Here is the CDC portal about foodborne illnesses: Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases

Personally, I suppose this could explain why some people who are younger than those in high risk age groups and who do not have pre-existing health problems would somehow be unable to recover from the coronavirus (or influenza) at times, as they may also have acute food poisoning and not know it (which can be life threatening to the same groups as those at high risk for coronavirus, or compromise the immune system of anyone with more than one acute illness at a time). My point is that foodborne illnesses occur often with the consumption of any raw foods, including plants, so be careful with that if you are concerned about the coronavirus too.

पर के आधीन न बनूं

प्रणाम.

पर के आधीन न बनूं
सहज जानते रहुँ, के हूँ मात्र ज्ञान (२)
देहादी संयोग पर कोई वश नहीं
भूल भी जाऊँ नाम देह का, तो कोई खेद नहीं (२)
पर के आधीन न बनूं..... (१)

खोट क्या किसी की कोई खोजे
अदले बदले पर्याय सदा
अरे, खोट ना किसी पर्याय में
होवे वही जो अनादि से नक्की (२)
पर के आधीन न बनूं..... (२)

देह को क्या मानूं अपना
पल में छूट जाएगा, यह बबुआ
छूट जाएँगे संसार के सारे संयोग
वह कभी न मेरे बने, न मैं कभी बंधा उनसे
पर के आधीन न बनूं..... (३)

है प्रत्येक द्रव्य सदा अपने में लिन
तो कैसे बने कोई किसी का करता (२)
रहूँ अपने में मगन
तो छूटे संसार गमन (२)
पर के आधीन न बनूं..... (४)

न रुप, न रंग, न जाती मेरी
है सदा शुद्ध स्वभाव मेरा (२)
है नित्य आनंद परिचय मेरा
केवल दिव्य आलोक, चैतन्य मैं (२)
पर के आधीन न बनूं..... (५)

पर की कहानियाँ बहुत सुनी
न रहा उनमें कोई रस
अब तो मौसम आयो रे (२)
चखन को आतम रो राम (३)
पर के आधीन न बनूं..... (६)
🙏

પર નો આધીન ન બનું

પ્રણામ.

પર નો આધીન ન બનું
સહજ જાણતો રહું, કે છું માત્ર જ્ઞાન (૨)
દેહાદી સંયોગ પર કોઇ વશ નહીં
ભૂલી પણ જાઉં નામ દેહનું, તો કોઇ ખેદ નહીં (૨)
પર નો આધીન બનું..... (૧)

ખોટ શું કોઇની કોઇ શોધે
અદલે બદલે પર્યાય સદા
અરે, ખોટ ના કોઇ પર્યાય માં
થાય એજ જે અનાદિ થી નક્કી (૨)
પર નો આધીન ન બનું..... (૨)

દેહ ને શું માનું પોતાનો
પળ માં છૂટી જશે, આ બબુલો
છૂટી જશે સંસાર ના સઘળા સંયોગ
એ ક્યારે ન મારા બને, ન હું ક્યારે બંધાયો એમના થી
પર નો આધીન ન બનું..... (૩)

છે પ્રત્યેક દ્રવ્ય સદા પોતામાં લિન
તો કેવી રીતે બને કોઇ કોઇનો કરતા (૨)
રહું પોતામાં મગન
તો છૂટે સંસાર ગમન (૨)
પર નો આધીન ન બનું..... (૪)

ન રુપ, ન રંગ, ન જાતી મારી
છે સદા શુદ્ધ સ્વભાવ મારો (૨)
છે નિત્ય આનંદ મારો પરિચય
કેવળ દિવ્ય આલોક, ચૈતન્ય હું (૨)
પર નો આધીન ન બનું..... (૫)

પર ની કથાઓ ઘણી સાંભળી
ન રહ્યો એમનામાં કોઈ રસ
હવે તો મોસમ આયો રે (૨)
ચખનકો આતમ રો રામ (૩)
પર નો આધીન ન બનું..... (૬)
🙏

Let me not be dependent on any non-Self thing

Pranam.

Let me not be dependent on any non-Self thing
Keep knowing naturally that I am only pure knowledge
Have no control over mortal body form, or any transient association thereof
No regret if I even forget the given name of the mortal body form
Let me not be dependent on any non-Self thing..... (1)

What do one search for something wrong with anyone
Change of state of matter is constant
Hey, there is no fault in any microcosm of change
Only that which is preset since times eternal transpires
Let me not be dependent on any non-Self thing..... (2)

What do I believe that mortal body form is mine
This dear will be left behind in a flash
Left behind will be all worldly associations
None of them can ever become mine, nor did I ever bond with any of them
Let me not be dependent on any non-Self thing..... (3)

Every matter is ever engrossed in itself
Then how does one become doer for anyone else
Let me remain attuned with Self/Atam-Ram/Him-within
So transmigration of soul in cycle of birth-misery-death ends
Let me not be dependent on any non-Self thing..... (4)

Neither looks, color, nor ethnicity is mine
My intrinsic nature is ever perfectly pure
Eternally my identity is pure joy
Akin to divine glow, I am only pure consciousness
Let me not be dependent on any non-Self thing..... (5)

Heard tales about non-Self things a lot
Those don't entice me any more
Season has now arrived
To taste the ultimate pleasure of Self/Atam-Ram/Him-within
Let me not be dependent on any non-Self thing..... (6)
🙏

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He can be reached at h.gandhi@samved.com.

There are other risks (or benefits) to be aware of, to say the least. Many are discussed in a related forum topic: intermittent fasting (Philosophical Vegan... especially pages 2 through 4 there). Maybe less is more, but feel free to discuss fasting from another perspective here also, thanks.

PS,

Take care.

(Translation follows)

प्रणाम.

मैं (और लोका-लोक का प्रत्येक जीव) भगवान हूँ...

... अनादि काल से भगवान रहा हूँ...

... और अनादि अनंत तक भगवान रहूंगा...

... यह तय है।

एक भी विचार मेरा नहीं हैं...

... कभी नहीं था...

... और मेरे में से कभी भी उपज नहीं सकता...

... तो कोई भी कार्य मेरा किस तरह बनें?

अनादि काल से कोई भी शरीर मेरा कभी बना नहीं...

... और कभी भी बन नहीं सकता...

... तो सगे, संबंधी, या गुरु...

... मेरे किस तरह से कोई बनें?

संसार की सारी घटनाओं और हर पर्याय का मैं केवल ज्ञाता-द्रष्टा ही रहा...

... हूँ...

... और रहूंगा...

... तो कोई भी पाप या पुण्य कर्म...

... मेरे किस तरह से बने?

यह परम सत्य की संपूर्णतः स्वीकृति...

... वही मोक्ष का द्वार।

🙏

પ્રણામ.

હું (અને લોકા-લોકના પ્રત્યેક જીવ) ભગવાન છું...

... અનાદિ કાળ થી ભગવાન રહ્યો છું...

... અને અનાદિ અનંત સુધી ભગવાન રહીશ...

... એ નક્કી છે.

એકેય વિચાર મારો નથી...

... મારો કદી નહોતો...

... અને મારાં માંથી કદીએ ઊપજી ના શકે...

... તો કોઇપણ કાર્ય મારુ કેવી રીતે બને?

અનાદિ કાળ થી કોઇ શરીર મારું કદી બન્યુ નથી...

... અને કદીએ બની ના શકે...

... તો સગાં, સંબંધી, કે ગુરૂ...

... મારાં કેવી રીતે કોઇ બને?

સંસાર ની સર્વ ઘટનાઓ અને હર પર્યાય નો હું કેવળ જ્ઞાતા-દ્રષ્ટા જ હતો...

... છું...

... અને રહીશ...

... તો કોઇપણ પાપ કે પુણ્ય કર્મ...

... મારાં કેવી રીતે બને?

આ પરમ સત્ય ની સંપૂર્ણતઃ સ્વીકૃતિ...

... એ જ મોક્ષ નો દ્વાર.

🙏

Pranam.

I (and every living being of the entire universe) am God...

... have been God since times eternal...

... and will remain God for eternity...

... that is established.

Not a single thought is mine...

... was never mine...

... and can never arise out of me...

... then how can any act ever be mine?

From times eternal no body form was ever mine...

... and cannot ever become mine...

... then how can anyone ever become...

... my kin, relative or Guru?

For all of the events in the universe and every infinitesimal change I have only been a knower-seer...

... I am such...

... and will remain so...

... then how can any bad or good Karma...

... ever be mine?

Absolute acceptance of this eternal truth...

... is the gate to Moksha.

🙏

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He can be reached at h.gandhi@samved.com.

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He can be reached at h.gandhi@samved.com.

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He can be reached at h.gandhi@samved.com.

जब जागे राग आतम का

द्वारा: हिमांशु किशोरचंद्र गांधी

प्रणाम.

जब जागे राग आतम का (२)
...तब उपजे वैराग्य संसार का
जब जानु क्या हूँ मैं (२)
... तब रहे कछु न अपना

जब जागे राग आतम का..... (१)

हो स्वः का एकांतमय चिंतन (२)
... तो रहे कैसे पर की महिमा
रहस्य खुल जाए लोका-लोक का (२)
... जब भेद ज्ञान जीव को हो जावे

जब जागे राग आतम का..... (२)

काहे चुगे कंकर (२)
... संसार के भव सागर में
हाथ न कुछ तेरे रहे (२)
... क्षणभंगुर हैं उपलब्धि संसार की सारी

जब जागे राग आतम का..... (३)

अब तो जाग चेतन (२)
... दुःख काहे को सहे
भाग्य को तेरे (२) काहे रोवे
... जब असीम वैभव (२) भीतर में होवे

जब जागे राग आतम का..... (४)

खोल खजाना अंतरंग का (२)
... पाले परम आनंद आत्मानुभूति का
कर इकरार के मैं (२)अजर अमर निश्छल (२)
... हूँ दूसरा न कोई (२)

जब जागे राग आतम का..... (५)

कैसी भीती, किसका भय (२)
... मैं तो रहा वीर अभय
कैसा मान, किसका अपमान (२)
... मैं तो रहा निर्विकल्प वर्धमान

जब जागे राग आतम का..... (६)

हो कर्म की संख्या (२)
... भले ही अनंत (२)
न मेरा कुछ उनसे (२) न उनसे मैं (२)
... जड़ से भिन्न (२) हूँ केवल ज्ञानमय चेतन (४)

जब जागे राग आतम का..... (७)

🙏

જ્યારે જાગે રાગ આતમ નો

દ્વારા- હિમાંશુ કિશોરચંદ્ર ગાંધી

પ્રણામ.

જ્યારે જાગે રાગ આતમ નો (૨)
... ત્યારે ઉપજે વૈરાગ્ય સંસાર નો
જ્યારે જાણું હું શું છું (૨)
... ત્યારે રહે કશું ન પોતાનું

જ્યારે જાગે રાગ આતમ નો..... (૧)

હો સ્વ: નુ એકાંતમય ચિંતન (૨)
... તો રહે કેવી રીતે પર ની મહિમા
રહસ્ય ખુલી જાય લોકા-લોક નુ (૨)
... જ્યાર ભેદ જ્ઞાન જીવ ને થઈ જાય

જ્યારે જાગે રાગ આતમ નો..... (૨)

શા માટે ચુગે કંકર (૨)
... સંસાર ના ભવ સાગર માં
હાથ ન કશું તારા રહે (૨)
... ક્ષણભંગુર છેં ઉપલબ્ધિ સંસાર ની બઘી

જ્યારે જાગે રાગ આતમ નો..... (૩)

અવે તો જાગ ચેતન (૨)
... દુઃખ શા માટે સહે
ભાગ્ય ને તારા (૨) શા માટે રોવે
... જ્યારે અસીમ વૈભવ (૨) ભીતર માં હોવે

જ્યારે જાગે રાગ આતમ નો..... (૪)

ખોલ ખજાનો અંતરંગ નો (૨)
... પામી લે પરમ આનંદ આત્માનુભૂતિ નો
કર એકરાર કે હું (૨) અજર અમર નિશ્છલ (૨)
... છું બીજો ન કોઇ (૨)

જ્યારે જાગે રાગ આતમ નો..... (૫)

કેવી ભીતી, કોનો ભય (૨)
... હું તો રહ્યો વીર અભય
કેવુ માન, કોનું અપમાન (૨)
... હું તો રહ્યો નિર્વિકલ્પ વર્ઘમાન

જ્યારે જાગે રાગ આતમ નો..... (૬)

હો કર્મ ની સંખ્યા (૨)
... ભલે હી અનંત (૨)
ન મારું કશું એનાથી (૨) ન એનાથી હું (૨)
... જડ઼ થી ભિન્ન (૨) છું કેવળ જ્ઞાનમય ચેતન (૪)

જ્યારે જાગે રાગ આતમ નો..... (૭)

🙏

When affinity awakens for Self

By: Himanshu Kishorchandra Gandhi

Pranam.

When affinity awakens for Self/soul/Atam-Ram/Him-within
... Then reclusion from worldly pursuits arises

When one comes to know 'What am I'
... Then nothing remains of own.

When affinity awakens for Self..... (1)

When quiet introspection of Self comes about
... Then how can there remain glory for anything other than soul

Mystery of entire universe and every aspect of every matter, from times eternal to eternity, will unravel
... When one is able to discern between Self and everything else.

When affinity awakens for Self..... (2)

Why peck gravels, in pursuit of things 
material that end in dust
... In the ocean of endless cycle of birth-misery-death

Nothing remains at hand, that which you believe is yours
... Transient are all worldly accomplishments

When affinity awakens for Self..... (3)

Awaken but now conscience
... Why bear sorrows

Why do you cry on your fate
... When boundless splendor remains within

When affinity awakens for Self..... (4)

Open up trove of ultimate treasure within
... Gain pure bliss of Self-realization/experience Him within

Make determination that I am ageless, eternal, without any fault/myth/deceit
... And nothing other than that

When affinity awakens for Self..... (5)

What fear, whose fear
... I remain indomitable brave fearless

What ego, whose insult
... I remain without any concern of any kind, accrescent to the ultimate state of eternal peace

When affinity awakens for Self..... (6)

Be the count of Karma
... Even if infinite

Nothing of mine is a result from them, nor am I due to them
.... Distinct from lifeless matter, I am only all-knowing pure consciousness

When affinity awakens for Self..... (7)

🙏

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He can be reached at h.gandhi@samved.com.

By: Himanshu K. Gandhi

(Gujarati & English Translation follows)

प्रणाम.

यह बात तो सही हैं की...
... ज्ञान के प्रभाव में...
... अभक्ष्य त्याग को तो उचीत माना...
... और अपने भोजन को संतुलित करने की चेष्टा की।

तो एक कदम और परमार्थ के मार्ग पर बढ़ा कर मान्यता शुद्धिकरण की चेष्टा क्यों न हो?

जहाँ पर कषाय (मोह, मान, माया, क्रोध) उत्तेजित हो...
... वहाँ उलझने का क्या अर्थ बनें?

"न्यूज" का तमाशा क्या देखा की हम राग-द्वेष से ओतप्रोत हो जाए...
... और फिर कहीं यार-दोस्तों के बीच उसी पर चर्चा-बहस कर राग-द्वेष का और ज्यादा सेवन करें?

क्या तो अच्छा, और क्या तो बुरा...
... कहाँ-कहाँ किस-कीसकी "गलत मान्यताओं" को सुधारोंगे?

कर्म और संसार भ्रमण का खाता यूँ ही मिथ्या वष बढ़ाने का क्या अर्थ बनता हैं?

परम सत्य पर थोड़ा विचार-विमर्श करें की...

... हर जीव उत्तम हैं...
... अपनी शुध्घता का परिचय हो तो यह बात अनायास स्वीकृति में आ जाए।

... हर कार्य सुनिश्चित और होने योग्य हैं...
... सर्व पर्यांओं को केवल ज्ञाता और द्रष्टा के परिप्रेक्ष्य से जानने की चेष्टा हो।

मेरे मोक्ष मार्ग का रिमोट तो मेरे ही हाथ में हैं...
... यह मानकर क्यों न अपने सांसारिक रंग मंच का चैनल "पोस" हो...

... और कुछ क्षण...
... अपने ही शुद्ध, बुद्ध, अविरुद्ध के अतिंद्रिय आनंद के सेवन की चेष्टा हो?

🙏

પ્રણામ.

આ વાત તો બરાબર છે કે...
... જ્ઞાનના પ્રભાવ માં...
... અભક્ષ્ય ત્યાગને તો ઉચિત માન્યું...
... અને પોતાના ભોજન ને સંતુલિત કરવાની ચેષ્ટા કરી.

તો એક પગલું હજુ પરમાર્થ ના માર્ગ પર વધારી ને માન્યતા શુદ્ધિકરણ ની ચેષ્ટા કેમ ના હો?

જ્યાં કષાય (મોહ, માન, માયા, ક્રોધ) ઉત્તેજિત થાય...
... ત્યાં ઉલઝવાનો શું અર્થ બને?

"ન્યૂઝ" નો તમાશો શું જોયો કે આપણે રાગ-દ્વેષ થી ઓતપ્રોત થઇ જઇએ...
... અને પછી ક્યાંક મિત્રો વચ્ચે ચર્ચા-વાદવિવાદ કરી રાગ-દ્વેષ નું હજી વઘુ સેવન કરીએ?

શું તો સારું, અને શું તો ખોટું...
... ક્યાં-ક્યાં કોની-કોની "ખોટી માન્યતાઓ" ને સુધારશો?

કર્મ અને સંસાર ભ્રમણ નુ ખાતું આમ જ મિથ્યા વષ વધારવાનો શું અર્થ બને?

પરમ સત્ય પર થોડો વિચાર-વિમર્શ કરીએ કે...

... હર જીવ ઉત્તમ છે...
... પોતાની શુધ્ધતા નો પરિચય થાય તો આ વાત અનાયાસ સ્વીકૃતિ માં આવી જાય.

... હર કાર્ય સુનિશ્ચિત અને થવા યોગ્ય છે...
... સર્વ પર્યાંઓ ને કેવળ જ્ઞાતા અને દ્રષ્ટા ના પરિપ્રેક્ષ્ય થી જાણવા ની ચેષ્ટા થાય.

મારાં મોક્ષ માર્ગ નો રિમોટ તો મારા જ હાથમાં છે...
... આ માનીને કેમ ન આપણા સાંસારિક રંગ મંચ નો ચૈનલ "પોસ" થાય...

... અને થોડાક ક્ષણો...
... પોતાના જ શુદ્ધ, બુદ્ધ, અવિરુદ્ધ ના અતિંદ્રિય આનંદ ના સેવન ની ચેષ્ટા થાય?

🙏

Pranam.

It is fine that...
... under the influence of wisdom...
... abstaining from sacrilegious consumption was considered right...
... and an attempt was made to control dietary intake.

Then why not take a step further in the direction of His wisdom, and make an attempt to cleanse wrong beliefs?

What sense does it make to get entangled...
... where passions (anger, ego, greed, deceit) get agitated?

Moment we see dramatic "news" we get incited with attachment-aversion...
... and then at some gathering with friends debate-argue on the same to consume more of attachment-aversion?

What's good and what's bad...
... where-all and whose-all's "wrong beliefs" will you mend?

What's the point of increasing Karma and Samsara (cycle of birth-misery-death) just like that by holding wrong beliefs?

Hold some thought-discussion on eternal truth that...

... Every living being is perfect...
... When one becomes aware of own pious self, this bit effortlessly comes into full acceptance.

... Every activity is preset and exactly as meant to be...
... Make an effort to witness all change only from the perspective of knower and seer.

Assuming that remote of my path to Moksha/ultimate liberation is only in my hands...
... why not go "pause" on the channel of worldly theatrics...

... and for few moments...
... make an attempt to consume pure bliss emanating from very own pious, all knowing, eternal reality of Him within?

🙏

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He can be reached at h.gandhi@samved.com

We wish that every Jain abroad makes the most of this service and ask any doubts which they have.

http://askyourbirbal.com/our-services/ask-your-birbal/non-resident-indian-nri-taxation

By: Himanshu K. Gandhi

(English Translation follows)

आत्मीय दृष्टि में खोटा सिक्का कोई नहीं है, नाहीं कोई था, नाहीं कोई होगा।

वस्तु एवं जीव की हर पर्याय व्यवस्थित ही होतीं है।

अत: संसार (सारे द्रव्यों का संगठन) की समस्त पर्याय व्यवस्थित ही होतीं है।

खोट यदि कोई सुधारनी है, तो बस यह की हम अपनी दृष्टि पर्याय से हटा कर निज आत्म, नित्य जीव तत्व, परमार्थ, पर ध्याये।

निज आत्म में ही सुख, परम आनंद...

... बाकी, सारा संसार, अगाध दुख की खाण।

🙏

Perspective of soul

From the perspective of soul there is no bad apple, neither was there one ever, neither will there ever be one.

Each transient state of a thing or a being is always appropriate. As such, all of the transients seen in the world (collection of all substances) are appropriate.

If there is any wrong that needs to be corrected, then it is just that we need to shift our sight from transients and set it solely on our soul, eternal element of life, Him within.

Bliss and ultimate happiness resides only in our soul…

... The rest, of the whole world, is unfathomable mine of sorrow.

🙏

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He can be reached at h.gandhi@samved.com

By: Himanshu K. Gandhi

(English Translation follows)

हम और हमारे आसपास की दुनिया वही देख सकती हैं ...

... कि जो हमारा नहीं रहेगा, और जो हमारी असली पहचान नहीं है।

क्यों कि, जो हम वास्तव में हैं ...

... वह केवल हमारी अनुभूति के लिए कायम है |

आत्मानुभूति का पुरुषार्थ करे...

... क्योंकि अन्य सभी माल-असबाब और अनुभव अंतत: हमारे राग या द्वेष कि वजह बनेंगे...

... और हमें जन्म-पीड़ा-मृत्यु के निरन्तर चक्र में, किसी न किसी पुदगल स्वरुप में बंधे रहने का कारण बनेंगे |

Belongings and experiences

We and the world around us can only see…

… that which will not remain ours, and that which is not our true identity.

For, that what we truly are...

… remains only for us to experience.

Make concerted effort to experience Self/deep conscience/Him within…

... for, all other belongings and experiences will ultimately lead us to either attachment or aversion...

... causing us to remain stuck in relentless cycle of birth-misery-death, in some body form or other.

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He can be reached at h.gandhi@samved.com

Role play soul’s perspective when possible… to remain engaged with Him within.

  By: Himanshu K. Gandhi

When and where possible, for howsoever brief a period, take on perspective of soul...

...akin to role play...

... and our attachment (Raag Eketva) or aversion (Dvesh Eketva) to that thought, speech or act, be that from us or from any other being, will start melting away...

Greater the period we are able to hold that perspective... greater the melt.

And greater the frequency of such a role play...

... greater is our acceptance of the only lasting reality of soul and growing awareness of ephemeral nature of every thing, every thought, every speech, every act that we have hitherto witnessed from our worldly perspective.

Just as a girl child who learns of the ways of her mother being in her proximity...

... and plays out the role of a mother... as she mimics her mother when she is not around...

... is subconsciously continually preparing herself for the role and gets better at it when her time comes...

... we will grow into the role as we spend more quantum of our time closer to our soul and get better at mimicking its perspective amidst the ruckus and vicissitudes of the world.

🙏

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He can be reached at h.gandhi@samved.com

By: Himanshu K. Gandhi

(English Translation follows)

खुदा करे तेरी बरकत कायम रहे

... पर तेरी रूह ही है तेरी कायमी पहचान

तू कौन है, ओ परवरदिगार को चाहनेवाले,

... यदि यह तू यक़ीनन जान ले

तो न रहेगी कमी कोई तेरे और उसमे

... जैसे पिघलती है रात सूरज की पहली किरणों से

बन जाता महल भी आसान,

... तो भला जानना अपने रूह को कैसे हो मुश्किल?

अहसास तूने जो अगर उसका कर लिया

... खुल जाएगा रास्ता तेरे जन्नत का

चल उठ काबिल, दौड़ लगा अपने भीतर मैं

... पा ले असीम आनंद, तो होंगे पुरे सपने सारे

तेरी रूह से बढ़कर न कोई है इस जहाँ मैं

... पा ले यह अनमोल खजाना

... मौका फिर अगला जाने कब मिले.

... मौका फिर अगला जाने कब मिले.

Priceless ultimate treasure

Let your wellbeing and prosperity continue by His grace

… But your soul is your only permanent identity.

Who are you, O the one who is in love with Him

…if you realize your true identity with absolute certainty

Then, there will not remain any gap between you and Him

… just as the first rays of sun melts away the night

With concerted effort it becomes easy to even build a palace

... so how can it be very hard to know your own soul?

If you gain realization of your Self/soul

… you will open the way to Jannat/Salvation/Moksh

Rise O capable, set your sight and make run for Him within

… realize infinite joy as you experience Self and with such you would have achieved pinnacle of your dreams

There is nothing greater than your soul in this world

… gain this priceless ultimate treasure while you can

… never know how long before your next opportunity comes

… never know how long before your next opportunity comes

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He can be reached at h.gandhi@samved.com

                                                                                                By: Himanshu K. Gandhi

(English Translation follows)

સમકિત ધારી/જ્ઞાની કરે ન નિંદા કદી

... ન પોતાની, ન બીજા કોઈ ની

... ન કોઈ વસ્તુ ની, ન કોઈ પરિસ્થિતિની

ઓળખે સ્વઃ જીવ તત્વ ને જો

... ન દેખે કોઈ ખેદ

... ન દેખે કોઈ કષાય

કરે સ્વઃ નિજ નું અવલંબન જે

... જ્ઞાયક રહે પર વસ્તુ નો

... પણ રહે ન એમાં એનું કિંચિત ધ્યાન

ઓળખો સ્વઃ ને તો રાગ દ્વેષ થાશે દૂર

... ન રહે માન્યતામાં કોઈ નીચ ઊંચ

... જીવ બધાએ લાગે સમાન

... જીવ બધાએ લાગે સમાન

Each and every being will remain on par.

One who has gained Self realization (experiences Him within) will never criticize…

… neither self, nor any one else

… neither anything, nor any situation.

One who identifies squarely with Self/Him within

… sees no fault

… sees no astringency

One who seeks refuge in Self/Him within

… remains just the knower of  other things

… but will not train slightest of attention to such.

Identify with Self/Him within, so you will distance yourself from attachments and aversions

… no one will remain high or low in your belief

… each and every being will remain on par

… each and every being will remain on par.

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He can be reached at h.gandhi@samved.com

By: Himanshu K. Gandhi

(English Translation follows)

यही भाव धरूँ (२)

ज्ञान के आनंद मेँ विसर्जित (२)

ज्ञानानंद स्वभावी बनु (२)

यही भाव धरूँ (२)

न रहे जटिल आनंद-मुख (२) आत्म-कमल मेँ प्रवेश (२)

बन जाऊँ एक रूप (२) नित्यानंद मेँ (२)

पा जाऊँ मुक्ति असीम (२) भव सागर से (२)

यही भाव धरूँ (२)

ज्ञान के आनंद मेँ विसर्जित (२)

ज्ञानानंद स्वभावी बनु (२)

यही भाव धरूँ (२)

न राग है मेरा (२) नाही कोई द्वेष (२)

ये कर्म भी मेरे नही (२) नाही रचिता संसार (२)

केवल ध्यान ही मेरा परम शांतिकर (२)

केवल ज्ञान ही मेरा स्थान (२)

यही भाव धरूँ (२)

ज्ञान के आनंद मेँ विसर्जित (२)

ज्ञानानंद स्वभावी बनु (२)

यही भाव धरूँ (4)

I hold only this spiritual yearning

I hold only this spiritual yearning

Immersed in the joy of knowledge

Be the supreme embodiment of joy

Entry into Soul-Lotus, the opening to divine pleasure, may not remain a challenge

Thy shall become one with personification of eternal joy

Find boundless freedom breaking away from the relentless cycle of birth & death

Attachments are not mine, neither are any aversions

These Karmas are not mine too, neither is the world around me

Only introspective immersion in soul is my ultimate peace maker

Only pure knowledge, all knowing reality of soul, is my destination.

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He can be reached at h.gandhi@samved.com

At fault? Who me? How can it be?

                                                                                                            By: Himanshu K. Gandhi

Who says to find fault is easy?

... Did you try yet... to find fault in self?

Two sides of a coin... are always together...

... and yet... have never seen each other...

Akin to that, we are culpable and at fault being... full of impurities...

... And, yet at the very core... of our soul or deep conscience... we are the all knowing, all powerful Atma-Parmatma or Him... the divine Self.

When we toss up a coin, probability of it landing on a given face is 50%...

... And, yet due to our ignorance and lack of absolute faith in path of His wisdom... probability for us having to witness our core Self or Atma-Anubhuti (आत्मानुभूति) or Self-realization in our current life form... is almost zero.

The only way to view the desired side of a coin 100% of the time... is to etch that side of the coin facing us... into a firm base like a stone...

... As such, only way for us to experience our Self or Him within... is firmly entrench our self on path of His wisdom, with absolute faith that we are Him/the divine Self.

... As we do so... gradually, but surely, our thought, speech and actions will becomes less impure and eventually be in total sync with the divine pure Self...

... And we will ultimately experience Him.

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He administers a Facebook group ‘SSS… Solution Starts with Self’, where his effort is to support thoughts that enrich the base ethos of simple, straightforward and honest conduct, to break the pace of greed and vice, everywhere we see. He can be reached at h.gandhi@samved.com

Make the differences disappear… seek awareness within.

                                               By: Himanshu K. Gandhi

Just ask Scott Kelly, a US Astronaut, who is scheduled to return back on Earth on March 1st, after spending 11 months in space...

... how many Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Jews, Buddhists... he could see on Earth?

... Or, how many Americans, Chinese, Iranians, Indians, Japanese, Germans, Britons, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Brazilians, Russians, Saudi Arabians, Canadians, Turks, French, Albanians, Mexicans, Australians, Nepalese, South Africans, Sri Lankans, Kenyans... he could see on Earth?

... Or, how many Accountants, Doctors, Sweepers, Engineers, Politicians, Pharmacists, Businessmen, Artists, Attorneys, Sportsmen, Coolies, Cooks, Bankers... he could see on Earth?

All divisions are man made... artificial... and non-existent the moment you are out of body...

... or, even when, in Scott's case... to a large extent... out of the Earth.

Then, why quibble on them?

Can we make our own life better... by changing our own perspective?

No amount of learning, reading, writing... any where on Earth or in space... will conclusively change our perspective for good...

... unless we trek closer to our deep conscience...

... and arrive at the seat of all knowledge... Atma-Tatva/soul/Self/Him within.

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He administers a Facebook group ‘SSS… Solution Starts with Self’, where his effort is to support thoughts that enrich the base ethos of simple, straightforward and honest conduct, to break the pace of greed and vice, everywhere we see. He can be reached at h.gandhi@samved.com

Be aware of the critical factors at play... for a successful journey towards Self-realization. And then… raise your awareness.

By: Himanshu K. Gandhi

When it comes to spiritual pursuit towards Self-realization... chariot of our journey comes with…

• Two horses… that of
• Purushartha or concerted self effort... and,
• Absolute and unflinching faith in path of His wisdom

Vitality, strength and size of each of these horses will greatly determine pace, and momentum if any, of our progress. Fodder for each of them comes from our absorption of knowledge laid out in Jinvani… and depth & rigor of our introspection, or quite contemplation. As we zealously feed right fodder to the horses, they will gain strength… and grow in size.

• Four wheels… that of

• Inhibiting of our passions… of greed, deceit, ego, anger
• Curbing sensuous urges… to please senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste and mind
• Satsang… virtuous fellowship
• Vitragta... gradual cutting away of all cords that are not aligned with the objective.

Our ability to sustain and surge in each of the above areas, will greatly determine the strength and size of the wheels. While wheels may be uneven and weak at inception, as we earnestly focus on lending strength to each of them… they in turn will support and strengthen each other… and grow in size.

As we earnestly set on the voyage…

• a Guru/Sacha Sarthi or guiding force… to keep our zeal and tempo on... towards the ultimate goal.

The momentum that our chariot is able to take, or sustain... depends upon…

• The Terrain... laid out by... uneven highs, rifts and valleys of our past unsettled account of our Karmic cart.

• And Weather… along the way… largely defined by Kal and Kshetra we find ourselves in.

The only possible way we can successfully navigate through rough terrain and inhospitable weather, as above, is by adopting and sustaining Samta Bhav or even-keel temperament. Without which, our chariot will break apart and our journey will come to a standstill… or even lose ground that we might have already covered.

My friend... Are you on… or for the voyage?  I am.

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He administers a Facebook group ‘SSS… Solution Starts with Self’, where his effort is to support thoughts that enrich the base ethos of simple, straightforward and honest conduct, to break the pace of greed and vice, everywhere we see. He can be reached at h.gandhi@samved.com.

A parable of our thoughts and actions… as we deliberately pursue path of His wisdom.

                                                                          By, Himanshu K. Gandhi.

Of all the quandaries... that struck me all night...

As I pondered on the road ahead... with no help in sight...

There was one query that shook me... to my very plight...

Can we outsource responsibility???...

If you said, "No!!!"...

Then... we my friend... share the onus... to set things right...

For most don't care... to own up to their share...

And are happy to walk away... leaving for someone else to care...

Though, fear not... the challenges all around...

All the mines were dug out with a single first blow in the ground...

We will have many more join in the toil...

All those who cannot just watch and sympathize with the state of our soil...

And even if we don't see a soul... to help us... with their might...

Fear not my friend... He will be with us... to help us set things right...

For our motive is clean...and we can't give up... without an honest fight.

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He administers a Facebook group ‘SSS… Solution Starts with Self’, where his effort is to support thoughts that enrich the base ethos of simple, straightforward and honest conduct, to break the pace of greed and vice, everywhere we see. He can be reached at h.gandhi@samved.com.

Be aware of the critical factors at play that make us whole… and then raise our awareness of those… to lead us on to path of His wisdom.

By: Himanshu K. Gandhi

Trigonometry is a study of relationship of angles and their projections as the sides supporting them morph, giving an easy to analyze visual static components … to that which is dynamic and complex.

On the even plain of our character and conduct… introspection is such a science which unravels relationship of factors and forces, that internally shape our existence, and what we project outwardly… which gives us visual cues of what we are about, at a point in time.

If we care to deep dive and understand, then there are primarily five angles at play; Our…

1. Passions; of ego, greed, deceit and anger
2. Sensuous urges; to appease our sense of sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste, and mind.
3. Faith in His wisdom; complete acceptance of virtues and principles of righteousness laid out in ones own faith
4. Virtuous fellowship (Satsang) and
5. Concerted self effort (Purushartha).

Greater the angle of each of them... greater is the projection of its power and influence over us... at any point of time.

When we are angled in the corner of our passions and sensuous urges... we are overpowered by believing that which is untrue and ephemeral... circumscribing ourselves in a circle that encompasses corrupting influence (Kusang), passions and sensuous pleasures... and become increasingly unaware of existence and true nature of our soul.

The only way to breakthrough the self imposed submissiveness to harmful elements... is to come in closer proximity and get angled in by those that are virtuous, and gradually build up concerted self efforts/Purushartha.

And as we do that over the course of time... the angle of faith in His wisdom will exert stronger influence on us, greatly aiding that process. And eventually make us break apart completely from the baneful influences.

At which point, we are circumscribed in the virtuous circle... with angles of right faith, Satsang and Purushartha.

As a result of which our outward projections, while we remain in society, will lead us consistently towards acts of common good, driven by selfless motive. And once we renounce society to be an ascetic/Vitragta, drive us deeper towards Self-realization.

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He administers a Facebook group ‘SSS… Solution Starts with Self’, where his effort is to support thoughts that enrich the base ethos of simple, straightforward and honest conduct, to break the pace of greed and vice, everywhere we see. He can be reached at h.gandhi@samved.com.

Make an honest reflection on our thoughts, words and actions... to modulate them for a better self... and making of a better society and strengthening bond of humanity.

By: Himanshu K. Gandhi

Places of faith, be it a temple, or a monastery, or a mosque, or a church, or a gurudwara, or an agiary, or an institution whose raison d'être is faith, are all supposedly built to espouse virtues and further core tenets embodied in their own faiths. But, do they really? Take for instance, one central and core tenet of each and every faith; that of truth. The source of funds for donations to build or maintain the place of worship or faith based institution, donated under the guise of pursuit of one’s faith, is never questioned.

In fact, it is widely believed and accepted norm that disproportionably large amount of those funds are earned through some form of deceit; unaccounted or black money, or evasion of taxes, or income from a business that has gained from deceit in their operations or aided by corrupt practices of others. In effect, prima facie foundation of these places of faith is hollow in virtues and the critical blood sustaining the operations is primarily corrupted. For a follower of Jainism questions become starker on additional counts of deceit; are the sources of funds engaged in, or benefit from, operations or services that involve killing of animals, or sensuous titillations?

Unless deliberate care and conscientious efforts are undertaken to support and strengthen the virtues espoused in ones faith, the whole edifice is just a façade of brick and wood that will crumble and decay. While we generally take great care that the food that is served, in these places of faith, is saattvik or halal or kosher, should we not even bother to care that sources of funds, that run the place, survive the same test? While it may not be possible to eradicate deceit from sources of funds, can we at least make an honest and sincere effort? There is no deficit of greater import then that of virtues, and no pandemic of greater threat to human kind then that of deceit. Thread of virtues ties humanity together and to make our bonds stronger we have to rope in stronger virtues.

Campaign for truth starts here, now… with a warm invite to all those who have distanced themselves from deceit, or have taken unto themselves a solemn pledge to displace deceit out of their being. Truthfulness is a single domino. Once it falls into place, all other dominoes of righteous conduct follow through in synchronicity. We all may have, or have had, some "ignorance", "excuse", "limitation" or "circumstance beyond our control" to fall into deceit, or not mount enough resistance to it. Can we all join hands to call deceit out from within us or without, and make a real effort to remain away from artifice and deceit?

Any and every humble effort of ours towards self reform will energize those within our circle of influence to do the same. Each one of us supports the other. For our own good and for the common good, let us come together, to help humanity stave off the scourge and pandemic of deceit. When we take on a solemn pledge we move to actualize the notion. Kindly join the campaign for truth in self by following the link below and click on "Pledge. And, when you have done so, kindly enjoin everyone in your circle of influence to do the same.

http://www.causes.com/campaigns/72041-campaign-for-truth?recruiter_id=185846843&utm_campaign=share&u

Let us all do our bit.

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He administers a Facebook group ‘Campaign for Truth’, where in all of the members have taken a solemn pledge to displace deceit out of their being, to enable them to support cause of truth in each and every sphere of life, and raise voice of reason to call out deceit when and where possible. To join the group or any comments email him at h.gandhi@samved.com.

The World Economic Forum, meets yearly in late January to dwell into critical issues confronting humanity. When will we distill down to the crux of all?

By: Himanshu K. Gandhi

At the Davos World Economic Forum, where the world leaders from all walks of life gather to tackle real global challenges...

... you will hear a lot of media moguls speak about the critical role of their industry and challenges to reach out to the world...

But there will be no challenge to them… on how and why they get away with... deceit of paid news?

You will also hear financial moguls talk about economic recovery around the world... and efforts to spur investments in infrastructure, and pumping energy into the levers of growth world wide...

But there will be no challenge to them on how they got away with... pumping out all of the deceitful concoctions of financial derivative instruments that sunk millions of people in debt and economic misery world wide ... with not a single person, from within them, spending time out of their ivory perch towers, into cold cells.

You will hear a lot of panel discussions on income inequality... on ways and means to pull up those at the bottom... from raising minimum wages, to investments into education, and such....

But no one there will offer that the root cause is plain vanilla deceit. They conveniently forget that those at the bottom 99% have no qualms about showering praise on a person who is deserving and has earned his/her bounty through rightful means... but have deep rooted angst against those that have amassed their wealth deceitfully, gaming the system...

... ranging from working with "sympathetic" regulators and lawmakers to concoct carve outs for their benefit... to plain vanilla stealing from investors when compensation committees, for example, award a USD 200 Million dole to a person fired from his job, after just 6 months of "service".

You will also hear grave concerns on malnutrition and hunger among millions of deprived…

But no one will challenge the pipes of deceit… where food meant for the needy is looted away by those entrusted to run the "program”… with corrupt governors of the system calling shots. Unless nations comes to be governed by those driven by selfless motive, at each and every level of government... at the center and all states... we will have a network of broken pipes… be it any place on earth.

In any developing or developed place, intellect has mostly gone awry to service fear or greed, or has succumbed to avarice or is ruled by deceit. Culture of truth, sympathy, tolerance, forgiveness and notion of ‘for the greater good’ to engender selfless motive… need be taught, learned and practiced afresh.

There is no other alternative.

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He administers a Facebook group ‘Campaign for Truth’, where in all of the members have taken a solemn pledge to displace deceit out of their being.To enable them to support cause of truth in each and every sphere of life, and raise voice of reason to call out deceit when and where possible. To join the group or any comments email him at h.gandhi@samved.com.

Make an honest reflection on our thoughts, words and actions... to modulate them for a better self... and making of a better society and strengthening bond of humanity.

By: Himanshu K. Gandhi

Davos, Switzerland will yet again be hosting global leaders from all walks of life, under the aegis of 'The World Economic Forum' later this month... "to encourage businesses, governments and civil society to commit together to improving the state of the world."

Its claim to fame is a non-partisan platform for independent inquiry and thought leadership to wrestle with wide swath of critical world challenges from innovation, to economies, to education, to peace, to hunger.

This year it lists the very same broad array of "Issues"... which are all important... but, misses out yet again, on mention of the big elephant in the room... deceit.

There is no deficit of greater import than that of virtues... and no pandemic of greater threat to humankind than that of deceit. Thread of virtues ties humanity together and to make our bonds stronger we have to rope in stronger virtues.

When will deceit be a hot button issue at Davos? Will it ever be?

Not until all of the crowd pullers gathered at the event... or those who are able to make room for themselves, with a fee of over US$ 75000, have their hands clean. Dirty animals raise no issue with playing in the dirt.

Campaign for truth starts here... now... with a warm invite to all those who have distanced themselves from deceit... or have taken unto themselves a solemn pledge to displace deceit from their being...

Truthfulness is a single domino. Once it falls into place, all other dominoes of righteous conduct follow through in synchronicity.

We all may have, or have had, some… "ignorance", "excuse", "limitation" or "circumstance beyond our control"... to fall into deceit, or not mount enough resistance to it.

Can we all join hands to call deceit out... from within us… or without... and make a real effort to remain away from artifice and deceit?

Any and every humble effort of ours towards self reform will energize those within our circle of influence to do the same. Each one of us supports the other. For our own good and for the common good… let us come together... to help humanity stave off the scourge and pandemic of deceit.

When we take on a solemn pledge... we move to actualize the notion. Kindly join the campaign for truth in self by following the link below and click on "Pledge.

http://www.causes.com/campaigns/72041-campaign-for-truth?recruiter_id=185846843&utm_campaign=share&u

And, when you have done so, kindly enjoin everyone in your circle of influence to do the same.

Let us all do our bit.

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He administers a Facebook group ‘SSS… Solution Starts with Self’, where his effort is to support thoughts that enrich the base ethos of simple, straightforward and honest conduct, to break the pace of greed and vice, everywhere we see. To join the group or any comments email him at h.gandhi@samved.com.

Make an honest reflection on sources of funds that support our places of faith to ascertain that they are consistent with virtues of our faith.

By: Himanshu K. Gandhi

Ignoring a festering problem or wishing it away... does not always make it go away. More likely then not, like a seething open wound, it will occupy our attention, even when we choose to turn our eyes away from it.

Many great societal challenges of our current times are such... Leaving us with only one choice... but, to boldly confront it and call attention to resources when and where possible to help address it.

Places of faith… be it a temple, or a monastery, or a mosque, or a church, or a gurudwara, or an agiary, or any institution whose raison d'être is faith, are all supposedly built to espouse virtues and further core tenets embodied in their own faiths…

… But, do they really?

Take for instance, one central and core tenet of each and every faith… that of Truth. The source of funds for donations to build or maintain the place of worship or faith based institution… donated under the guise of pursuit of one’s faith… is never questioned.

In fact, it is widely believed and accepted norm that disproportionably large amount of those funds are earned through some form of deceit… unaccounted or black money, or evasion of taxes, or income from a business that has gained from deceit in their operations or aided by corrupt practices of others...

… In effect, prima facie foundation of these places of faith is hollow in virtues… and the critical blood sustaining the operations is primarily corrupted.

For a follower of Jainism questions become starker on multiple counts… in addition to all kinds of deceit, are the sources of funds engaged in, or benefit from, operations or services that involve killing of animals, or sensuous titillations?

Unless deliberate care and conscientious efforts are undertaken to support and strengthen the virtues espoused in ones faith, the whole edifice is just a façade of brick and wood that will crumble and decay.

While we generally take great care that the food that is served, in these places of faith, is saattvik or halal or kosher… should we not even bother to care that sources of funds, that run the place, survive the same test?

When deceit is fouled out and deceitful players are stripped off of their Gold medals even in sports… then, on what basis can deceit survive as an acceptable norm in places of faith?

While it may not be possible to eradicate deceit from sources of funds… can we at least make an honest and sincere effort?

Can we at the very least ask the donor to self certify that all sources of his/her income have not gained from deceit, or supporting deceit, or trades that are in stark antithesis to one’s faith? In essence, putting at least a pittance of hurdle and announcing our intent that we care for such.

If not, then let’s not call our places of worship, or faith based institutions, as places that aid in reaching out to God or Jina or Allah or Jesus or Him… and belonging to a Trust…

… but… just clubs for social gatherings full of pomp and fluff…. and a colossal waste of a great opportunity to make a positive impact for the well being of mankind.

As many humble followers of our faith have observed, virtues have been progressively cornered away to make more room for deceit, which gets bigger every passing day.

Biggest turn-off with faith for the upcoming generations, is not the practice of rituals or gripe with comprehension through the lens of science, or relevance of spirituality in their career progression… but explicit duplicity witnessed in forbearers and "followers” of faith… where greed and glory are key appendages that work hard to further deceit. ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ and "All hands on the deck are red” perceptions precipitate the distrust.

There is no stopping of donation, from any and all sources of income, to the impoverished and deprived, or to any social cause, or any organization… just don’t let self or anyone do it under the guise of faith, unless the monies are deceit free.

Don’t let self or anyone steal piety out of our places of faith!

Just as when a flight attendant serves a burger to an avowed vegetarian, by removing a beef patty tightly crunched in between the vegetables of sandwiched buns, it does not make that a veg-burger… akin to that, income through streams of ones occupation that’s smeared by deceit or sacrilegious trade, is corrupted and does not qualify as worthy of supporting any activity in the name of Jainism.

What good are tomes of knowledge stacked away in places of faith and trillions of bytes uploaded on to e.Libraries there of... when there is very little thought, let alone deliberate effort, to put into consistent practice the most basic of virtues... Truth… within its purview?

Don’t call out for monies for Bhoomi-poojan or Dhwaja-rohan on a place of faith… and not care if those donations merit the purpose and are deceit free.

… Or, monies donated for Swamivatsalya that bothers to make sure that the food served is free of egg, fish, meat or liquor… but not care if the source of funds is from an operation that handles or dispenses such.

… Or, build Dharamshalas, for Tirth-yatris, which are guarded to check untoward incidents within its premises… but not care if funds donated for the same were garnered from illicit salacious trades.

And, if there are not enough monies received due to the restriction of self-certification by the donor, then it is just fine to proportionately trim down the operations, or curtail the expansion plans, or lighten up on commencing a Bhavya-Jirnodhar, or tone down on build up of a grandiose new place of faith…

… If not, then let fish and beef be served as a "choice” at venues gathered in the name of Jainism.

It matters less if a Trust or body of management, of a place of Jain faith, sets a threshold for donor’s self-certification to donations over INR 50,000 or USD 1,000 or GBP 500…

… or, if they decide that self-certification would just mean a published comment on the donation receipt to that effect, or just an email, or even a mere verbal attestation of such to the Treasurer…

… But please, don’t look away and, thereby, connive with deceit!!

The biggest perpetrators of deceit rely on those that support them, either by furthering deceit, or by not resisting them. When we decide to "play safe” or "sit on the fence”, we have furthered the cause of perpetrators, and are as culpable as those that actively support them. In effect, the grim truth is, not resisting deceit is to support it.

Voice of reason is our only fuel, and our runway is very long... but winds of support will blow harder as every new voice joins ours, to save what we have, and salvage what we can... for generations to come behind us.

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He administers a Facebook group ‘SSS… Solution Starts with Self’, where his effort is to support thoughts that enrich the base ethos of simple, straightforward and honest conduct, to break the pace of greed and vice, everywhere we see. To join the group or any comments email him at h.gandhi@samved.com.

India for Freedom- Can We… Start with Self?

Make an honest reflection on our thoughts, words and actions... to modulate them for a better self... and making of a better society and nation.

By: Himanshu K. Gandhi

The greatest challenge to India’s future is not dwindling natural resources, or corruption, or divisively fractured political establishment, but deeply pervasive abject indifference of a wide swath of masses.

Those at one end of the pole with capacity and resources to make a change continue to maroon the trust and fabric of nation for their own unashamed lustful greed, scheming with corrupt bureaucratic setup for means unto themselves with abject disregard for morality, ethics and making of a capable nation.

While, for those at the other end of the same pole, daily struggle to cope with hyper inflation can barely make them ponder about the road ahead.

And, the growing glorified middle remains gruesomely detached from inner circles of power, almost scared to pit their head in the smoldering pit of ever growing underground economy with well entrenched politico-goons connections wielding control at local government establishments.

If there is only one area that we have failed miserably, as an individual and as a nation... it is, not living by our virtues. As, how can a nocturnal enlighten anyone in his/her circle of influence on beauty of a rainbow?

In India, like any developing/developed places, intellect has mostly gone awry to service fear or greed, or has succumbed to avarice. Culture of sympathy, tolerance, forgiveness and notion of for-the-greater-good need be taught, learned and practiced afresh. There is no other alternative.

Can we... all who care to see our nation free from corruption... resolve to not pay up into the demands of a bribe, and… resolve not to make way for our gain by aiding or abetting any corrupt practices, and… resolve not to engage in any transactions that cause or involve black money, or that are helped by seeking or giving undue underhand favors?

Can we... all who care to see our nation respect women... resolve to not pay up into the demands of a dowry, and… resolve not to engage in barter of dowry, which remains a root cause for female foeticide and female infanticide, and… resolve not to be entertained by sounds and images stocking carnal thoughts and insidious behavior?

Can we… all who care to see our nation clean and green… resolve to start with clean up of our own building, street, and neighborhood, and… resolve to grow and save vegetation in our sphere of influence?

Can we... all who care to see our nation lead into better governance… resolve to be more involved in public policy making institutions, processes and be willing to cross to the other side to face the music?

Can we... all who care to see our nation succeed... resolve not to disparage it and be part of the solution, and… resolve to pitch in with volunteering hours and any resources that we can spare... to work on common good?

Unless, we are honest with ourselves and care to start with self... we would have failed all of those that have sacrificed their lives to make this nation. And more regretfully, failed our children to leave behind a legacy to call their place a home… no matter where we live.

Extortion or any corrupt practices are a chase of those that feed on their greed, and our fear. We cannot curb their greed… but can work on our fear.

What we can certainly not do is to stoke those tendencies by essentially practicing in the same circle, for our own benefit... for instance:

Corrupt practices are rife not only in public sector, but widely prevalent today in private sector. Each and every honest businessperson in our nation will recount the magnitude and stifling hold of common place norms of deceit, vogue of black money and deeply ingrained culture of favoritism.

Large majority of transactions from real estate to purchase of goods & services are facilitated by, or engender, unaccounted or black money.

Very few make deliberate and conscious efforts to distance themselves from corrupt practices. In effect, make hay of them for own benefit, or surrendering their plight without honest efforts to resist.

Diminutive forces drowning our nation will become fearful once challenge to them becomes strong. Start inadvertently needs to be from somewhere where we are most uncomfortable with... our self. Only then will foundation of our challenge be strong enough to sustain long drawn on struggle... for real independence, and reverting to our heritage, as a virtuous nation.

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He administers a Facebook group ‘SSS… Solution Starts with Self’, where his effort is to support thoughts that enrich the base ethos of simple, straightforward and honest conduct, to break the pace of greed and vice, everywhere we see. To join the group or any comments email him at h.gandhi@samved.com.

India for Freedom- An Approach to Solution… that Starts with Self.

Make an honest reflection on how we can cure ourselves to further our motive to free India of its constraints that impede its excellence in all spheres of human association.

By: Himanshu K. Gandhi

Ignoring a festering problem or wishing it away... does not always make it go away. More likely then not, like a seething open wound, it will occupy our attention, even when we choose to turn our eyes away from it.

Many great societal challenges of our current times are such... Leaving us with only one choice... but, to boldly confront it and call attention to resources when and where possible to help address it.

Cry as we may all, against the tyranny of justice, or slaughter of truth, or senseless violence, or corrupt system… any demons without can only be humbled when shout to action to the other side... is preceded by call to action for principled self, within. Until the principled 1% of the society rise up to walk the talk... and commit themselves to be in the mix to engage a change... masses at large will never gain any currency in this doctored and deliberately fractured setups we still call democracy… anywhere where the greed resides.

First Leg of Our Response: Imbibe Virtues

Honest and truthful conduct that we expect of others, need to be imbibed solemnly by us.

The germ of incessant corruption-of-character and diminutive conduct is wide spread... into the very fabric of our current day common activities, across anywhere where greed resides. To give it a meaningful resistance, first and foremost we have to come to terms with ourselves… howsoever reluctant we may be... as soiled broom cannot clean the room.

We cannot hope to curtail or tame corrosive influence of underground economy and underworld, from infrastructure projects, to housing development, to rigged markets, to halls of education, to religious charities… unless our own business or daily transactions are devoid of black money, or deceitful means, or are not helped by seeking or giving undue underhand favors.

We cannot rise in respect for women and break the back of ghastly treatment of women from forced female feticides, to rape and molestation, to far more common groping and harassment… unless we have completely grounded our own undercurrents of salacious conduct and refuse to be entertained by sounds and images stocking carnal thoughts and insidious behavior.

Let us humbly submit to introspect, practice true humility, promise to be selfless, truthful (without deceit) and inspire everyone in our circle of influence to do the same.

Second Leg of Our Response: Engender Selfless Motive in Our Self

Solutions are much easy to come about, implement and stick... when selfless motive flows in the veins of fellow men and women; motive sans greed, glory or any gain, including sensuous pleasure, for personal ends. Selfless motive is the only antidote to susceptibility to corrupt thoughts, which are harbingers to corrupt practices.

An old fable of 'Stone on the Road' can only teach us if we are inclined to put our virtuous principles into practice... with every thought, word and action. Only way out, and forward, is to heed our own call to make better and take ownership, for common good.

Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, M.L. King and Frederick Douglas won the plurality of bitter struggles based on singularity of the strength of their character. There is no alternative.

Third Leg of our Response: Saving what Remains Good

To get to work in identifying and isolating, to protect, nurture and nourish what remains good. Start at local community level; spread the deliberate message, to wider circles to amass support of local NGOs, charitable faith institutions, and any and everyone who is an honest believer in this effort.

First and foremost there in, is to protect and support, in any which way we can, people and institutions that run on selfless motive. It is much easier to spot them… once we adorn the very same colors.

Fourth leg of our response: Rebuild

We would have already identified problem areas when we work diligently to support and protect that which remains good. Let us be more involved in public policy making institutions, processes and be willing to cross to the other side to face the music. What democracies need is leaders primed by the power of principles and not by the power of money. If elections at all levels of government are commissioned by this yardstick, we can truly turn around this parody in action.

Bring forth as many fellow well-wishers in the common good process, to break corrupt practices, rebuild tarnished instistutions, and effect acute resistence against forces that are at work, to break us apart.

The key is to stay selfless… humble, truthful and not to do for glory.

Remember, a spark at the end of a cigarette butt at a remote camp in Arizona had no idea that it had power to ignite 350,000 acres of forest. Constructive forces take much longer time to work through… but they do work… when aligned with selfless motive.

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He administers a Facebook group ‘India for Freedom’, where his effort is to support thoughts that leads us to better state of responsibility for our nation, which starts with self. To join the group or any comments email him at h.gandhi@samved.com.

I have read that the Jain religion prohibits any profession which involves the use of a large furnace, because living beings from microorganisms on upward can be destroyed in such a furnace. I have also read that Jains believe that the destruction of living beings on a large scale can cause a person to be reborn in Hell in their next life. Now, most people in America (for example, me) get their electric power from power plants that burn coal in large furnaces. That being the case, how do American Jains (or Jains anywhere else) justify using electric power for recreation and entertainment?

I know that Jains who are not monks or nuns will, for example:

-- Watch television

-- Watch movies at the theater

-- Read novels by the light of electric lamps

-- Read novels at all (though living beings are killed when trees are made into paper)

-- Use the Internet for fun.

I do all of these things to relax and have fun. If I become a Jain, how will I be able to justify still doing them at all? How do modern lay Jains do it? Please help me with this question. Thank you for taking the time to read my post.

                                                                                                                                      Alex 

By: Himanshu K. Gandhi

This is a step on to a journey to search within... to solve problems without. We all are starkly aware about abhors outside. Let's start inward and be brave to cure our own shortcomings. We are a fellowship, each one will support another. Our primary purpose would be to not stray from principled path in spite of daily travails and mercantile tendencies that we all are susceptible to. We resolve to introspect, practice true humility, promise to be selfless, truthful (without deceit) and inspire everyone in our circle of influence to do the same. The workshop is meant to be a critical introspection led confession, in secure settings, of ones own shortcomings, as measured by own self against guiding principles of a code of conduct available in any faith of his/her following.

______________________________________________________________________________

We all strive to be 'deliberate/purposeful'; about some activity, or some thing, or some goal in worldly pursuits that consume most of our available time, space, thought and action. And, often get involved in pursuits beyond our own, to those of our family and growing circle of influences. Eventually when one realizes that all these deliberate worldly pursuits have never ending cycle, we come back to the core... on path of self emancipation... where confluence of all emotions cease to matter, and we work towards equanimity with every being, increasingly unperturbed by every action around us.

One humble approach in this endeavor is ‘Character-conduct Workshop’. It will strive to embolden participants to share their experience, strength and hope with each other… that they may solve their own problem, and help themselves & others to strengthen character & conduct, in path towards observance of vows of one’s faith. And in doing so, lessen layers-on-layers of karmic dirt attached to our soul, or bring about catharsis of our soul.

General framework for ‘Character/conduct workshop’:

a. We are a fellowship, each one will support another. Each participant will take time to deeply introspect and gradually ferret out his/her own shortcoming as it relates to observance of the vows of own faith. This will mature towards bold but dispassionate self view and commentary. Each participant makes an honest attempt to look inside, identify his/her own short-comings, confronts it and exhibits courage to ferret that out in open, eye-to-eye with other fellow participants with a view to atone for his/her sins and create a situation where by, in future, he/she does not embroil himself/herself in those.

b. Basic qualifiers/pre-requisites for all participants:

1. We have made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

2. We have courage to admit to our fordmaker (Jina or God or Allah or Waheguru or Bhagvan or Buddha), to ourselves and to other human being, eye-to-eye, the exact nature of our wrongs.

3. We are in for same reasons and will respect each others privacy. Personal disclosures made herein are to be treated as pious and strictly confidential, permanently. Disclosing of any bit of discussion, even to a close kin/spouse, out of the confines of workshop will be akin to a theft from a place of worship.

4. Place principles before personalities; that we have renounced personal glorification in public and that we will practice true humility.

c. One of the ways participants stay on the path towards observance of vows of own faith, is by helping other brethren achieve the same. While a participant is expounding and introspecting on his/her own shortcoming fellow participants maintain supportive and attentive calmness which allows each of them to reflect in themselves. As he/she may have had similar transgression or realizes that he/she is susceptible to similar transgression. And, becomes more aware and thereby builds refrain against such. Thus allowing each participant to mutually and beneficially support each other and gain.

d. Participants will only voice their own short-coming without proscribing any remedy or solution or repentance for any other person.

e. Each participant declares his/her resolve to be on track of right conduct and in doing so establishes a symbiotic relationship with other such compatriots to create a cohesive, supportive and sustaining "ecosystem".

f. Workshop will be in secure setting, either in closed door or in open vast expanse of nature with no interference with or from outside world. There will be no written documents about ones short-coming shared or discussed, nor will anyone record or scribe any notes during the sessions. It will be pure simple self, confronting its own reality and allowing for solution to come from own self.

g. Supportive/fellowship setting will allow us to ‘let go’ of our outer charade and ‘to get’ glimpse of inner self, as we give light to layers of past deeds in action, thought or speech. These short-comings could be from past day, week, year, or several decades back. It will be pure simple self, confronting its own reality and allowing for solution to come from own self. The participants will only act as humble enablers to each other in the process.

h. Each Participant after expounding on his/her short-comings will dwell into how he/she dealt with those, or is atoning for those, or working on ways to de-bridge himself/herself from such thought, speech or deeds, or avowed resolve to reduce the gap.

i. One can use any guiding principles of code of conduct available in his/her faith, for instance Mahavratas or Anuvratas in Jainism. As long as a goal is identified one can then look inward and measure up against the same, with a deep resolve to close the gap and atone for each and every of his/her shortcoming.

j. Participation in the workshop is open to mature individuals from all walks of life. It will be in form of small groups of four to eight each, with women and men in separate groups. It will be open to all who satisfy pre-requisites & completely embrace the framework.

k. Every participant in workshop is an active participant… there are no passive observers.

l. This is a fellowship. There are no monies exchanged or fees charged. Each participant supports other in a self sustaining symbiotic relationship. The place for meeting of workshop can be one of the participants home, or a place of faith, or just an open expanse of nature.

It will require immense courage to venture into the act of "self-critic". Just as it is more difficult to commit crime in broad day light, it is extremely difficult to come open and accept in front of others. No one claims that ‘tapasya/tap’ (penance) is easy. We can view this "very humbling exercise" as an extreme ‘tap’, to lessen the burden of karma. Just as light eases out darkness, we will strive to revive our baby innocence. With our fellowship, we will endeavor to let go of our outer charade and to get glimpse of inner self.

As per Narendra Nandu (Mumbai), as we embark on this exercise, we should be aware that our past shortcomings or karmas are like a weed. Uproot it out and it is gone. But if we let that be, it will spread and grow. And, it will manifest itself in some way either in this life or down the cycle.

Confessions are antithesis to glory. We need to "let go” of glory. To "let go” is the most difficult act for us all, as we have grown to learn ways and means of accumulating. And, during this "humbling exercises" we will be forced to "let go" of our ego, which will allow for inflow of ‘vitaraga bhav’ (being freed from attachment, fear and anger, being fully absorbed in ‘atma’/Self)

As per Manish Modi (Mumbai), this exercise is akin to "khara pratikaman” (true introspection).

As we gather courage to participate in this exercise, in complete and humble sense, we hope to see a positive change come about in ourselves… because, now we are not afraid to confront the truth. And, by doing so, we believe, our fordmaker will help us win over our kashayas (passions) of ‘krodha’ (anger), ‘lobha’ (greed), ‘mana’ (ego) and ‘maya’ (deceit).

Belief is, when one makes an honest attempt to look inside, identifies own short-comings, confronts it and exhibits courage to ferret that out in open, eye-to-eye with other fellow beings, he/she has already done the most difficult part, akin to the big thrust that a rocket needs to push itself out of the earths gravity. And, in doing so, the solution for repentance will naturally flow to him/her. Additionally, at a minimum, an acute resistance will gradually develop against embroiling in such or similar acts in future, to eventually control his/her own kashayas.

Knock off the pretense!!

… and face your shortcomings head on.

Lay bare your motive to free your soul

... and unearth layers of past misdeeds

You, my friend, now, have the power to set

… On to the path laid out by the realized ones.

About the author: Himanshu is based in Boston, MA and is an avid follower of Jainism. He administers a Facebook group ‘SSS… Solution Starts with Self’, where his effort is to support thoughts that enrich the base ethos of simple, straightforward and honest conduct, to break the pace of greed and vice, everywhere we see. To join the group or any comments email him at h.gandhi@samved.com.

Charitra, I believe is the greatest challenge of our times and is evidently less appreciated as such. Every failure of human capital has had roots in the lack of good Conduct. Corruption is but just one of the more visible failures of Charitra. We need a grass-roots movement to take it head-on. Let every one that joins in take on a promise to be selfless, truthful (without deceit) and inspire everyone in their circle of influence to do the same. Nothing less then that will ever be a challenge to the core ethos of mass politic in our nation, and every where else, where greed resides.

Jainism's virtue of Samyak Charitra, in its most basic form, is the most common trait among all of the world religions, and yet least celebrated as the most unifying facet of all faiths. JAINA can leverage the same more explicitly in it's Inter-Faith platform. We all have to seize on that and build on a popular movement, each small step at a time, in the direction of Right Conduct, in our thoughts and our deeds. And in doing so, we will bring forth the message to the betterment of our home, neighborhood, society, nation and the world at large.

We have all witnessed recent activities in Tahrir Square; a movement against the oppressor and we are all emboldened by it. Yet, the bigger devil within us remains to be humbled. As we strive to take the message of Right Conduct forward, I believe, the virtue there in will sink and imbibe within us at a greater pace.

Further more, I believe, of all the challenges that we face in the conquest towards Right Conduct, the singular and yet the most galvanizing force is that of absolute celibacy. It is one step in the direction of Right Conduct that leaps oneself miles forward, to help tune out the cacophony of much of the virulent forces within us.

 As Jains around the world meditate and reflect on the final day of Paryusan, the events of this day nine years ago give us further pause of Jainism’s meaning and message. Our prayers and thoughts are with the families of those souls whose lives were taken on that terrible morning. We all mourn those who perished and, in our mourning, must reflect upon how such awful deaths can be prevented. One could argue that acts of terrible violence on the scale such as the attacks of September 11th, 2001 renders the non-violence philosophy of Jainism at best impotent and at worst irrelevant to modern international relations. What does Jainism’s principle of ahimsa (non-violence) really have to say vis-à-vis atrocity, aggression, and violence? Genocide in Sudan. Nuclear threats in North Korea. Extremism in Iran. Militant xenophobism on the rise in Europe. Continued civil conflict in many parts of India. Persistent unjust military action by the United States in several corners of the globe. For those of us who care about social justice, we cannot sit idly by. The politics and economics of power lead in one direction: violence, disease, and suffering, most often towards the poor and most vulnerable members of our society. We must fight against atrocity and aggression, and we must win. Neutrality is not an option; though we directly may cause no violence, by allowing—and in fact indirectly benefiting via the global economy—we are all culpable. It well beyond my scope here to discuss whether Jains should support military action in Iraq or Afghanistan or Kashmir or Sudan. That is far too deep and difficult a question for the present moment. A broader caveat I should make now is that my understanding of Jainism is limited to the last ten years of my life. A slightly more approachable question is the role of ahimsa in the battle against militarism. And while it is true that Jainism is perhaps the world’s only major religion on behalf of which no wars have ever been fought, that fact does not bear too heavily on the power struggles of the present day. Here the most important figure in my mind is Shrimad Rajchandraji. The Jain philosopher and disciple of Mahavir, born two years prior to Gandhiji, was one of the single most important philosophical influences on the Mahatma’s life. They were close friends through the end of Shrimad Rajchandraji’s life, and exchanged a series of letters that would bear heavily on Gandhiji’s later political actions. The British Raj was a devastatingly powerful and violent empire and yet it fell ultimately to the hands of a largely non-violent struggle. Gandhiji’s brilliance was that he engaged and intertwined spiritual and political matters, arguing for Indian internal self-reliance, simplicity, and detachment while fighting politically for dignity, self-governance, and freedom. There are three primary threats to global peace and security: militarism, materialism, and religious intolerance. I have spoken above about the Jain’s response to militarism: ahimsa (non-violence). To materialism, Jainism says: aparigraha (non-possessiveness). To religious intolerance, we say anekantvad (non-absolutism). In my reading (again with the caveat that I have only begun my own learning process), these three Jain responses—ahimsa, aparigraha, and anekantvad—to the earth’s most pressing problems—are not merely natural arguments that flow from Jain’s philosophy but rather they form the very core of Jainism itself. Jainism seems to me to be at once a spiritual and political philosophy, and that is the fundamental reason why Jainism remains relevant to modern societies. Now, materialism. So engrained is materialism in our society that it has become cliché to even lament the materialism. The reality TV shows. The soul-less, aesthetic-less odes-to-concrete strip malls. The disregard for environmental justice. The 220 million tons of garbage each year that the EPA estimates our country generates. On a personal level, vegetarianism and attempts to limit personal environmental impact and waste, driven by Jainist philosophy, are important. But doing our own parts does little to prevent the strip malls. To fight materialism at a broader level, we need to succeed in inculcating our institutions and businesses with Jain principles. This is intensely practical as well as spiritual, as Gandhiji states about Rajchandraji in Experiments in Truth, "People normally believe that truth-telling and successful business never go together. Shri Rajchandbhai on the other hand firmly believed and advised that truth and honesty were not only useful but essential to all good business. Morality is not packed within a prayer book, it is to be practiced and lived in all stations of life. Religion and morality sustain both good life and good business.” This notion will appeal to young Jains who are driven by their parents and society to succeed. The question is, can we succeed at business and work in a way that furthers our spiritual development and that drives social justice? The answer to me is yes, but it does require work. Big business these days after all make huge profits on environmental degradation, violence towards impoverished workers, cigarette smoking, guns, alcohol, and fast food. The way to win this fight is not through withdrawing from the marketplace, but rather by entering the marketplace giving consumers better products. Religious intolerance is a mainstream, dangerous force throughout the globe. The use of the proposed Islamic cultural center a few blocks from Ground Zero by right-wing politicians to inflame Americans’ suffering from the twin tower attacks was but the most recent example in American political life. In India, violent groups under the guise of the Hindu religion continue to threaten the very fabric of Indian secular democracy. From Al-Qaeda to the present Iranian government, militants defile the name of Islam for their own gains. There are countless other examples throughout the globe. Jainism’s view of anekantvad stands strongly against such absolutist thinking, and argues that the heart of all religions is the stewardship of the soul. Taking this spiritual view, the trends towards militarism, materialism, and religious intolerance are symptomatic of an underlying disease process: our global society’s losing touch with our souls. This is where the depth of Jainism can help us all. Indeed, if ahimsa, aparigraha, and anekantvad are the central motifs of Jainism’s spiritual and political philosophies, then the supremacy of the soul is the religion’s essence. In Gandhiji’s words, with concepts heavily influenced by Shrimad Rajchandji: "Religion is the spiritual quality of the soul. It is embedded in human nature in visible or invisible form. By religion we are able to know the duty of man, by it we are able to know our relations (or kinship) with other living beings. But all this requires the capacity to know one’s self. If we do not know ourselves we cannot know others rightly. By religion one can know himself.” Today, we can communicate across the globe literally at the speed of photons, but the neurons in our brains are so inundated with extraneous (mis)information that we easily are led astray. Increases in the incidence of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, violent video game addictions among children, and motor vehicle accidents caused by texting are three public health symptoms of this phenomenon. The deeper meaning of these symptoms is that, despite the remarkable, wonderful democratization of knowledge, we and our children are at greater risk than ever of not knowing our own souls. There are no simple solutions here, other than study, meditation, reflection, persistence, and faith. Faith in ourselves and in others, that belief in the veracity of our souls, is something that I have seen to be engrained among my new family members who had the fortune of growing up Jain. This faith provides resilience against the distractions of the modern world. Interestingly, the single most important principle that my father a passed on to me was this very point, summarized in one of his more memorable teachings: "I am that I am that I am that I am, and so it is”. Today I was reminded of this when we repeated "So hum” during Pratikraman. I feel that Jainism should permeate our work and personal lives and not only be present when we decline meat or take samayik or go to temple. If we are to make Jainism relevant to the world, if we as Jains are going to fight for social justice and against disease and ignorance and violence and environmental degradation, we need to incorporate Jainism into the institutions that we are a part of. This in my mind is also how we will make Jainism relevant to our children. There are only ten million Jains around the world, but the story of Shrimad Rajchandji and the birth of a free India is testament enough to the insight and impact that Jainism can have on the broader world. And so, on this last day of Paryushan 2010, coinciding with nine-year anniversary of the deadliest attack on American soil, we mourn those who were lost, and in their memory, we reflect upon how we can work towards a more peaceful world. I firmly believe that Jainism has much to offer to achieve this vision.

Michhami Dukkadam, Duncan