Journey to Enlightenment Part 01

Author(s): Chitrabhanu, Chetana Catherine Florida, Nirmala Hanke, Raksha Penni Helsene
Publisher: Create Space

Page 136

through a new set of eyes. We feel an uninterrupted connection from our innermost being to the soul force alive in all.
With Awareness, Negativity Falls Away
From the moment this awareness becomes a part of our daily life, we find that traits and habits which used to limit us fall away naturally. We are no longer able to invite pain and disease to our bodies or to other bodies. At the same time, it becomes imperative for our well-being and continued evolution to forgive, drop, and forget those painful vibrations we may still be carrying in our mind. With courage, compassion and non-violence, we can remove them. It is a gradual process. If we realize that the hurts and scars from the past came to us by our own invitation, we can stop focusing on blaming and retribution. Once we take responsibility for our own pain, we can transcend it. We can see its purpose-to act as compost, breaking open the harsh outer shell of our heart and helping the soft flower of compassion and kindness to blossom.
In this way, the trials of life become fuel for our growth, and we come closer to our goal of Self Realization. As an instrument tuning itself to the right key, we tune ourselves to Reverence for All Life. By doing everything we can to minimize violence and pain in life, we enjoy living with a cleansed consciousness and a light heart.
How can we live in this world without taking life and causing violence? In Jain philosophy, the answer lies in taking care to minimize the harm one does and to direct one's actions with the intention to revere life. This requires vigilance, awareness of motives, and fearlessness to live in tune with nature's laws.
Moving with Intention
Intention is what counts. Living in reverence means not condoning or consenting to any form of violence, even if someone else is willing to be the active perpetrator. It also means trying to stop it once it has begun.
Because of Mahavira's gentle influence, many kings abolished in their lands slavery, the caste system, degradation of women, hunting, butchering and sacrificing of animals, and many people were inspired to live in Ahimsa and Non-Violence.
With regard to war, Mahavira said, “Killing is killing irrespective of the cast, country or religion.” The concept of war-killing is the result of ego and greed, camouflaged in blind beliefs and fanatic religious backgrounds. And why are Jains exempted from being drafted in war in the USA since 1971? Simply, we have brought awareness that the Jains are incapable of killing human beings because they cannot even kill a chicken or a goat. To kill a human being is impossible for Jains. One has to be immune to killing. Jains serve the wounded, moved by compassion. They serve the sick and injured back to health.
On the Wings of Light and Love - 137