Arham
There are many weapons in the world, each mightier and deadlier than the other. However none of them is the ultimate weapon. The only one, which is the ultimate and can be considered par excellence is - FORGIVENESS, ARMISTICE or PEACE.
SAMVATSARI, which is the most sacred festival of Jains, is the occasion for using this ultimate weapon, viz., forgiveness. Every human has three weapons:
- Mind
- Speech
- Body
Man can think of causing harm to others; he can make use of his articulation for causing harm to others; he can use his body for doing injustice to others. And people do so everyday.
The sacred message for celebrating the Festival of Samvatsari is - against whom you have used the mental weapon, ask him/her for pardon at mental level; against whom you have used the vocal weapon, ask him/her for pardon at vocal level; against whom you have used the bodily weapon, ask him/her for pardon at bodily level.
When you are asking for pardon at mental level, let your speech and body also accompany your mind; when you are asking for pardon at vocal level, let your mind and body also accompany your speech and when you are asking for pardon at bodily level, let your mind and speech also accompany your body.
In our life, there may arise occasions when bitterness is created due to difference of opinion, difference of interest and so on. If this bitterness is eliminated, then psychological complexities would not be formed, the tension would not become long-lasting and the mental peace would also not be lost.
Samvatsari is a spiritual festival. It is an important opportunity for evaluation of the human unity. People can benefit by utilizing this opportunity.
Acharya Mahapragya