Jainism Abroad

Author(s): Pratap J Tolia
Publisher: Vardhaman Bharati International Foundation

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other's points of views i.e., ANEKANT VADA --- the another important principle of Jainism and this requires the modern importance even today. If we do not apply this principle in our life, it is bound to call on so many oppositions from so many directions. If we have to follow the principle of "LIVE AND LET LIVE", then we have to understand others, we have to understand the perceptive of others, understand the points of views of others and respect them. Because we do not know in "totality", A Sarvajna Jnani like Bhagawan Mahaveera knows in totality, from all points of views, but we are one sided and limited persons and that's why we have to respect others' points of views and find out the truth. In the end, I shall come to this important day and important demand of the day for the Jainas and that's what we have little bit ignored, perhaps because of that Graha of "BHASMASURA" as Gardiji has referred to, perhaps because of our inertness of last 2500 years, these very important things we are missing, we have perhaps ignored them or have given little attention to them. And these three things are, according to my Masters who have guided me on this path: The first is the requirement of a Jaina University for the teachings of Bhagawan Mahaveer's SAMYAK JNANA, SAMYAK DARSHANA, SAMYAK CHARITRA. The second thing is propagation of Jainism throughout the world, not for conversion. It reaches unto each and everyone's heart where no outward conversion is required. And the third thing is the Revival of the lost path of Yoga and Meditation, which was in Jainism up to Bhadra Bahu Swamiji's time, but since that time, it is lost into wilderness. The Jaina spirit of Yoga and Meditation as SHUBHA CHANDRACHARYA, Acharya Hemachandra Soori, Acharya Haribhadra Soori and so many modern saints have tried to go into, was rare, was unique, but as a "mass", as a "mass" of Jainism, we do not have this spirit spreaded within us today and that's why we have to practice this meditation through non-violence, through Panch Mahavratas, through Anuvratas, whatever we can follow within our reach, and this is the need of the day. Modern Jainism requires these things todat: the spread of Knowledge, spread of Meditation and Yoga and spread of Values preached by Bhagawan Mahaveera. And for this, there is a lot of scope here in America, when I went to Washington, when I met the younger friends there, I found that, as Gardiji has rightly put, the younger generation and their enthusiasm is wonderful, which we do not find in India today. The younger generation is here awakened here today. When I saw in Washington and Boston the younger friends, I felt that they are so much eager to conduct seminars, to conduct the retreats, the re-orientation camps for them again and again, and I feel, it is a very good sign of kindling the principles of Bhagawan Mahaveera in our life, in our hearts:
I shall like to end with these prayers of mine that let us kindle in our hearts this festival of light. Let there be light outside and light inside also. A poem says,
"Where there are light outside, Perhaps there are little lights inside;
Where there are lights inside, Perhaps there are little lights outside!"
We have to combine both of them, the inner light and the outer light. Outer light of the "matter" should be balanced with the inner light of the "spirit". We have to synthesize both. If not, we will not be able to put the Jaina principles in modern way. We have to unite matter and spirit with "balance" as the balance is totally lost today. We. cannot ignore spirituality and we cannot ignore as well the material requirements, the minimum requirements. We cannot live by bread alone, we can't live by bread only and we cannot live without the bread too! That's why, we have to lit the lights within and lit the lights outside and take inspiration from this "festival of light" which Bhagawan Mahaveera had kindled on this day of Deepavali Nirvana Day.
I once again respect you all and express my heartful love to you all, my best wishes to you all, that you have given a lot of love and respect to me, which I do not deserve. If I at all deserve, it is unto my Masters who have guided me to this path. Again I thank you all. I shall like to request and convey my regards and best wishes to the learned Mayor of this City as I cannot personally across to him, but I think, my humble voice may come to him. I would lie to present my voice in a Disc-form to be taken to the Mayor, so that he may have the spirit of Lord Mahaveera through Music. I shall like to present some of our Vardhaman Bharati's discs to the Mayor, if he can listen to our Jaina Music, I shall be most happy that our "light" is being kindled everywhere and when especially "he had kindled the light" amongst us by listing the DEEPA(Lamp) today Thank you all once again.
"50m.
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