YJA Convention 2002 07 NJ Fifth

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

Page 48

The Importance of Human Life
Gurudev Chitrabhanuji
BD
The human form has been acknowledged to be 3. How to make best of human life - One has to significantly different from that of any other
discover the gift one has. creature in the universe. In Jainism, the human 4. Human relation with the world - How it affects being is the only being that is capable of higher
the world. thought and control over its desires and able to attain 5. Freedom to chose your response - I can choose the highest goal, "moksha", or liberations. It is for
how to respond. this reason that humans have an additional responsibility in our lives, religiously, as well as Living in this fast-paced, technology-filled world, we are personally.
so quick to judge the world around us, which leads to us
making assumptions about ourselves. This may cause It is important that we as humans realize the us to overlook the valuable gift of human life that is inside tremendous gift we are given, that gift is "Being each and every person. Once on has discovered and Human!" A gift, that sometimes comes with both acknowledged this gift, only then will a human be able to pain and pleasure. Pain because, we tend to hurt develop themselves to the point of completeness and our fellow human, animal, and environment among thorough independent thought. And from there, personal few. Pleasure because, we get to enjoy the liberation can be attained. greatness that mother earth has to provide. We as humans have greater responsibility towards mother It gives us great pleasure to spend an hour to reflect on earth, for we are given another great gift, the ability the impact our lives has and the gift that has been to think independently, reason rationally, and act bestowed upon us. It is our responsibility as human beings responsibly. There are 5 ways one can learn to be to find, utilize, and cherish this gift as it has been given. a better human.
Let this hour be your first step on winding, miraculous and
eye-opening journey. I 1. Humanness - The essence of human. 2. Realization - A sense of awareness, of just
being a human.
notes:
Jain Education International 2010-03
Forgale & PeronalUse al
lata