Jain Spirit 2002 10 No 12

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

Page 33

Emotions Do Matter
compassion and universal love. Forgiveness, called kshama in attachment (rag) and hatred (dwesh). Rag is formed from Sanskrit, is the fountain of energy that flows from our maya and lobha; dwesh is formed from krodha and mana. compassion and empathy (karuna) and connects all in one Fortunately, we are not helpless victims of our kashavas. We thread of universal love. We all are victims of the IQ based have our inner spiritual consciousness which, when awakened civilization that has become devoid of the above inner values. due to our right karmas, can guide us through the right path. IQ led growth or progress has only resulted in unforgiveness, One needs to strive to turn these passions into karuna, kshama hatred and revenge.
and love. There is great virtue in simplicity. Contemplating on According to my understanding of Jainism, emotional kashayas is useful for our daily reflections and self-purifiunintelligence is due to our kashayas. The word kashaya cation. Developing karuna, kshama and love creates the (passions) can be broken down into kasha, meaning worldly emotional energy to enhance our intelligence. life and aya, meaning gain. The literal meaning of kashaya is
Anger is an emotion, which has universal presence and yet to gain worldly life again, which means that as long as you very few people have mastered the art of harnessing the energy have kashayas, the cycle of birth and death will continue. generated by anger. Emotions, though not acknowledged, There are four types of kashayas: anger (krodha), ego (mana), often continue to simmer beneath the threshold of deceit (maya) and greed (lobha).
consciousness and affect our body and mind. On a conscious When anger (krodha) flares we lose our sense of level, we protect ourselves by not showing emotions lest it is judgement. Virtues of love
seen as a sign of weakness. and forgiveness are
Unfortunately, these barriers destroyed. Anger arises if
filter the fuller experience of someone acts against our
pleasure or happier emotions wish, if someone causes
as well. Moving away from obstacles in the fulfilment of
nature and progressing our desires. Anger invites
technologically has also revenge. Instead of an angry
contributed to this numbness nature we should have a
as we spend more and more forgiving and peaceful
time in the concrete jungle nature. Not only is anger
with machines, including harmful in this life, but it can
computers. Alienation from bring bitter consequences in
the natural world has shut our next lives too.
Successful relationships require emotional intelligence down emotional systems. Sometimes, virtuous people
Occasionally these walls become angry but they immediately calm down and ask for collapse, flooding us with chaotic, sometimes destructively forgiveness from the people they became angry with. We strong emotions. We're going through life's experiences should do the same. By following their example, the sin emotionally anaesthetised, with most of our feelings locked up caused by anger would be removed. We should cultivate in our hearts, constantly disappointed in an unreceptive world. virtues such as forgiveness, penance and repentance.
The professional life is generally devoid of opportunities for A greedy person (lobha) is not satisfied with what he has. emotional gratification. Organisations driven by bottom-lines To get more, the person may use all kinds of means without have eventually been blinded in their passion for resultcaring for others. We should be content with what we have and orientation, thus negating people-orientation. only accumulate to meet our needs. Our needs can range from
Peter Drucker emphasises: "To make a living is no longer basics to insatiable demands of the materialistic culture. If we enough. Work also has to make a life." This life includes our develop the habit of helping others by offering what we have, emotional life as well. In fact, think of a typical day in our life. greed will have no place. Greed destroys peace and happiness Think about how much time and energy is wasted protecting while caring brings them back.
ourselves from people we do not trust, avoiding problems we One who is full of ego (mana) looses his sense of cannot talk about, faking acceptance of decisions we do not judgement and politeness. A proud person invites his own agree with, remaining silent despite the intuitive sense of destruction. We can obtain knowledge only if we are humble. missing opportunities, putting up with jobs that aren't right or Humility brings good thoughts where there is no room for holding back the insights on current problems and emerging pride or ego. Humility is at the root of religion and it is rather challenges. When we connect with the inner strength of difficult to develop religious feelings as long as ego exists.
karuna and kshama, we are able to connect better with the Deceit (maya) is responsible for a dishonest life. Due to people around us and make meaningful choices in life. deceit one loses friends. Honesty helps to realise the truth. A deceitful person has little understanding of religion.
These kashayas can be grouped into two categories: Dr. Mala Kapadia is a freelance writer based in India.
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