Wave of Bliss

Author(s): N P Jain
Publisher: Jain Meditation International Centre

Page 34

AHIMSA
Myriam Herz (Meera) from Switzerland says what Jainism means to her: "Awareness is most necessary to live with myself, relatives and friends, in a professional setting with clients and finally with society. I first have to be aware of my own mind and see how it hurts myself and how this is projected to others. Since I don't want to live with hurts and have always been striving for harmony, two important precepts of Jainism were internalized as guiding poles in my life, namely non-violence, not only in action, but down to the most subtlest thoughts, and relativity in thinking.
To constantly watch my thoughts according to these high ideals, at the same time not criticizing myself for my shortcomings, is a real challenge, often painful, but if confronted with courage and honesty, very rewarding in terms of growth. Finally, I am a great lover of nature and I feel nature is very good to me. It restores my energies and I always feel protected by it, even hiking all by myself for hours in the mountains or the woods. I believe this results from my respect towards the animals, trees, flowers and all life. It is all mutual, all one. It is a wonderful joy to experience the depth of non-violence and the more I practise it, the more I realize the wonders behind this truth.
Bob Feinson (Bahubali) expresses his feelings thus:
Gurudev's teachings woke me up at the age of forty. Until then, I had been given no information on the art of life and living. (My schooling was electrical engineering.) This awareness culminated when my wife passed away two years ago after a long illness. The Jain philosophy helped both of us in this moment of transition. Judy died at home without fear — ever welcoming death. She knew that death was merely a part of our journey through life, part