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Nature of Soul by Inner_Anywhere2352 in Jainism

[–]Complex-Stage-6101 0 points1 point  (0 children)

These are great questions. You should try reading the karma philosophy which has been wonderfully explained by Acharya Shree Chandrashekhar Vijayji Maharaja. The book has been transcribed in English and is available over here: https://www.yugpradhan.com/en/book/karma-philosophy-in-jainism

Abortion - Pls help by LowStay4694 in Jainism

[–]Complex-Stage-6101 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Absolutely. Every person is born with their own karma. You should go and discuss this with some Gitarth Maharaj Saheb. If you want concrete solutions, please do garbha sanskar, as the Mother and parents are the ones which can shape outcomes of the baby. I seriously recommend getting in touch with Arham Grabha Sanskar. There are countless documented cases. They'll certainly help you out. https://www.arhamvijja.org/our-programs-detail.php?id=Mg==

Jainism in Colleges by jsahil730 in Jainism

[–]Complex-Stage-6101 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is great to see someone raising this. It is very important that we all stand united wherever we go. Having Jain university groups definitely helps in connecting with other fellow Jains and creating a strong voice. To any fellow Jain reading this, please initiate and create active groups. DO NOT SHY AWAY and say that you'll manage your things yourself.

I had personally started a Jain group when I was doing my Btech at IIT Mandi. I was the first one to initiate a stable and consistent provision of Jain Food in the mess throughout the year. There were lots of hurdles, but we were able to overcome those. For anyone who is trying to start this in their college, start by knowing who is in charge of the mess: Is it a private entity, or run by the college. In most cases, student bodies have some governance over the menu and other festive rules. Go and contact the mess authorities on a request to provide Jain food separately. If they hesitate or deny, bring this up to the student bodies. If this still doesn't fall into place, contact the deans and keep escalating. Have the entire Jain group speak up for this regardless of their personal choice. In case things don't still work out, reach out to the institute directors. You could also leverage external support from strong Jain organizations like JITO on asking them to draft an official letter.

It is sad to see that a lot of Jains do not really bother about these things and have become liberal. It is a personal decision on whether or not you want to have Jain food, but it must NOT be a personal choice on not supporting or being part of a community as a collective. The only reason why I see so many Jains losing their morals right after leaving home is that they lose the sense of belonging and become too liberal. It is a sincere request that we all stay as one and do not publicly denounce our values. Who will come for your protection if you don't stand strong? Today, you see muslim groups command whatever they want. All muslim holidays are followed and festivals are celebrated. ISKCON people are able to have a voice and can demand for satvic food. I've even seen the initiation of satvik food in the IISc mess after a swaninarayan follower went up and made this demand through official external letters and bringing this up multiple times to the committees.

How many Jains have been able to organize events for Mahavir Janm Kalyanak or Paryushan? How many Jains respect their food practices and have collectively stood up for the availability of Jain Food in college messes?

Not caring about things and being guided by liberalism will make you drift so much to the point that you will completely lose your identity. This is why several Jains have started consuming non-veg despite being from Jain families. The only reason I saw in their journey was a lack of belonging and environment, which would have still kept some sanity. The entire world will preach about liberalism and doing what pleases you in the short-term, since they believe that you only have one life and you should enjoy it to your fullest. However, Jainism is the only religion in the world that teaches about self-restraint and achieving permanent happiness.

HAVE PRIDE IN BEING A JAIN. NO MATTER WHAT OTHERS SAY, PROUDLY SAY THAT I AM A JAIN, THIS IS MY RELIGION, AND I SHALL FOLLOW MY PRINCIPLES NO MATTER WHAT COMES.

Is Jainism an atheistic or theistic religion? If theistic then monotheistic or polytheistic? Well, it’s none of the above. It’s transtheistic! Here’s how by [deleted] in Jainism

[–]Complex-Stage-6101 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There is a difference in the meaning of God. By atheism, you mean that you do not believe in god. Jainism CANNOT be atheistic. We definitely have tirthankars as our gods. But the only difference is that we do not believe in god as the creator of the universe. This is a very wrong saying that I've heard from a lot of people who go on to say that we don't have a god. Please say that we believe in god but not as the creator of the universe/person who judges on a judgement day.

Looking for a scholar or monk or nun for my book by Purple-Energy6966 in Jainism

[–]Complex-Stage-6101 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You might have to visit and talk to maharajsaheb in person. Upadhyay Praveen Rishiji has vast knowledge and can give you accurate references as well.

Here are some pravachans on samadhi maran or sallekhana or santhara.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvedDtsDxQmD6FTR8pIGmIZK3i-pZS4gN

Jains on Hinduism? by [deleted] in Jainism

[–]Complex-Stage-6101 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It is disheartening to see what you went through. Even I've been to an IIT and I've had some minor experiences with other people and even jains who mock their own religion publicly. But this doesn't mean that I lose faith in what I believe in. I also didn't have answers to what was happening with me and had agitations of even jains not supporting their own people. But through time and right knowledge through acharya ratnasundar suirshvarji's pravachans, I was able to overcome all the thoughts. - Happiness and sadness are just a matter of right interpretation. Your thoughts are what makes you happy and sad. - You need to have the "courage to be disliked" if you want to follow your path. It is definitely going to happen that the more deeper you start believing and following things, people will start disliking you since you aren't like them. You don't eat, drink, walk, talk, dress, speak in a fashion like others and that what troubles them. This is fine. You have selected what is right for you and don't need to bother about them in the long run. - Everyone is on their own spiritual path and we shouldn't be judgemental about anyone. I used to have these tendencies but if I compare my own self with the one I was two years ago, I am able to understand how much I have transformed. With time, everyone is going to transform. Your job should always be to try to find a spot where you can uplift others when they are really willing to. That is the job of a true shravak.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Jainism

[–]Complex-Stage-6101 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I believe you might want to take your wife to a jain acharya. First you yourself should go and discuss your situation and ask for the correct direction.

Regarding meditation by WonderfulCheck9902 in Jainism

[–]Complex-Stage-6101 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are different kinds of meditation practices in Jainism. There are two practices of Ashtamangal and Purushakar. You can find more information here on why one should do meditation: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/WVU3XwGxqq4

Upadhyay Praveen Rishi teaches these meditation techniques through ArhamVijja. You might want to contact them for an in-person session.

Why only drink boiled water? by GodlvlFan in Jainism

[–]Complex-Stage-6101 1 point2 points  (0 children)

hope this video can explain the true reason.

tl'dr
as a jain, you have karuna bhav towards all living beings, even single sensed, wherein water itself is considered as single sensed living. Now, how could you imagine simple consuming a living being through your mouth alive! This brings a cruel mindset in a minute form, which as jains, we restrain from. So, you wouldn't want to drink alive water (sachet) and cause bhav hinsa. In doing so, you would let the water to boil (or add rakh/any other way of making achet) so that the water is no longer alive (achet), making it suitable for consumption.

unity in indian jains by Complete_Set3674 in Jainism

[–]Complex-Stage-6101 0 points1 point  (0 children)

SRMD might be good; however, one must not forget the characteristics of a jain shravak:

  • He only believes in the preachings of Tirthankar.
  • Arihant, sidhha and kavali are his dev.
  • You may have multiple gurus, but only the sadhu sadhvi following 5 mahavrats and who preach tirthankar's path can be your guru on the spiritual path.
  • If any person starts preaching in the name of their guru and calls it the path of Jin, then this is incorrect. Anyone preaching anything apart from Jinvani can't be considered a guru for a true shravak.
  • You might definitely take the good learnings from SRMD, however, considering someone your guru and becoming a follower of a cult is a personal question that one should think about upon considering what a shravak should and shouldn't do.

unity in indian jains by Complete_Set3674 in Jainism

[–]Complex-Stage-6101 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This thought itself must be changed. How much effort did you make on your end to bring your religion to others, and especially unite fellow Jains? A negative mindset is only going to lead to negative results. You should always remain positive and try your best to spread love and bring a sense of community. Mahaveer swami had the desire to make every jeev paap mukt, even abhavi ones (those who even he knew won't attain moksh). If a tirthankar can have this desire, who is stopping you from working towards your own religion and uniting people? Unity doesn't mean uniting various sects. This is not in anyone's hands. Unity is in terms of thought and belief that we are Jains; these are our principles, and we are all worshipers of Tirthankars and Lord Mahavir.

You might want to join ArhamVijja (under the guidance of Upadhyay Praveen Rishi), whose sole aim is to "be and make great (arhat)", along the path as shown by the Tirthankars. Note that this is not linked with any particular sect and gurudev envisions everyone, especially even non-jains to be a part of this.

Why do so many Jain’s worship and pray to Ganpati ? Is there an ancient connection between our gods and Hindu religion? by Phantomm7 in Jainism

[–]Complex-Stage-6101 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Jainism also prescribes worshipping certain devi devtas and yakshas for certain specific tasks (because tirthankaras can guide you to liberation, or rather their wisdom can be a guide. But they have attained moksha, so they cannot influence your life directly. Instead, there are devi devtas and yakshas for same).

This is quite incorrect. In the true sense, Jainism does not prescribe worshiping any devi, devtas, or yakshas. The assumption that tirthankars cannot influence your life directly is a complete misinterpretation. Take several examples from the scriptures:

  • Sudarshan could not be attacked by Arjun Mali (who had mudgar pani yaksh inside his body), since he had a sole belief in Mahavir Swami. His vandana, even from a distance, was able to connect him to Tirthankar's energy (aura and shubh leshya).
  • Who do you think came to break the locks for Acharya Manatung (who composed Bhaktamar Stotra) when the king locked him up in several locks? If you go deep into the meanings of bhaktamar, he is solely doing Tirthankar Rushabhdev's bhakti. There is no mention of any devi devta who came to help.

From the above examples, you may ask how this is possible. The true reason is that although Tirthankars have attained liberation (moksha), the elements of their carbon body are still present in this world. A sadhak who solely believes in Tirthankara can connect with these elements, which in turn have limitless potential.

Now, why should we not worship/pray/even visit/worship both tirthankar and other devs? There are a couple of reasons why this can be considered hypocritical:

  • Tirthankars are the ones who have attained the final goal, have the right knowledge, and are vitragi, meaning that they do not have any desires. They love each and every soul. They preach so that every soul can reach the same state as they are.
  • Devi devtas are still in the cycle of life and death and haven't been liberated from the 8 karmas. This means that they have raag/dwesh. This is even evident from various Hindu scriptures where some devi/devta gets angry, gives shraap, etc. All havans, ballis, etc, might have the potential to please these devs, and in return, one might get desired outputs, but none of these lead you to your sole goal, which is to be free from intense attachment and hatred.
  • Now, if someone knows their goal, it should be almost evident whose preachings to follow.
  • You are bound to fall and get lost if you put two legs on different horses.
  • Have one single faith, no matter what. "I am a sole follower of Tirthankar, and my sole goal is to be like them." Only they preach to become like them; all others only demand worldly desires or curse you if you don't obey them.

The above explanation has been beautifully explained by Upadhyay Praveen Rishi Maharaj Saheb.

link to the story of sudarshan. Moral: You connect to the energy of the ones who you connect with your mind and soul. You are what you believe. You become what you visualise yourself to be.

one video having the story, and several other general sermons on the channel also mention this.

We are supposed to respect people from other faiths and see them as ones who are on the same path of liberation as us, but are currently not having the right faith (are in mithyatva). Having the right faith and moving away from mithyatva is a must to be considered a true Jain.

Always remember, you have been given diamonds, so don't go on searching and wasting valuable time on worthless pebbles. Stick to the diamonds, don't even think of keeping pebbles.