America’s president Joe Biden, after the attack on Kabul International airport in August 2021 said in a very defiant and decisive tone.
All living beings strive to be happy. But human relationships can be complex. We face distress situations which can consume us mentally and physically, especially if the incident involves being hurt by someone we love or trust.
“Forgiveness is the key to open the door leading to salvation– freedom from being controlled by the past, freedom from the emotional ties to the offender, freedom from the continual inner conflicts of hate and bitterness, freedom to realize your true potential and enjoy the fullness of life” - From Jain Society of Greater Detroit.
Q1. What is Forgiveness? Accepting a sin/misdeed committed towards someone, and neither being angry nor cursing the offender for it, and instead freeing him from the guilt is forgiveness.
Tirthankar Mahavir always lived with absolute equanimity and calmness. Despite encountering multiple hindrances, his compassion remained persistent, and he granted forgiveness to even Gosalak, Chandkaushik and the peasant who drilled nails in his ears.
To begin with, let us examine the details available in ancient texts (chronologically), which throw some light on the distinctive names of Lord Mahavir’s Birthplace (similar names in different texts not repeated)-
If we ask this question to a layman or Acharyas, many of them will say “Ahimsa parmo dharm”, that is the crux or the essence of Jain religion. How can it be? I wonder. Ahimsa can only be a practice, and a minor one; How it can encompass the whole philosophy of Jain Dharma. It has been limited to avoiding killing of small (sukshma) and helpless jivas in daily routine.
Background:Religions across the world have always revered the birthplaces of their divine figures with great respect. These places were soon transformed into pilgrimages, in view of the holy aura preserved in the respective birthplaces. Similarly, Jains have also revered the places where the five divine events, i.e. the Panchkalyanaks of Tirthankars (Chyavan, Janma, Diksha, Kevalgyan and Nirvan) had taken place. The last Tirthankar of this cosmic cycle, Shri Vardhaman Mahavir, on whose teachings Jainism has survived, flourished and thrived till date, was born in 599 BC, i.e. nearly 2,618 years ago.
There are two main sufferings in the world, birth and death. There is suffering in the womb and suffering of old age. Before birth, there is suffering in the womb and before death there is old age. In this way, the soul, in the beginning and end of life, at both the times experiences great sufferings.
Please describe your spiritual journey: Reading philosophy has always been a part of my life. Since a very early age, I was curious and had an interest in philosophy. I had an interest in frameworks guiding people in fundamental queries like who we are and where we come from. I spent many years learning about others’ spiritual journeys in a person.
We are living in the era of globalization, an era of greater connectivity between the individuals, objects, images and so on. Technology has overshadowed our lives to a greater extent. Ancient wisdom can be of great use in resolving some of the issues of the present era. Jainism has been one of the most significant branches of philosophical and religious thought in India. Jain texts and concepts can be of use for better management at the workplace. The present article takes up the view of the workplace scenario at present. It proposes the evolution of workplace spirituality in line with the Jain viewpoint.
What is Jainism viewpoint on Abortion? Human life is considered sacred amongst all other life forms in this world. Any form of violence against a potential human life is seen with very critical and sensitive views. Thus, abortion has been for most part a tabooed topic in our society, with opinions and/or beliefs of people on this topic standing on extreme ends of the spectrum.