Jain Spirit 2005 06 No22

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

Page 20

NEWS FEATURES
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eath is removing old worn out clothes to don new refreshing ones. Death is certain. Where there is birth, there is death. In Jainism, as in other Eastern philosophies, death has been given much importance because the type of death one undergoes can determine the next birth. Therefore, the vow of Sallekhana is adopted by the Jains whereby, with equanimity, the body and our inner enemies of anger, greed, ego and deceit (kashayas) are weakened while facing death but with total awareness. Thus, only a highly evolved soul who has attained a certain level of purity can invite such a death.
We had such a soul in Nairobi, Kenya. Her name was Kankuben Lalji Shah. She decided to take this vow on the 1st day of Paryushan, our annual ritual of forgiveness, on 11 September 2004. Her soul departed peacefully on 15 October 2004, after 35 days of fasting. She was 97 years old. Over the last year she had become weak and she did not want to be dependent on anyone. Jainism lays down specific details on who can adopt this vow: when you Jain Eqigation International
DEATH IS A PROMISE OF LIFE
Bina Shah remembers Kankuben Lalji Shah and reflects on her powerful choice
foresee that the end of your life is very near due, for example, to old age, incurable disease, severe famine, an attack from an enemy or a wild animal, and with the sanction of a religious authority and one's family. Kankuben had prepared herself very well from within for the vow, much of her strength coming from her faith, religion and celibate lifestyle. Many people have left their thoughts on this miraculous soul, saying that she would never complain about anything but take with a smile whatever life had to offer, never entertain gossip from anyone and she would try not to hurt anyone through thought, speech and body. Even though illiterate, Kankuben took the initiative to learn and memorise all the sutras. She is remembered as having a loving nature, always more concerned about other beings. To the people who knew her she was a friend, a teacher and a mentor.
Kankuben had developed a deep sense of detachment. She distributed whatever she had amongst her ten daughters. Furthermore, even though she was fasting, she invited all her relatives, friends and acquaintances For Personal & Private Use Only
for meals at her house and made sure everyone ate to their hearts' content. There were moments when her physical strength sapped but her resolve was strong.
In her 35 days of fasting, Kankuben brought an amazing awareness to the people of Nairobi. Many people were shocked but also fascinated. During these days, Kankuben practised the principle of forgiveness by taking in the medicine of aloyana, confessing any sins committed to the 84 lakh species of living beings, all bad deeds done in this life and in the past lives, criticising these and asking for forgiveness. Physically she left us but her memory will always be with us.
The constant self-contemplation and the renunciation of food and water with total awareness brings about a massive destruction of karmas and this is the reason why Jainism considers Sallekhana to be the highest form of austerity and the most auspicious way of dying. The Visa Oshwal Community of Nairobi accorded a stately funeral to this great soul..