YJA Convention 1994 07 Chicago IL First

Author(s): Young Jains of America (YJA)
Publisher: Young Jains of America YJA USA

Page 7

JAIN MEDITATION INTERNATIONAL CENTER
VIOLENC
1- NON
ACTION
A non-profit educational organization Founded by Poojya Gurudev Shree Chitrabhanuji 401 EAST 86TH STREET # 20A, NEW YORK 10028 212 534-6090
RELA
May 18, 1994
ATIVITY W
THINKING
Dear Friends,
Jai Jinendra!
This very greeting teaches much about Jain philosophy. We take Jinas as our heroes for their great inner strength, not because of their physical abilities. The gradual removal, through forgiveness and meditation, of all that obstructs our path to happiness adds greater meaning to our lives.
A young boy once asked me, "What is the purpose of life?"
I did not want to give him a rehearsed answer, because Mahavira's message is to look into our own experience for answers. Then, one word kept coming to my mind. It was: "Ahimsa."
The letters of this word can assist us in realizing our own true worth and finding our inner strength so that we can remove the negativity from our lives and see that we are inherently peaceful and strong.
A is for Awareness. If we stay aware of all that we do, say and think, then we can stop any negativity before it happens. Our nature is awareness, and as we learn to observe ourselves we come closer to realizing this nature, and we abstain from harming others and ourselves.
H is for Harmony. Living in harmony with all that is around us will bring peace into our lives. If we send out messages of violence and discord then that is what we will receive. This is the Law of Nature.
I is for Integration. In our minds we separate black from white, male from female, woman from girl, man from dog, when in reality all of us are conscious beings and pulsating life. When we remember this, we no longer seek to cause harm but instead learn Reverence for all Life.
M is for Mastery. We are the makers of our own destiny. We are the masters of our own selves and mastering our senses, emotions and feelings, we know how to manage our life with ourselves and with our relations with all. There is no one who can make us good or evil, angry or sad, without our cooperation. All those who try to put us down are wasting their time - only we can do that, and we often do. So we must remind ourselves that our nature is pure and beautiful. We must learn to forgive ourselves and accept ourselves - love ourselves unconditionally. In this way we will find peace and happiness.
S is for Service. All life is interdependent. We all share the rich bounty of the earth. Many of our requirements are fulfilled by the work of others, and vice-versa. An attitude of "me for myself" simply cannot work. We cannot survive even for one day fwithout the help of other beings. Through service we learn respect for others' efforts and their sacrifices for us. We experience love as we share the fruits of our energy with others.
A is for Advancement - Advancement in knowledge, understanding, compassion, love, beauty, and ourselves. And through these we evolve and gain freedom and liberation.
So, remember that Mahavira taught us that we are by our own nature peaceful and compassionate. As we explore this part of ourselves through observation and practice, we will begin to experience our own divine nature.
The youth are the custodians of the Jain tradition. You have an opportunity to take Mahavira's message to the entire World. A messenger, however, can only communicate a message well if s/he understands it. Mahavira's message is only understood by practice because it is above all practical. This is your challenge and your opportunity. In this way we will not only be blessed, but our own lives will be a blessing to this world.
Love and Blessings,
Chitabhanu
MAILING ADDRESS: 244 ANSONIA STATION,
NEW YORK -10023-0244 Jain Education Interational
212-362-6483
Chitrabhanu