Jainism Abroad

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

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silent meditation-hallowed hills of Rajagrah and from the pious earth of Pavapuri ----- (SADDHA PARAMA DULLAHA)
"Rare, absolutely rare, is the faith: faith in one's own self, Faith in the Jnana, Darshana, Charitra Ratnatrayas: Sada Guru, faith in Sad Deva, Sad Dharma - the right Master, the right God, the right path or Religion." --------Today re-echoes that universe-solacing, peace-providing and self-awakening auspicious 'voice' from the isles of Jamboo & Nandishwara, from the lands of Bharata & Mahavideha and from the peaks of the Meru & Ashtapada-KailasHimalayas-------(JE EGAM JANAI, SE SAVVAM JANAI)
: "He knew everything, who realized the soul, the self, the one!"
....---This was the speech, the awakening speech of Charam Tirthankara Bhagawan Mahaveera, the Vardhamana, the Vitaraga, the Arihanta! It was this "Bharati", this speech-Divine, that had sounded 2500 years ago in this air on this land and that had echoed and spreaded over the entire Universe. Born out of that speech was "ATMASHREE" "SARASWATI" or "VIDYA" - the learning ............ emerged out of that voice were the sweet notes of (Raga speech "MALAKANNSA") ........emanting from that speech was the tremendous wave of compassion and Mercy for the suffering world...........satisfied due to that speech was the Age -long thirst and craving of the direction - less bewildered, sorrowful humanity.
How great would have been that speech? How did that Divine sound originate?
The Sacred Books are the testimony, the History is the witness, the people's unbound faith is the proof, the deeper experience of the Meditators is the appropriate evidence, all of which reveal that ............... That was the speech that originated after the Sadhana of several conscious Births, the tremendous terrific and unfore-happened Penance and Attainment of ocean like deep, serious, silent speechless solitary Meditation - Meditation of the Self, Meditation of the Supreme state, Meditation of the unending absolute universal knowledge : the ATMA-DHYANA, SHUKLA DHYANA, KEVAL-JNANA! It was the Divine Sound that had emerged after this attainment of KEVALA-JNANA and ARIHANTA-HOOD. There was miracle in that supremely Mystical sound and speech. It was unearthly speech, nector-like speech, immortal speech, auspicious speech, life-thrilling and life- awakening speech.............! A PEEP INTO THE PAST FROM THE PRESENT
Let us have a peep into the past from the living present through the window of that immortal and echoing Divine speech. 2500 Festivals of light have already passed after the Nirvana of the Great originator of that speech, the Majestic Embodiment of the Divine, Shramana Bhagawan Mahaveera..... Yes 2500 years, completely 2500 years.
The great, magnificent Life-consciousness had attained its perfection, its climax, in the mortal frame of Bhagawan Mahaveera after the constant and conscious aspirations of several births. And out of this attainment of perfect and absolute knowledge through SILENCE WITHIN, this Divine Speech had originated. The key to this perfection and internal silence of Bhagawan Mahaveera was the utilization of every passing moment in total awareness of the Self. Not a single moment was a waste for him, golden were the passing moments of the PRESENT as he himself has said -
(INAMEVAM KHANAM VIYANIYA) "Important are the moments of the living present They should be utilized in their integrity".
Let us also catch hold of these passing moments and utilize them into that Great Past of Bhagawan Mahaveera's life the very contemplation of which is capable enough to transform our Present imperfection into perfection. And hence, we shall uplift our complete "being", forgetting the cross-lines of DRAVYA, KSHETRA, KALA (Matter, Place & Time) and wearing the wings of BHAVA (the deepest longings and aspirations). THERE ..................ON THIS EARTH......
Behold........! This is the world of 598 B.C., this is the pious land of the "Bharata-Kshetra" of "Jamboo-dwipa", this is the KSHATRIYA-KUNDRAM OF VAISHALI, the prosperous city of Bihar and this is the Majestic Palace of King SIDDHARTHA.
........... King SIDDHARTHA, the ardent follower of Jainism propagated by the then 23rd Jain Tirthankara Bhagawan PARSHWANATHA, stays in this magnificent Palace with his pious chaste Queen TRISHALA DEVI.........