“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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“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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Hailing from Palakkad, Leela Krishnan is a Tamil Iyer who has been living in Chennai for the past three decades. Having heard her grandson Thejas wax eloquent about her cooking, I was led to her cosy residence in Kalakshetra for […]
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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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When a friend sent me a photo of Gurudev, I felt choked with emotion. The subject of the email “His Holiness with his ‘samsaari’ mother and sister” stirred something deep within me. Looking at Gurudev, it is hard to […]
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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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Sattvik Sensibility is the phrase to describe the meeting with 60 year-old Narayanan Rao and his family. It was an insight into how India’s spiritual heritage has been nurtured by devotees across eons. As a family, they have dedicated their […]
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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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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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Meeting great-grandmother Smt. Anjamma(73) along with her son Sri Chinni Venkata Subbarao (57) was like seeing two kinds of devotion – his devotion as a son and hers as a devotee for her Lord. In an unhurried manner, he […]
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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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On this day of Samvatsari Festival which is the festival of forgiveness and inner cleansing, these thoughts pour from the heart: Can we trace the history of hurt? How often have I explained myself saying – “I did […]
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Ever since I read these resolutions from “The dwelling place for wisdom” by Raimon Panikkar a few years ago, they come to mind whenever something new emerges, be it the new year or a friend’s birthday. I think […]
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