Dear Sadharmik brothers and sisters,
Jai Jinendra!

We all are blessed to have inherited a religion based on science. Let's vow in these auspicious Paryushan days that we shall try not to hurt anybody with our actions, words, or deeds. On the seventh day of Paryushan Parv, we will learn about:

1. 7th Jiv Vichar Gatha, which explains Vayukaya Jiv.
2. Seven facets of Anger in an article by Dr. Kumarpal Desai.
3. Two out of four subdivisions of Kashayas.

Join the daily lectures by Dr. Kumarpal Desai, Dr. Jitendra Shah, and Dr. Bipin Doshi. or listen to past lectures at the link given below.

Please find the joining details of English Pratikraman, Deravasi Pratikraman, Sthanakvasi Aloyana and Pratikraman, and Achal Gach Pratikraman for the Samvatsari day.

Please take a note that we will have a lecture in Gujarati & Hindi on Saturday, August 22nd, 2020.

Please see YJA updates regarding Samvatsari Pratikraman and other information given below.

We will announce Das Lakshana Parv 2020 activities in special email.

Sincerely,
Mahesh Wadher
JAINA President

Gatha 7th

उब्भामग उक्कलिया, मंडलि मह सुद्ध गुंजवाया य|
घण-तणु वायाईसा, भेया खलु वाउकायस्स||

In this stanza, the fourth type of sthavara jiva, i.e. Vayukaya jiva are defined and explained.

Vayukaya jiva are living beings that have air as their own bodies, also known as air bodies.

The possible forms of air bodies are stated below:

1. The Air that exists beyond the atmosphere i.e. stratosphere, troposphere.
2. The air that is essential for human existence, i.e., Atmosphere.
3. Cyclone, windstorm, tornado, whirlwind.
4. Air that we inhale and exhale.
5. Fresh as well as whooshing air.
6. Thick as well as a thin layer of air below the earth and some heavenly bodies. i.e., ghanvat and tanvat, respectively.
7. All the other elements that are in the form of air.

During the auspicious days of Paryushan, as we are near the Samvatsari – the day of forgiveness, it is not only necessary to think about Anger but unavoidable. Only by knowing the hidden impulses of anger can one practice proper forgiveness. These days, 40% of people suffer from physical ailments, and 60% suffer from mental illnesses. The main culprit in the mental ailment is Anger, which pollutes and destroys the mind and the body.

Thousands of years ago, in praising the glory of Forgiveness, Jain philosophers recognized the all-pervasiveness evil of Anger. For that reason, they have analyzed and discussed Anger in great detail. Let us examine seven facets of Anger. Just as evil entered King Nała’s body from dirty water, Anger seeps into the human psyche.

The first manifestation of Anger is Dvesh (aversion or disdain). Such anger resided in King Chandpradhyot of Avanti. In disguise, he kidnapped the chambermaid of king Udyan and also stole his late wife’s wooden idol that she worshiped every day. It resulted in Chandpradhyot becoming a prisoner of king Udyan. Disdain inflames the mind and the world around him.

The second facet of Anger is Rage. Old sage Chandrucharya had lots of anger for one of his disciples. In a rage, he hit him on the head with a stick, but when he realized that his disciple had acquired Keval Gnan (perfection) before himself, he regretted his actions profoundly.

The third facet of Anger is blindness - Once when Bhagwan Mahavir was in meditation in the city of Vaishali, a blacksmith attempted to throw his hammer at Mahavira’s head, but it slipped out of his hand and hit himself. Anger blinds a person toward his own welfare. An angry man does not only pollute his own mind but also the world around him. Fire only burns what comes near it, but Anger engulfs the whole family and the society surrounding him.

The fourth facet of Anger is diminishing one’s self. When Bhagwan Mahavira was traveling from south Vachala to the north Vachala, a snake named Chandkaushik bit him. Most snakes have poison in their body or their whiffs, this furious snake had poison in his vision also. Today, we see many people in society with a poisonous vision.

Chandkaushik snake was a fierce Tapsvi in one of his previous lives. In anger, he rushed towards his young disciple to hit him but hit his head on a pillar instead and died. After that, in one life, he was Chandkaushik, the chief of a group of 500 sadhus. Once, he observed some princes plucking fruits from the garden of his Ashram and rushed with an ax to attack them but did not notice a hole in the ground, fell in and died by the injury from his ax. In the next life, he was the snake bearing his name Chandkaushik of a previous life.

Thus, due to the ravages brought about by his Anger, Chandkaushik had descended from Upashraya to the garden to the loneliness of the jungle. First, the anger consumed him in his old age, in the next life he succumbed during his youth, and in life after that, he was born with anger. As time progressed, his anger progressed such that he attempted to kill a child sadhu, then a group of princes, and lastly, he intended to kill Bhagwan Mahavira.

The fifth facet of Anger is the rage of the householder. Once the minister of Gujarat Tejpal got angry with his wife, Anupama Devi. It was because she had said that her husband is consuming leftovers from previous days. But he later understood that she meant her husband was enjoying the fruits of good karmas of previous lives but is not accumulating new Punya (meritorious karmas), he regretted very much.

The sixth Facet of Anger is the act of killing a living being. You see that in Acarya Haribhadrsuri’s life. He wanted to fry in a boiling oil 1444 disciples of a competitor who killed two of his disciples, but Sadhvi Yakini Mahttara stopped him from committing gross violence. He was filled with remorse after that incidence and in repentance, he became a forgiver and created 1444 Granths (volumes of canonical works).

The seventh facet of Anger is war. We see that in the battle between Bharat and Bahubali. Anger is born like a wave in mind but manifests into an ocean that drowns him. A small seed of anger transforms into a giant desire for revenge. For this reason, today is a day to explore our inner selves and recognize the evil proclivity of Anger, disdain, battles, rage, and cruelty, etc. and start on a journey of forgiveness.

- Dr. Kumarpal Desai

Subdivisions of Kashayas

Kashayas have four subdivisions by way of gradation. Let’s learn two of them.

1. Anantanubandhi - The excitement which is produced regularly and continuously and which is endlessly produced is called Anantanubandhi. In simple words, this kashaya is the most intense.

This Anantanubandhi or most powerful excitement is like a line on a stone. This line once etched, remains there. It cannot be erased. When Kashaya is more intense, truth does not dawn on the mind of the person. The person loses the desire for truth. Because of this Kashaya, right perception cannot be achieved.

2. Apratyakhyani - This is the second stage of excitement. It is also intense. A man knows that he should not submit to passion, but he cannot help submitting to it. He submits to its intensity. This Apratyakhyani or more intense kashaya is like a line drawn on the earth. A line drawn on the earth can be erased with effort. Similarly, this kashaya can be conquered, subdued by great will-power.

As long as a man is under the influence of this more intense passion, he cannot observe the twelve vratas properly.

Source: www.jinalaya.com

Listen to today's lectures by Dr. Kumarpal Desai in Gujrati, by Dr. Jitendra Shah in Hindi and by Dr. Bipin Doshi in English. For the schedules and joining details please visit:
https://www.jaina.org/page/ParyushanMahaparv2020

Please note that we will have a lecture in Gujarati by Dr. Kumarpal Desai & in Hindi by Dr. Jitendra Shah on Saturday, August 22nd, 2020 at the same time as usual 8 am PST / 10 am CDT / 11 am EST

With the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, Jain Centers across the country are having to cancel their planned activities for the 2020 Paryushan Mahaparv. In the absence of these activities, JAINA has coordinated many virtual events for you to participate in. We are offering daily lectures and virtual Samvatsari Pratikaman for Deravasi, Sthanakvasi, and in English for participants in East, Central and West Timezones

There is no need to register for Deravasi, Aloyana or Sthanakvasi Pratikramans. To join just click on the below link which will take you to the JAINA website where you need to select the event you want to join.

If you have any questions please call Mahesh Wadher at 909 376 4027 or email to Mahesh.Wadher@gmail.com

Click Here to Attend Lectures and Samvatsari Pratikamans

Due to COVID-19, we have to celebrate the auspicious festival of Paryushan and Das Lakshana at home unlike every year at the Jain centers. JAINA is organizing the below-mentioned virtual Pratikramans and Aloyana on Zoom for people to take laabh from home. Kindly forward this message to everyone so they can join.

Samvatsari Pratikraman Recording: Although Samvatsari Pratikraman is to be performed without the use of technology, YJA has prepared a recording of the Samvatsari Pratikraman (www.yja.org/samvatsari ) that can be used given the current circumstances. This recording includes the Pratikraman in its original language with brief English explanations of the rituals in between the prayers. This is especially useful for the youth and adults to be able to understand the ritual.

Because it utilizes technology, the Pratikraman has been modified (for instance, excluding the Karemi Bhante Sutra) after consultation with a Jain scholar in India. This recording will also allow Sadharmiks to responsibly observe social distancing and avoid needing to gather in groups.

Tapasvi Recognition: YJA also wants to take the opportunity to recognize all youth who are taking vows or completing tap this Paryushan. Please have your youth submit their vow at this form, and we will send them a Raksha Potli as a token of appreciation!

Paryushan Youth Lectures: Throughout Paryushan, YJA held Youth Lectures led by Smt. Tejalben Shah of Mumbai. To watch the past recordings of these lectures, visit bit.ly/paryushan-lectures-playlist. For more Paryushan and Das Lakshan resources, click here.

Sadharmik Bhakti and Jiv Daya: YJA is taking efforts to raise funds for two causes this Paryushan. Funds will be split 50/50 between Shree Navkar Sarvar Kendra to help Jains who have lost their jobs and are in need of financial assistance to feed their families and Shree Radhanpur Khoda Dhor Panjrapole for the protection of animals through one of the oldest animal shelters in Patan, Gujarat. Donate here!

Jivdaya during Paryushan is the most important of the 5 duties of a Shravak. That is the reason the first day of Paryushan is devoted to AMARI PRAVARTANA - a vow to not indulge in the violence of any kind. We express our acceptance of that vow by contributing to the Jivdaya fund.

Click to Donate

Mail your Donations in favor of JAINA to :
Ashok Savla (JAINA Treasurer),
8843 1/2 Longden Avenue, Temple City, CA 91780