Jain Spirit 2004 10 No 20

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

Page 35

PARYUSHAN
SPRING OF THE SPIRIT
SATISH KUMAR
HIGHLIGHTS THE
MODERN-DAY
RELEVANCE OF
THIS MAJOR JAIN
SHVETAMBARA
FESTIVAL
FEATURES 33
F
or 357 days of the year we carry out our responsibilities to our business, our family and our career. We live a very busy, worldly life. In the process, we accumulate a lot of mental and emotional clutter. We gather unnecessary baggage of pride, fear, animosity, greed, ego and delusions in our thoughts and feelings. So Paryushan is the time to clear that clutter and make a bonfire to burn that junk, that rubbish, which is corrupting our minds, our lives and our relationships. The Jains have designed the special eight days of Paryushan as a time of reflection, purification and renewal. In my opinion, this festival is of vital importance in modern times. If we can understand the essential meaning and spirit of Paryushan, then we will be able to enjoy the festival and undertake a deep inner cleansing at the same time.
In our busy modern lives, it is inevitable that we have harmed or offended someone, knowingly or unknowingly. However, we have had no time to stop and reflect on these actions as we busily go from one task to another. Paryushan is a unique opportunity for us to do that. During this time, Jains around the world should take eight days off from work and put their worldly affairs aside in order to devote their complete attention to the inner soul and its development. During this festival many people undertake fasting, spiritual retreats, rituals such as Pratikraman and the study of sacred texts such as the Kalpasutra. The evening Pratikraman is a very common ritual among the Jains and is done at the community centre. As a result, it is a collective act of worship. The Samvatsari Pratikraman, which is the longest and is conducted on the last day of Paryushan, is regarded as the peak of the Paryushan festival. All Jains should endeavour to undertake at least this one cleansing Pratikraman.
The greatest challenge of Paryushan is to go through the fire of forgiveness. In Jain tradition forgiveness is the supreme quality of the soul. All other qualities, such as generosity, humility and compassion are implicit in forgiveness. At the time of Paryushan the Jains proclaim that no dispute, no disagreement, no derision, no quarrel, no fight and no war should be allowed to linger more than one year.