Ritu S. Jain
08.09.2013: Dhyan Divas
Day seventh of Paryushan 2013 programme was celebrated as 'Dhyan Divas’ in presence of Samani Madhur Pragyaji at Amolak Bhawan, Sadar Bazar, Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Preksha meditation is not just for achieving physical, mental and emotional well being but a key to spiritual treasure trove. Preksha means to perceive deeply within. The meditative technique involves engaging the mind fully in the perception of the subtle, internal and innate phenomennon of conciousness to control passion and purify emotions. Practice of Dhyan is an exercise in creating inner beauty. It is highly valuable for developing self confidence, tolerance, patience and emotional balance. Society would have ascended a high pedestal if we had given proper value to concentration. Unsteadiness of mind has contributed to sorrow and despair. A person who value deep trance and mental peace not only changes himself but gives momentum to the general process of transformation. In preksha meditation, there is a process of concentration on our psychic centers. If a person concentrates his mind on these important centers of the body, he can alter his hormones to a positive end.
Thus, if a person wants to lead a happy and peaceful life, an essential component to this end is to practice meditation. Dhyan or meditation activates the process of transformation and its effect should be judged by the gradual transformation that comes in its awake. It will be vain to imagine that dhyan brings quick freedom from passion. Permanent relief from tension can be handled by destroying the causes that produce it and this needs long time spiritual course.
Dhyan entails a high expenditure of energy, which is only natural because concentration involves considerable use of vital energy. Samani Ruchi Pragyaji through narrating the instance of Lord Mahavir said that Lord Mahavir taught us that humans who do aaradhna are blessed with knowledge and it removes all the doubts from the inner soul.
Samani Punit Pragyaji said that one who comes at religious place makes himself a serene. An organization becomes weak where there is impeachment and inconsistency. Where there is modesty & dedication and no egoism, the organization will grow and develop. A Shravak who is devoted to his religion is blessed and achieve light of intelligence.
09.09.2013: Samvatsari Mahaparva
Day eight of Paryushan 2013 programme was celebrated as ‘Samvatsari Mahaparva’ in presence of Samani Madhur Pragyaji at Amolak Bhawan, Sadar Bazar, Raipur, Chhattisgarh. She said Samvatsari Mahaparva is the last day of the Paryushan Mahaparva. One can't stay in open air. Just as a home is a prerequisite for safe and assured life, so is the construction of spiritual home necessary for a blissful and happy life. The house made of bricks and stones can protect us from external adversities, but life comes with millions of internal adversities. Just like stormy weather, we have to face the storms of our thoughts as well. Man often fails to keep control over himself in such situations. One who is unable to build a home for himself would never get comfort and rest. We have to build a house where we can live in peace forever. Such house can be built through tolerances and forgiveness, happiness, purity & penance & detachment. The person who lives in such a home would attain the bliss of eternal happiness. If one masters the art of tolerance there would be no jealousy or aggression. If purity imbuses our life and we use the same purity than it is impossible to rupture such a house which is full of purity. If we wish to keep our Karmas out of calamities, we need to protect our inner house with fire of effulgence. If we can remain detached from the material while making use of it, then it will not create any problem for us.
People observe fast, recite the deity name, practice mediation, engage themselves in studies and undertake deep self analysis. They listen holy voice of the spiritual preceptor explaining the fundamental sutras, performing samvatsarik partikraman for seeking forgiveness.
Observing fast is considered as a spiritual activity that improves morality and spiritual power. The purpose of this festival is to purify our soul by staying closer to our own souls, looking our fault & asking for forgiveness for the mistakes. Acharya Bhikshu told that till the saint will abide by their dignity and limit and will not constitute their disciples then this religion will be last long. Development of Religion union is the responsibility of Acharyas and as well as Shravaks also.
One who comes at religious place makes himself a serene. An organization becomes weak where there is impeachment and inconsistency. Where there is modesty & dedication and no egoism, the organization will grow and develop. A Shravak who is devoted to his religion is blessed and achieve light of intelligence.
Samani Ruchit Pragyaji said that Samvatsari Parv is the primary & most important day of Jainism Parv. Today is the day of reasoning oneself. A human who is well versed with intelligence and close to the spirit is away from extrinsic fascination. She also addressed the Shravaks by saying that we need to clean up our soul, remove the entire rancor. It is required that one should analyze himself and his inner soul. Through explaining the importance of sadhna Lord Mahavira explained Gautam swami that human being get knowledge from aaradhana. It removes all doubts from our inner selves. Those who serve their “Guru” are blessed and respectable.
Samani Punit Pragyaji said that our soul is perpetual and other all the things in this world are mortal. We need to avoid our anger, pride, illusion and greed. We need to think over how we will reach towards our ultimate goal. Today is the day when we should forget all acrimony. Sticking to particular thing from inside reduces our soul beauty which is irrelevance. A knot of body can be removed through surgery but the knot inside mind can be removed through forgiveness.
She also taught “how to converse with others”? Talking in high pitch doesn’t work always rather mellowness touches everyone heart. We must have ability to endure. A person who practices sustainability can only learn. A calm and silent person lives his life with ease. She also explained the brief History of Jain Acharyas and Terapanth Acharyas and told about their preaching.
Samani Madhur Pragyaji acquainted the lay followers with the importance of Pratikaman She said it is a must for every lay follower to perform Pratikaman on this day of samvatsari. Hundreds of people had observered the fast & nearly 100 men & women has done the posadh.
10.09.2013: Kshamavani Divas
Kshamavani Divas was celebrated in presence of Samani Madhur Pragyaji at Amolak Bhawan, Sadar Bazar, Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Forgiveness is essential characteristics of a pleasant person. The person who forgives others and does not revive a past quarrel can live peacefully. The level of tolerance is reducing. People are unable to forget or ignore even a small act. We should learn to forget and forgive. If we are living in a community there may be an instances where we have to confront harsh words as well as pleasant words. We should take both of them positively. Moreover, tolerate the ones which seems harsh to us. Those who don't forget and forgive can never prove useful to a community. They always create problems.
Once those who know how to forgive and forget can prove beneficial and useful to society. The biggest problem today is that even after a quarrels ends, there are sometimes people who bring up the old issues and start the discard again. All harsh moments of the part should be forgotten. The secret of the peace is to forgive and forget others fault. “I tolerate you and you tolerate me. I forgive you and you forgive me”. This sense of mutual forgiveness and tolerance is Khamat Khamna.
Forgiveness is an important quality for a good tension free life. It is an antidote to anger. They can be compared to fire & sandalwood which has opposite effect on our body. Anger is fire which turns on in us very quickly & wipe out our power of thinking but forgiveness is very difficult to adopt, it’s like sandalwood which make our soul peaceful.
Forgiveness is an ornament of bravery because true forgiveness requires a special effort. Forgiveness nourishes and sweetens the relationship. It perpetually strengthens the bond of a family. Forgiveness not only warms the heart but also lightens ourselves and our mind from past misdeeds and makes every one happy. By forgiving a soul gets rid of sins and gains the reward. By begging forgiveness a person acquires a kind disposition towards all kinds of living beings and by this kind disposition he obtains purity of character and freedom from fear.
Samani Madhur Pragyaji along with Samani Ruchit Pragyaji and Samani Punit Pragyaji completed the process of Khamat Khamana beginning with Gurudev Acharya Shree Mahashraman to the lay followers in Raipur.
The President of Raipur Sabha Shri Uttam Chand Gandhi, Shri Anil Dugar (President, TEYUP-Raipur), Smt. Pratibha Pokarna (Secretary of Ladies wing - Raipur), Shri Surendra Choraria (East Zone Vice President TPF) and Smt. Ritu S. Jain (Choraria) HN4U Correspondent asked everybody to forgive them for any mistakes committed knowingly or unknowingly by them in course of their work as office bearers of various sanghiya institutions and by them in person as well. The programme ended with mangal path from Samani Nidesika Madhur Pragya ji.