YJ International Newsletter 2005 Vol 22 No 01

Author(s): Young Jains (UK)
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 6

Messages from Spiritual Leaders
Dear Young Jains of UK,
I am very happy that you are celebrating 20 years of YJ of UK. The members of YJ of UK are blessed because you are born in a culture, religion and tradition which respects life. You carry reverence for animals, plants and human beings and practice Ahimsa, Anekantavada and Aparigraha in thoughts, words and actions. You are fortunate to have a living heritage which nourishes your life with its profound teaching of "living by giving".
Today in a hi-tech modern world man has made progress by leaps and bounds changing the face of the world, but man has yet not made progress in his personal front and become civilized in his behaviour and approach to life. His brutal nature exploiting all that exists has made him the worst enemy of nature and environment. He has blindly pursued material prosperity at the cost of his and other lives and ignored his spiritual world. He has little time to ask himself the one question that humans have wrestled through time, that is - who am I?
Now, you are the torchbearer of tomorrow who are capable of using your time, energy and awareness to continue this heritage; adding from your education and understanding to modernize the culture in the Western atmosphere. You have brought our ancient teaching to the threshold of modern life. This is progress. Progress is embodying our aspirations within an eco-friendly lifestyle.
Young Jains of U.K. has for past twenty years provided a platform for its members to probe into this question deeply by arranging conferences, seminars, retreats, lectures etc. on subjects related to the core values of Jain Dharma like Ahimsa, compassion, love, amity, truthfulness, relativity in thinking, theory of karma, principle of non-accumulation, celibacy etc. These core values help shape individuals and inspire them to move forward on the path of self knowledge.
Through these opportunities that is offered to them if what they have been given inflames in them a spark of inspiration and aspiration to dedicate their life to evolution of consciousness, both personal and planetary, then it will have served its purpose and bear the fruit it is intended to.
What is Ahimsa? Ahimsa is awareness of life within and life without and so carrying the kindred feeling of love, compassion and consideration for others as we would for our own selves. What is Karma? It is not only a philosophy, it is a practice. What you sow, that you grow. It is to "act the way you want to become and you will become the way you act". You are living the ideal of help ever, hurt never, give ever, grab never, love ever, hate never - this will give you the confidence that today is good and tomorrow will be the best. What is Anekanta? Anekanta is to allow other people to express their feelings. Creating room in them, you can pour your understanding and once blended, it becomes a mutual understanding. Anekanta is an open space where all opposites and paradoxes are integrated by the light of acceptance: You get their wisdom and they get your wisdom. What is Aparigraha? Aparigraha is defining one's need and bringing the beauty of simplicity in our lifestyle in words, thoughts and actions. Simplicity imbues all our relationships with the befriending tone of equality. The stumbling block is always ego so if you are humble you will never stumble.
We all know that the ultimate goal of human birth is selfrealization. This can be achieved through introspection and self purification. It is through our negligence and self indulgence that we acquire karmas which lead to bondage and rebirth. Our ultimate aim is to be free from these shackles. This understanding seeks to offer an integrated and balanced approach to self and God Realization which then makes material gain meaningless.
The Young Jains of U.K. have through their twenty years of dedication and service contributed to the betterment of individuals, its members and the society.
I would like to wish them all success in their endeavour to help people steer their life in the right direction and pray that the light of Lord Mahavir guide their path to peace, progress and prosperity
Progress ultimately is not only a manifestation of material prosperity, but realizing the potentiality that we admire in others within ourselves and realizing that what we see in temples we perceive in our own selves: in this way Atma becomes Parmatma.
Blessings Pramoda Chitrabhanu
Inspired? Want more? If so, turn to pages 32 and 33 for an interview with Chitrabhanu from the Y Archives.
In 1970 April, I was in London and the welcome they gave me is unforgettable. Since then I have been watching how the Jains in London are progressing. However, the Young Jains of UK have taken that progress to new dimensions, realizing my dream to make Jain Dharma universal and not parochial. I am sure you will be pioneering examples of Jain Dharma in the modern world by practicing the teachings of Ahimsa, Anekanta and Aparigraha and realising the potential of Atma to become Parmamta!
Love and Blessings, Chitrabhanu Young Jains of UK,