Training in Nonviolence

Author(s): Mahapragna Acharya
Publisher: Anuvrat Global Organization

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Non-absolutist Lifestyle - An Antidote to Violence
This day i.e. Ashad Krishna Trayodashi (12th July) is a day of introspection for me. I attach great importance to introspection. The person who does not analyze his actions, doesn't do introspection is like a shopkeeper who fails because he does not tally the account of his income and expenditure every evening. It is absolutely imperative that we make introspection an integral part of our life. I introspected.
In the morning I was sitting outside the hall. There were a large number of people. Many of them expressed greetings and good wishes. Amid such auspicious moments Amritvani workers played an old videocassette and there appeared Gurudeva Tulsi on the screen. It is a miracle of science that even the past can be viewed and recreated in the present. Lo! Here was Gurudeva before us all. He was speaking. The occasion was my seventy fifth birthday (13 years ago). That day I woke up at 3.30 a.m. and sat for meditation. My plan was to go to Gurudeva's room at 4.00 a.m. to seek his blessings. A few minutes later I saw that Gurudeva had already entered my room. I immediately stood up and bowed in reverence. I said, "I was myself going to come, why did you take the trouble of coming?" Gurudeva replied, "You always come to me but today I have myself come." I remember there was a brief function afterwards and Gurudeva spoke on the occasion. He blessed me and directed me to carry out his three instructions:
1.
Mahapragya! You have to serve humanity.
2. Mahapragya! You have to disseminate Jain Vidya (Jain wisdom) worldwide.
3.
Mahapragya! I wish that our religious order flourishes and attains spiritual heights. You have to think over it and strive relentlessly for the accomplishment of this goal.
Service to Humanity
I did introspection today. Gurudeva's first instruction was to serve humanity. The greatest problem of the present is that man is scared, frightened. He who is the richest is frightened most. Some of the rich persons are always apprehensive of the raids by income tax officials while there are others who are frightened of
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