Acharya Tulsi
One element that keeps a man alive brings about a change in his way of living and sustains his passion to do something, is his faith in life. Whether one’s life is balanced or unbalanced, depends on how deep or slender one’s faith is. Relying on his faith, a man fearlessly advances even on a difficult and dangerous path. In the absence of faith, even going along a straight and wide highway appears to be formidable.
The stance of faith is continually changing. Hence man’s temperament. Sometimes he becomes a living symbol of religious beliefs. At other times he displays complete lack of faith. This variability is characteristic of those who change their faith according to time and convenience. The moment a faith ceases to fit in the framework of convenience, contriving and manipulation starts. Thus the reality of life eludes one’s grasp, and a man is in danger of losing his identity.
There are many centres on which a man’s faith is focussed-the family, the society, the country, morality, service, art, education and religion. Faith can arise naturally, or it may arise due to some factor. Some people's faith is traditional, while other’s faith is based upon reason. In my opinion, both these kinds of faith are incomplete. If traditional faith is united with intelligence, with awareness, and the element of rigidity is taken out of it, that faith becomes broadened. Similarly, a rational faith,born out of intelligence, if freed from dry argumentativeness becomes proof against the possibility of disintegration.
For those who believe in Jainism, the greatest religious festival is the Paryushan Parva, the Festival of Adoration.
Any religious festival which is celebrated merely because of custom or tradition cannot be fully beneficial. I do not mean that all traditions are wrong. ln fact, I attach great values to tradition. But it is valuable only and insofar as it is meaningful and relevant. Once it loses relevance, and is pursued are merely out of illusion, such blind following of a tradition becomes repugnant to intelligence, and therefore, questionable.
The tradition of ‘Paryushan Parva’, the Festival of Worship, is very good. ln this festival there is provision for special religious worship for 8 days. One of these is the principal day- Sanvatsar. (Annual). Because it is celebrated only once a year, it has come to be known as Samvatsari MahaParva, that is the Great Annual Festival. The Jain community is greatly attached to this festival.Millions of people observe a fast on this day, recite the deity’s name, practise meditation, engage themselves in studies, listen to discourses and undertake deep self- analysis. This process of worship starts at the very beginning of this festival. Novel experiments in religious worship are performed for 8 days, continuously. In some regions, the whole market is closed for 8 days. Where it is not so, some people individually take a holiday from business. There are some people who, abstaining from all food and drink, give themselves wholly to introversion. What to speak of older people, even small children observe the annual fast with great enthusiasm; they hold special sittings for fixed periods celebrate the festival and experience happiness.
In order to strengthen the people’s faith in Paryushan Parva, the Annual Festival of Adoration, it is necessary to maintain its relevance.
Clothes that we wear from day to day become old in the course of time. Likewise, the ornaments in everyday use lose their shine. The houses we live in get in a state of disrepair.‘Similarly, social and religious functions also become merely conventional in time-the ritual is duly performed, but the soul is missing; the individual experiences no joy.
Paryushan Parva is the greatest religious festival of the Jains. That this festival does not become a dead convention requires constant watchfulness on our part. By watchfulness, I do not mean that it be celebrated with great pomp and show; rather wakefulness is related to ever-new experimentation. lt is necessary to observe this festival in ever-new ways, so as to increase people's interest in it, as well as to preserve it as a source of happiness.
On the occasion of Paryushan Parva, with a view to observe special religious worship, the sequence of Ashtahnik Upasakdiksha (eight fold initiation) has been in progress for a number of years. Like the lay members of the community, the monks and nuns, too, should make special efforts on this occasion. Sadhana does not consist in merely accepting the monk's way of life. Rather it flowers when we embark on the path of discovery through new experiments. Terapanth Dharam Sangh is a research-oriented organisation. Past experimentation has led us to the present. For further progress, we must continue in the same direction. Only thus shall we be able to impress upon the future generation the value of religion and spirituality.
