When we think of a saintly person, we imagine someone who is kind and compassionate, simple in his eating and dressing, truthful in speech and content with what little he has. This is what we search in our guru, our […]
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Jainism
“Just as the moon is unsurpassed and outshines the planets and stars, so also, of all the qualities, viz. modesty, chastity, penance, vows and others, chastity is the greatest. Chastity is supreme.” — Praśna Vyākaraṇa Sūtra 2.4.27 Upādhyāya Amar […]
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Below is an extract from “Jeevan ka Utkarsh” by Shri Chitrabhanu, translated into Hindi by Pratibha Jain. Among the twelve reflections of Jainism, the 4th reflection on freedom from dependency teaches us to focus on the soul power of aloneness. […]
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“Among the twelve reflections taught in Jainism, the 3rd reflection is called samsara. This means to move constantly up and down, down and up, in rhythmical motion like a Ferris wheel. When a person is motivated by greed for pleasure […]
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अगर आप किसी फूहड़ चालक के हाथों में अपना वाहन सौंप देंगे, तब क्या होगा? गुरुदेव उपाध्याय प्रवीण ऋषि कहते हैं कि आपके रिश्तों में जो दुःख और कलह है, उसका कारण न काल है, न कर्म है, न ही […]
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Will you drive a vehicle without any training? You wouldn’t dare! Yet, when it comes to marriage, no such training is required. Such a life-changing decision, yet there is no preparation? That’s odd, don’t you think? According to Gurudev […]
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“Papa, is there a God?” she asked her father when she was all of seven. “Yes, there is,” the father replied gently. “Not one, but many gods. Each one of us can become a god.” One question led to the […]
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Wonderful surprise seeing so many of our non-Jain friends celebrating Forgiveness Day by sharing this powerful phrase – “Micchami Dukkadam.” It leads me to wonder how many actually understand the meaning behind this catchphrase. This question is what prompted me […]
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I have known of people competent in arts and crafts, people who specialise in their professions, but this was something I was hearing for the first time! Eighty year-old Tara Dakliya is a Sallekhana specialist, known in the Jain community […]
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My Badi Ma – my father’s elder brother’s wife – passed away in Santhara at the age of 87. There is no greater way to depart from this world. As Jains, we are taught to celebrate the arrival of death […]
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Why is forgiveness such an important ideal and a way of life in Jainism? Forgiveness is deeply connected with and is considered another name for non-violence, which is one of the cardinal principles of Jainism. Forgiveness begets love and […]
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“It is not the Mughals who have defeated you, it is not Akbar who has defeated you, it is not the lack of resources that has brought defeat upon you. O King! If you feel defeated, it is by your […]
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In the bounty of Mother Nature, many magical secrets reside which the great seers have attempted to unravel. They have dwelled upon the mysteries of space and time so we can maximize the power of whatever we do. They have […]
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Transform your life by understanding the power of equanimity. A life-defining quality, it creates an inner equilibrium and composure at all times. An English translation of Part 1 of Upadhyaya Amar Muni’s ‘Samayika Sutra’. Specifications Title: Equanimity | Author: […]
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We must come to terms with our unprotectedness, known as Asharana Bhavana. As a habit, we keep looking for external protection, for someone to be our saviour. We feel secure when we believe that someone is taking care of us. […]
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This parable sheds light on the Impermanence of Life, or Anitya Bhavana, as explained by the Jaina seers. The ardent seeker must contemplate upon this truth to grasp life in its myriad changes. An extract from “Jeevan ka Utkarsh” by […]
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This book sheds light on the importance of prayer in one’s life. It gives the meaning and significance of a Jaina prayer known as ‘samayik’. A lucid English translation by Pratibha Jain of Part 2 of Upadhyaya Amar Muni’s ‘Samayik […]
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Why I liked Lootera movie: Because he took his chance for repentance. I have always thought that one of the wonderful things about life is that it holds a mirror to our actions and intentions, and often allows us […]
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(This article written by my father, Mr Dulichand Jain, and myself was published in the Vivekananda Kendra Patrika, Vol 31, Year 2002. Republished on this site on the occasion of Mahavira Jayanti.) Who is a wanderer? The spirit, which […]
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Right now, we are in the midst of Chaturmas – the four months when our monks and nuns stop their nomadic movements and stay in one place. This gives the lay persons an opportunity as well as an environment to […]
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