Wave of Bliss

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

Page 58

THE PRACTICE OF RELIGION
philanthropic and humanitarian acts, fighting for the rights of animals and preventing cruelty on them or killing them.
Among the ardent followers, the feeling is growing through experience that such religious practices help in increasing their soul-strength and revitalising their soul-energy. It makes them feel more self-reliant both physically as well as mentally, and diminishes diffidence, timidity or lack of courage. In one word, such practices are helping them keep their equilibrium. One devout scholar has coined a beautiful term 'balanced joy' for the deep satisfaction that one gets by observing Jain religion and subscribing to its principles- even on a lower scale. The 'balanced joy' increases as one moves up on the performance scale.
―
The practice of Jainism has come to the American and European followers not only as soul-purifying and souluplifting, but also as making them better, kinder and more compassionate human beings in the wider word of all living beings. Many regard it as a miracle happened to them, and the miracle is the discovery of the power of the inner-self, the joy of true understanding and the deep experience of interdependence.
What has deeply touched the core of the hearts of Americans and Europeans is the experience of annual pilgrimage to the holy Jain shrines in India. These trips have been very appropriately named as 'Journey to Awareness'. Balabhadra poured his heart out when he wrote: "Honestly I don't want to die without visiting Sammeta Shikhar". Vikas Prakash and Ananta felt that as they made their way up the mountain side to the summit of Shatrunjaya and saw the glorious light which reflected from the domes of the temple roof, 'Their hearts and
49