Our new JAINA Calendar team has developed an innovative and unique design for 2017
JAINA Calendar. Hopefully, you will like the Design change after more than 10 years.
We plan to mail next week both JAINA Calendar and Jain Digest (December issue) in
the same envelope via bulk mail. You should receive them by end of this month.
Sincerely,
Ashok Domadia
JAINA President
Chairman - JAINA BOD
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
One who cultivates an attitude of equality towards all living beings,mobile and
stationary, can attain equanimity. Thus do what kevalis say.
- Bhagwan Mahavir
ANEKANTVADA
The word Anekantvada is a compound of two Sanskrit words- Anekant (many foldness)
and Vada ( school of thoughts). Mahavir’s responses to various questions recorded
in Bhagwati Sutra demonstrates a recognition that there are complex and multiple
aspects to truth and reality therefore a mutually exclusive approach cannot be taken
to explain such reality.
Once Gautam asked Lord Mahavir,"Is the soul permanent or temporary?" Lord Mahavir
replies," The soul is permanent as well as temporary. From the point of view of
substance (Dravya) it is permanent and from the point of view of its modes (paryay),
it is temporary as it undergoes birth, decay and destruction."
Just the same way, to understand Anekantvada, a shravika named Jayanti asked Lord
Mahavir,” Of the states of slumber or awakening, which one is better?” Lord Mahavir
replies, “ For some souls sleeping is better and for some the state of awakening
is better. Sleeping is better for those who are engaged in sinful activities and
awakening is better for those who are engaged in good activities.”
Thousands of questions were asked and Lord Mahavir responses a complex and a multi
faceted reality with each answers qualified from a view point. Even a Tirthankar
having Keval Gyan cannot express reality completely due to limitations of language
which is of human creation. Acharya Vidhyanandi provides analogy of ocean to explain
the nature of truth in TATTVARTH SHLOK VARTIKA. The water from ocean contain in
a pot can neither be called an ocean nor a non ocean but simply a part of the ocean.
Principles of Anekantvada encourages its adherents to consider the views and believes
of their rivals and opposing parties. The principles of Anekantvada also influenced
Mahatma Gandhi to adopt principles of religious tolerance, Ahimsa and Satyagraha.
Ways to apply Anekantvada in our daily life.
1) Be more receptive even if you don’t agree other person’s point of view
at that instant. Opinion changes as we gain more experience and there is no point
in being adamant about anything and everything we believe.
2) Realize that our understanding of a concept could be incomplete due to
our perception intruding Karmas.
3) Putting ourself in other person’s shoes before losing our composure. A
lot of circumstances lead people to behave the way they act and we as individuals
cannot have a complete understanding of such circumstances. This realization helps
us to be more composed and prevents us from sticking to a narrow view that our mind
easily creates at the onset of a trouble.
KNOW YOUR TIRTHANKAR
SHREYANSHNATH BHAGWAN
Shreyanshnath Bhagwan is the 11th Tirthankar of the Avsarpani kal. He was born to
King Vishnuraj and Queen Vishnudevi Devi in the city of Sinhpur. He attained nirvana
at Samet Shikhar and had 76 Gandhars. He took 3 bhavs after Samyak Darshan to attain
moksh. The topic of his first sermon was Neerjara Bhavna.
Neerjara means eradication of karma. There are 12 ways by which we can do Neerjara.
The 12 types of taps/austerities are as follows-
Sr.No
BAHYA TAPS
ABHIYANTAR TAPS
1
Ansana
Parayaschita
2
Unodari
Vinay
3
Vriti Sankshepa
Vaiyavritya
4
Ras Parityag
Swadhaya
5
Kaya Klesha
Dhyan
6
Vivikta Shayyasana
Vyutsarga
Bahya taps are meant to discipline the sensual cravings and prepares the persons
for Abhyantar taps which come next.
JAIN CENTER
NEWS
JAIN CENTER OF CINCINNATI-DAYTON
The Diwali Program was astonishing and special thanks goes out to the performers
and Zankana Bothra for organizing the programs performances, and Vikash Patni for
being such a wonderful MC, he was spectacular!
In November, we had the Shri Parshwanath Panch Kalyank Pooja. The Pooja was performed
by Amitbhai Barot, where he explained all kalyanaks in detail. It was truly a knowledgeable
experience.
Also, special thanks to Sunitaben and Viralbhai Choksy for sponsoring Swamivatsalya
food for the whole year! We should be grateful for such devoted members. Thank you
everyone for such an extraordinary year!
JAIN SOCIETY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
JSCF recently celebrated Mahavir Nirvan Kalyanak and Diwali function with
various activities. They had started with aarti and Navkar Mantra, children then
performed skits on puja and Akbar Birbal story, qawali, dance, song etc. Adults
enjoyed playing garba. They also had Samivatsalya dinner.
JAIN DIGEST
Jain Digest December 2016 Edition will release soon with following
interesting topics:
- Power of Forgiveness
- Forgiveness of Bhagwan Mahavir
- Forgiveness in World Religions
- Forgiveness Festivals in Various Religions
- Challenges with Practicing Forgiveness
- Forgiveness: Miraculous Energy for Complete Healing of Soul
- Choosing forgiveness in Difficult Situations
Jain Digest is mailed three times a year to 15,000 households in North America Free
of any cost to members.
Each issue of Jain Digest has been received Very well by the
Jain Community of North America. We have received many compliments on the topics
covered in the magazine which you can read by clicking on "Read comment"
button.
Please support this good cause by sponsoring a leaf just for $101.00 each. Your
name will be printed on the leaf of the kalpvruksh. Please make your check payable
to JAINA and mail it to:
Mahesh Wadher: 4099 Shady Ridge circle, Corona, CA-92881
Please let us know, how you want your name to appear on the leaf.
Sage Nandisen was a great ascetic and well-versed in the scriptures. He took a vow
to serve monks with utmost devotion. His devotion of serving the monks was even
popular in the heavens. One day, his services were openly applauded by Indra in
an assembly of angels. One of the angel could not believe this and decided to test
sage Nandisen.The angel gods can assume any form they desire in a moment and can
reach anywhere in the wink of an eye. This god arrived at the outskirts of the village
where…
CHILDREN'S CORNER
Across :
7.The first of the 'Three Jewels' by which all Jains must live
1. The third of the Three Jewels by which all Jains must live 2. What some Jain monks and nuns carry with them to avoid harming other creatures 3. Avoiding violence to all living beings 4. The five 'great vows' taken by Jain monks and nuns 5. The word used by Jain for not stealing or taking more then they need 6. The name of the person who said 'Do not injure , oppress, enslave, insult
torment, torture or kill any creature or living thing'
Stay in Touch!
Useful Links
Mangalam TV Show – Every Sat.- Channel 702(Sahara One) – 11am EST/ 8am PST For
past episodes,
click here
For feedback, contact Mamta Shaha at mamta.shaha@gmail.com
Print Page
Jai Jinendra!
The word Anekantvada is a compound of two Sanskrit words- Anekant (many foldness)
and Vada ( school of thoughts). Mahavir’s responses to various questions recorded
in Bhagwati Sutra demonstrates a recognition that there are complex and multiple
aspects to truth and reality therefore a mutually exclusive approach cannot be taken
to explain such reality.
Shreyanshnath Bhagwan is the 11th Tirthankar of the Avsarpani kal. He was born to
King Vishnuraj and Queen Vishnudevi Devi in the city of Sinhpur. He attained nirvana
at Samet Shikhar and had 76 Gandhars. He took 3 bhavs after Samyak Darshan to attain
moksh. The topic of his first sermon was Neerjara Bhavna.
Jain Digest December 2016 Edition will release soon with following
interesting topics:
Each issue of Jain Digest has been received Very well by the
Jain Community of North America. We have received many compliments on the topics
covered in the magazine which you can read by clicking on "Read comment"
button.
Sage Nandisen was a great ascetic and well-versed in the scriptures. He took a vow
to serve monks with utmost devotion. His devotion of serving the monks was even
popular in the heavens. One day, his services were openly applauded by Indra in
an assembly of angels. One of the angel could not believe this and decided to test
sage Nandisen.The angel gods can assume any form they desire in a moment and can
reach anywhere in the wink of an eye. This god arrived at the outskirts of the village
where…
