BHAKTAMBER STOTRA------A DIFFERENT THINKING-----------JAINISM-------------!!!.

Friends recently I read a good article written by Shri Virsagarji Jain. I liked his thinking process. Hence sharing it in blog so one can give it a thought with due thanks. Accordingly we  all failed to understand metaphor that is used to make this composition to reach to masses. Metaphorical story goes like this. King Raja Bhoj put a Jain monk

Aacharya Mantungcharya in jail locking with  48 locks. He asked saint to use all his power to get free. Aachryaji  composed 48 stanza in praise of Thirthankar bhagwan Rishabhdeo. At the end saint could break the lock and got free. The author said that this cannot be truth given the history of Raja Bhoj. He was too good to put Jain monk in jail. Even Jain monk takes things as they arise respecting his Karma part let us see what would have really happened as author visualize. 

In his view king might have called conference of 48 intellectuals of all religions or experts and believer of divergent philosophy. This is time of chaos all thinkers confusing public by different view of God. 

King asked them to express views for true God whom to worship. Aacharya gave them all patient hearing. Lastly he made his point. He thought mere exchange of arguments will not prove any thing as no  one has actual seen God or know truth. It is all individual's version of imagination. He started his version by humble admission that his own intellectual level is just like a kid who think a reflection of moon in water to be real moon. He continued to add one by one

virtues of first God of our period Pujya Aadinath Bhagwan. Devotees called Rishabhdeo Bhagwan Aadinath with respect as He is the first who is pioneer and founder of Dharma. Aadi means to begin and the name Aadinath suggest the beginner of Dharma. Slowly he informed the august house that they may call him by all different names such as Brahma, Vishnu ,Shiv .Eshvar, Yogishwar, Purshottam, Buddha or Jinendra. They all are referring to pioneer Rishbhdeo Bhgawan only. 

When the words have limitations ,how they can describe this noble soul who is beyond any shape (Nirakar) or flaws (Nirvikar) beyond

imagination (Achintya),non perishable (Avyava),countless virtues, (Asankhya),boundary less (unlimited Anant - Dyan and Darshan).He tells the gatherings through 24 Shloka that you may call Him by any name, He is real God who possess true knowledge and crystal clean.

He used word "Amal-Nirmal" means far away from flaws( Kashay)

A soul after giving up  love, affection, Kashay become"Vitraag".His devotees after knowing His such great qualities give up worshipping all other deities. It makes them fearless from any war, fire, diseases and all other such calamities. In stanza 11 and 20 Aacharya advice to stay away from God who are not "Vitraagi" making comparison of  salted water of sea  and pieces of glass with Khirsagar's Amrit water and pearl. He said to worship only Kashay free Vitraagideo.In his opinion Rishabhdeo Bhagwan is only true sun, true moon and true

lamp. Such true source can only enlighten the world without a single doubt or issues. I feel without much controversy all gathered agreed to his version. We are unfortunate that majority of us chat this noble composition to ask and gain for material things. We grossly failed to understand the meaning of his last 48 stanza. By using name Laxmi" he is not referring goddess of wealth. He mean the highest position of wealth. It cannot be other than salvation .Let us give it a thought.

We Jain owe a huge debt to Aacharya Mangtugacharyaji for this unique and marvelous composition. Let us grasp it's true meaning.

Thirthankar's name with true feeling is enough to clear our sins .If sins are reduced our sufferings can  get reduced. Then why to expect miracles-- ?.Let us keep the sanity of this holy and pure composition.

Let us also check history .If Jail story is wrong let us rectify painting

JAI JINENDRA-------------!!!----------JAI MAHAVER-----------!!!.

   

JAINISM-----OPPORTUNITIES OF EARNING PUNYA------------GOOD DEEDS------------!!!.

Friends here is edited version of Guru Deo's lecture. Editing made to add recent incidences."Devanupriya few time back, I have explained to you difference between "Dharma" and "Punya". Doing Dharma is  more beneficial for souls as it cuts bad Karmas by Nirjara. On other hand "Punya" is also needed to create favorable conditions so soul can do maximum Dharma. We have studied 9 types of Punya lastly.

For all of us doing all types of Punya may be difficult as some of it may need resources and parting with it. Simple methods for most of you is to put money in "Handi" whenever you visit temple, Sthanak. Even few makes food arrangements for cow or pigeons. We know all soul qualities differ from each other. When some extra ordinary need or calamities arises, ordinary looking people do miracles. It reminds me a popular "Sanskrit Shlok" from my school days. It reads like--.

It's brief meaning is crow and cuckoo looks similar but when spring comes their difference gets evident. Like, exceptional circumstances bring the outstanding qualities of human. I was told noble stories of how recently people offered services in pandemic. Even in lockdown people helped labor to reach their homes. In farmers agitation people offered food, shelters, medical aid and so on. Service oriented souls  do not wait for invitation. They turn disaster in opportunity to serve humanity in all possible ways. At many locations Jain social groups arranged tiffin to families passing through quarantine. Their such  noble actions must have added major Punya to their Karmansharir.

We have so many Shrawaks donating to school, hospital, school for blinds. One can think to reduce spending on near ones. The service to needy one can be more essentials. There is a season to ripe crop of good deeds While some unfortunate people added  sins by hoarding or selling essentials at higher prices even for ambulances. One may

have own limitations but whatever possible must be done. Fury of nature in forms of fire, cyclone, flood, earthquake added by human's own creation like war riots calls for helping hands. kids, women and senior citizens need it most urgently. A soul who desire to help other must have a eye to find out the needy. Most time the needy hesitant to express his needs.

If one has so many constraints like time, money, engagements simply he can spare his well wishes for suffering lot. Even imparting a true advice in other's difficult times can certainly be a case of Punya. Last 4 types of Punya namely mind. speech, body and bowing do not need any resource .It require only purity of a soul filled with good wishes.

Bowing down to respect character, knowledge is also a good deed.

Just imagine and salute the abnormal courage shown by nurses and doctors all over the world to stand with Carona sufferers ,Our salute and appreciation for all of them can be  best good deed in true sense.

Devotees wealth has only three options associated with it. Spend it , donate for good cause or leave it for unseen uses. It will be always a good vision to use it while eyes are open for good causes. I will end this lecture with my favorite Sholk of Sanskrit" Gurudeo concluded.

Fiends, hopefully it will be good advice from Gurudeo for all of us.

JAIJINENDRA-------------!!!------------JAI MAHAVEER-------!!!.

 

JAINISM------VALUE OF PACHKHAN---------!!!

Friends today is first day of 2021.Let us hope 2021 will offer much needed healing touch to entire humanity and all living souls. Some of us have habit of entering into some resolution for all new years. What  happens to their fulfillment is a mystery. On this eve it is most appropriate that I share Gurudeo's lecture given as on 01/01/2020.In this lecture Gurudeo emphasized importance of words and Pachkan.

    "Devanupriya, today is first day of new year. Some of you might have decided to follow some new things. How seriously you take it, you know  better than me. Today I will tell you two stories from our past that can give you value of commitment. One is from Bhagwati    Sutra 14/08 and another from recent past from Dhar/Ujjain (M.P.)      Ambad shrawk with his 700 disciple were moving from Kappilpur to Purimtaal. They have Pachkkhan of not taking anything without the permission. They were passing through bank of Ganga river. They 

were thirsty and looking for someone to permit them to drink water. So many days passed, nobody passed through that remote area. At last they took Santhara and competed life terms. All Shrawaks got next birth In "Bramageolog.''Just imagine their commitment and firm determination which preferred death over breaking the Pachkhan. Second incident was of a recent past from Ujjain/Dhar (M.P.).Then

there was a great Jain saint named Pujya Dharamdasji Maharasaab with deep Aagam study. In daily lecture, he informed devotees that soon they will watch a soul of a monk competing "Santhara. Anyhow that saint staying in Dhar changed mind and asked him to give up Pachkhan of Santara. Gurudeo walked away and reached Dhar to make him not to break the commitment but could not changed his disciple's mind.  Then Gurudeo took "Santaravrata himself to make his announcement true. He ended his life with grace. Salute for his value for Pachkan. He made own life's sacrifice to keep his words.

These incident were related to abnormal noble souls. Let us have a look inside of our soul. Do we care for Pachkahn or spoken words ?. Do we care to follow Pachkan in all circumstances .One should think twice before making a Pachkhan. Words and related actions must be

same. passage of time taken us from "Satjug to Kaliyug" making us smart. Smartness invented words like sorry and apology. With this the value of spoken words lost it's purity and sanity. In India around 70 to 80 years ago money lending was done on mortgage of a hair from moustache. Now even with all signed documents the borrower

refuse to accept in courts that he actually received loan.The outcome 

evident in form of break ups, quarrels and litigations. As followers of great soul Mahaveerswami, let us follow his principle "Mrushavad"

avoidance to the core by bottom of heart. If ever you face situation to

break Pachkhan , commitment just remember in which circumstance Mahaveerswami completed his most difficult Abhigraha".Mind well

we take Pachkhan by saying "Karemi Bhante "---by saying this we make "Arihant Bhagwan as witness to our words. Breaking such words  cannot be justified by any means" Gurudeo concluded.

JAIJINENDRA-------------!!!--------JAI MAHAVEER-----------!!!.