Dear Sadharmik brothers and sisters,

Jai Jinendra!

🙏

Paryushan/Das Lakshana Parva

Mahavir - EK Aloukik Katha

On Sunday, September 5 JAINA will broadcast one of the most admired programs from the Convention 2021, MAHAVIR - Ek Aloukik Katha! The Katha is in a musical dance form that presents Mahavir's life from birth to Nirvana through the stavans composed by Shri Shantilal Shah more than 50 years ago. These stavans with elaborate costumes, dazzling settings, and scores of characters will keep you glued to your seats. Late Shri Shantilal Shah's grandson, Dipak Shah, will present the 2-hour program in Gujarati on www.jaina.org at 12:00 Noon EST | 9:00 AM PST.

To watch the Katha, please click on the either symbol below.

Day 3: Three Jewels of Jainism

Jainism is a very austere religion, which demands a high degree of commitment from its followers, in which one has to be willing to forego everything to achieve liberation, including one's life. While the shravak is given some freedom to practice the law, no lenience is given to those who have chosen to become the ascetics and follow the path in letter and spirit. The three jewels which are common for both groups are the cultivation of 1. Right perception (Samyak Darshana), 2. Right knowledge (Samyak Jnana) and 3. Right conduct (Samyak Charitra). Today we will learn the first Jewel.

Right Perception (Samyak Charitra) is also translated into English as right vision and right view. It is actually all these and even more. Perception is not a mere physical act. There is a mental process behind it and it is very much influenced by the attitude and the background of the preceptor. Right Perception comes with the ability to discriminate correctly between right and wrong, good and bad, right belief and wrong belief, right knowledge and wrong knowledge, and between truth and untruth.

Right Perception comes from right thoughts, right insight, right knowledge, right understanding, right faith, right relationships, and right attitude. In a traditional sense, right perception comes from having the right beliefs and right thinking about the Tirthankaras and their teachings, and by knowing the difference between the Jiva, the embodied soul, and Ajiva, the inert matter. In a negative sense, right perception also means not having the wrong perception, which is acquired by not believing in false prophets, not following wrong scriptures, not believing in the wrong knowledge, and not indulging in wrong practices.

Right Perception leads to contentment (prasanna), detachment (nirveda), spiritual yearning for liberating, (samvega), kindness (anukampa) and faith in the path (astikaya). It also results in freedom from eight kinds of pride, namely pride in family, physical strength, beauty, knowledge, wealth, authority, relationships, and spiritual progress. Cultivation of the right perception requires a great deal of inner discipline and assiduous practice which demands the following requirements.

1. Faith without doubt
2. Complete renunciation of desire for worldly comforts
3. Respect for believers on the path
4. Absence of likes and dislikes
5. Disinterest in wrong paths
6. Bringing non-believers to the path
7. Cultivation of right faith
8. Spreading the knowledge Jainism

Tomorrow we will understand Right Knowledge.

Chandkaushik And Mahavir Swami

Let’s recall the famous incident of Chandkaushik and Bhagwan Mahavir Swami through this video, and think about how can we become compassionate towards others in our everyday life.

Paryushan Recipe by Neha Deepak Shah

MILLET DOSA

Method

1. For the filling, heat oil in a pan, add the mustard seeds. Once it splutters, add in the curry leaves and the chilies. Add in the paneer, spices, and seasonings and mix very well.
2. Add the mint leaves, kasuri methi, and a pinch of garam masala, and give a good mix. Splash some water in case the filling appears to be dry.
3. Cook for a minute and remove from the flame. Transfer to a bowl and keep aside to cool.
4. Meanwhile, for the dosa, take a bowl and add in all the flours, spices, and salt. Add in water, curd, and mix well to form a batter. Set it aside to rest for five minutes.
5. Add in the baking powder and mix well in one direction.
6. Now, heat tawa to medium-hot. Add ⅓ cup batter and swirl to form a dosa. Put 1/4 teaspoon of oil or ghee to the dosa and cook for about a minute until it is golden brown from below.
7. Loosen the edges with a steel spatula and flip the dosa. Cook for another 30 seconds and place the filling, fold and remove from the tawa. Serve hot with coconut-mint chutney or any other chutney of your choice.
8. Enjoy!