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JOY OF FAMILY PILGRIMAGE
crafted images depicting the many stories of Mahavir and other We also had many discussions about the political and important Jain figures. We spent long hours walking through economic state of India and specifically the towns and cities these halls while discussing the stories. Particularly one of in Bihar we visited. Bihar is one of the poorest states in them was the source of much discussion: the story of extreme India with an annual income of less than $300 per capita. A charity of Shalibhadra and Dharna Sheth.
striking memory we share from our walk down from In his previous life, Shalibhadra was a young boy in a poor Sammet Shikhar is seeing long lines of local women and family. He liked rice pudding very much but his mother was children carrying heavy bags of sand up the mountain on not able to afford it. Finally one day she could make it and gave their heads to be used for repair work on a temple. We later it to her son. When a sadhu knocked on the door, even though found out that these people received less than $1 US for he had very little food, the boy offered half of the rice pudding their day's labour. From our hostel window we saw young to the sadhu. As he gave the food, his plate slipped and he boys playing with dollies in a field. In an act that ended up giving all his food to
foreshadowed their likely the sadhu. The boy became sick
occupation when they are from hunger that night and
older, they practised carrying eventually died. In his next life
their friends on the dollie Shalibhadra was born into a
from one side of the field to very rich family that lived an
the other. This job will offer extremely ostentatious life in a
them the potential for $3 per large house. Ultimately, spurred
day - much more lucrative on by aparigraha, he gave up all
than their other job options. of his wealth and soon thereafter
It was depressing to hear that reached enlightenment.
most of the children in the This story at a basic level
town did not go to school and teaches us about the importance
most of the local people were and value of charity, the belief
illiterate. It was hard to that our deeds in one life,
reconcile all these facts with whether good or bad, have
the significantly large consequences on our following
investments that were taking life, and that eventually we need
place in constructing large to renounce worldly attachments
new temples. Presumably, to reach enlightenment. One
some of this money could go member in the group questioned
toward providing education this interpretation and wondered
for the local people. We Reading scriprures under the tree where Mahavir attained if the story also served the enlightenment near the Rijuwalika River
wondered what our response purpose of acting as a
should be to this poverty? As convenient way to assuage the concerns of poor people. Jains who have all left India and prospered economically, Indeed the story suggests that even if one starves to death what should be our responsibility to give back to our he/she will be rewarded in the next life with vast riches, which ancestral land? Should we feel responsible toward the can then be given up in the pursuit of enlightenment. Would not towns in Gujarat where our ancestors moved 300 years ago a true Jain in fact have taken back some of the food and fed or the towns of Bihar, where our great religious teacher himself as the purely selfless act while benefiting the sadhu Mahavir lived and preached? What would Mahavir's who ended up killing the boy? This more skeptical reading of response be if he were to live today? the story was not accepted by another member of the group, and Ultimately, whether discussing aspects of Jainism, the like so many other times on the trip, we had a lively discussion Jain folk stories or the many contradictions of India, we which helped us all to learn more about the topic as well as each were certainly not always able to answer all the questions other's perspectives.
that this journey elicited. However, our family pilgrimage In addition to the many intellectual discussions on Jainism, did offer us ample opportunities to share experiences that we also shared with each other many rituals and customs that helped us further understand each other and connect. We are part of the practice of Jainism. One member of the group now recognise the value of religiously and culturally shared with the rest of us a concise summary of the Navkar orientated activities. We all agree that they are a beneficial Mantra, which helped those of us who had forgotten it to way to maintain the deep ties our family is so fortunate to memorise and learn it again. We prayed together at the have. important Jain sites we visited. We discussed the images in the temples and the significance of the distinct symbols
Tushar lives in New York City and works with Geocapital representing specific Tirthankaras.
Partners, a venture capital firm.
December 2002 - February 2003. Jain Spirit
33
Jain Education Interational 2010_03
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