Coming together to forgive and heal (1 of 2)

Good morning friends. When people have pain, the best thing to do is by coming together. By doing that you can forgive and then you’ll heal.

Paryushan is the most important annual Jain observance.

For both Shvetambars, who observe the festival over a period of eight days, and Digambars, for whom Paryushan Parva lasts 10 days, this is a of intensive study, reflection and purification. It takes place in the middle of the rainy season, a time when Jain monks and nuns cease travelling and stay with a community and are available to them for instruction and guidance.

Paryushan means “abiding” or “coming together”. It is also a time when the laity takes on vows of study and fasting with a spiritual intensity similar to (temporary) monasticism. Paryushan concludes with confession and forgiveness for the transgressions of the previous year.

The most important part of Paryushan is daily meditation and prayer, which provides an opportunity for looking within and towards the teachings of the Tirthankaras for guidance. Beginning on the fourth day of Paryushan, it is customary for Murtipujak Shvetambars to read from the Kalpa Sutra, a scripture which recounts the life of Mahavira — the 14 dreams of his mother before his birth, followed by the story of his birth, life and liberation. It also recounts the lives of other Tirthankaras and the rules of Paryushan. Among Mahavira’s teachings are those that advocate gender equity, of the importance of ensuring equal status to both women and men.

The book of scripture would be carried ceremonially through the streets, water sprinkled in its path along the way, purifying the entire town. Jains often take time off from work during this period and eat a much simpler diet than their usual vegetarian diet. Jains avoid eating root vegetables like potatoes, onions and garlic — as harvesting them for food would entail destroying the entire plant.

Find the right track to achieve bliss (1)

Good morning friends. There are a lot of ways for us to be blissful. It’s not easy but when we have the will to do it, nothing is impossible. Always think positive for the good result to aim.

The core of all religious philosophies dwells on understanding the purpose and meaning of life. Understanding is at the root of development that leads one to ultimate deliverance or nirvana.

Gifted as we are with intelligence, we should try to understand everything we have to deal with in our day-to-day life. It is important because a lack of understanding is the root cause of all that dogs us today.

According to the Buddha, understanding has two layers, anubodhi and pativedha. Anubodhi is what we call 'knowledge'. It is nothing but accumulated memory, an understanding of a particular subject on the basis of data or observation. It is therefore superficial. Real understanding comes from pativedha or deep penetration into the core of a subject. It enables us to understand an object in its true nature and colour. In it, all the exterior labels like name, fame, money and power have zero value.

This kind of understanding can be developed only through rigid training of mind through meditation. One has to strive to be, first of all, free from all kinds of impurities that tend to derail us from the right path.

A person, on reaching this stage of penetrative wisdom, can see everything in the right perspective. He acquires the capability to make a distinction between what is desirable and correct and what is undesirable and incorrect. Such a person also develops the ability to acquire habits that enable his mind to see and believe nothing but the good of all.

The Buddha's philosophy of life revolves around the purification of mind and giving us deliverance from worldly attachments. The Buddha says every human being has the innate qualities and ability to come out of the world of ignorance and move towards the world of enlightenment. –The Times of India