogue and debate. Jainism is a very scientific tradition, very open to investigation and introspection. It is a rational tradition which will truly appeal to intelligent people. It has no dogma; it is really a way of life. It does not require faith to understand it. The value of Jain principles can be experienced and tested right here, in our own life today. Jainism encourages each one of us to study, reflect and believe deep down in our own self and the knowledge that resides in our own soul. We do not need to believe in Mahavir to find true salvation, but to understand and live the science that he revealed. Pooja is the first step, but it will not bring salvation by itself. It can be used to draw inspiration, but ultimately we have to embark on our own
"To transcend our soul, we need to transcend our mind."
journey for self-realisation.
I am also strongly against the denial of social obligations and responsibilities (sansaar). We have to attain salvation through sansaar and not by avoiding or dismissing it. Samayika should have a direct impact on practical lifestyle and choices, and should not be in contradiction with our daily actions. Religion is about elevation, not escapism. Unfortunately, many people think that it is about escapism and therefore miss the whole point of true dharma. Personally I do not think that one must go to the temple to attain enlightenment. No. I would rather people understood and elevated their lives away from violence, jealousy and greed, the petty vices of modern living.