Day 7 - Das Lakshan
Amit on September 2007
Penance – UTTAM TAP
External View: This does not only mean fasting but also includes a reduced diet, restriction of certain types of foods, avoiding tasty foods, etc. The purpose of penance is to keep
desires and passions in control. Over-indulgence inevitably leads to misery. Penance leads to an influx of positive Karmas.
Internal View: Meditation prevents the rise of desires and passions in the Soul. In a deep state of meditation the desire to intake food does not arise. The first Tirthankar, Adinath Bhagwan was in such a meditative state for six months, during which he observed Nischay Uttam Tap. Only from the meditative energy from within, he went on for six months with no food.
Day 5 - Das Lakshan
Truth : (Satya)
a) If talking is not required, then do not talk. If it is required, then only use the minimum of words, and all must be absolutely true. Talking disturbs the stillness of the mind. Consider the person who lies and lives in fear of being exposed. To support one lie he has to utter a hundred more. He becomes caught up in a tangled web of lies and is seen as untrustworthy and unreliable. Lying leads to an influx of paap karma.
b) Satya comes from the word sat, which means existence. Existence is a quality of the soul. Recognizing the soul’s true nature as it really exists and taking shelter in the soul is practicing Nischay Satya Dharma.
Only human life is gifted with speech; thus, we must avoid misusing our power of speech. We should remember in our everyday lives to speak truth in its every form and at all times. All good deeds blossom from truth.
I really love the following thoughts on Integrity and our relationship with our words:
Integrity is often thought of as moral uprightness and steadfastness - making the “good” choices, doing the “right thing.” In fact, it is far more than that. It is a home, an anchor, a created and continuing commitment - a way of being and acting that shapes who you are.
In Integrity: The Bottom Line, you will discover that integrity resides in the ability to constitute yourself as your word, to be true to your principles, and ultimately, be true to yourself. Integrity is not constrained by, nor does it reside in, rules, prescriptions, or imposed demands, but rather one’s profound relationship with one’s word.
Being true to that being in the inquiry constantly putting integrity in creates an environment of freedom, power, and joy.
Day 4 - Das Lakshan
Contentment – UTTAM SHAUCH
External View: Be content with the material gains that you have accomplished thus far. Contrary to popular belief, striving for greater material wealth and pleasure will not lead to
happiness. Desire for more is a sign that we do not have all that we want. Reducing this desire and being content with what we have leads to satisfaction. Accumulating material objects merely fuels the fire of desire.
Internal View: Contentment or happiness, derived from material objects, is only perceived to be so by a Soul in a state of false belief. The fact is that material objects do not have a
quality of happiness and therefore happiness cannot be obtained from them. The perception of “enjoying” material objects is only a temporary perception. This perception rewards the Soul with only misery and nothing else. Real happiness comes from
within, as it is the Soul that possesses the quality of happiness.
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Cool water, warm bonfire, green trees, sandy beaches… Canoeing in the Gulf of Mexico, biking through nature, swimming, hot tubs and sitting around a campfire… Old and new friends…
Das Lakshan - Day 3
Amit on September 2007Straightforwardness – UTTAM AARJAV
External View: The action of a deceitful person is to think one thing, speak something else and do something entirely different. There is no harmony in his thought, speech and
actions. Such a person loses credibility very quickly and lives in constant anxiety and fear of his deception being exposed. Being straight forward or honest oils the wheel of life. You will be seen to be reliable and trustworthy.
Internal View: Delusion about one’s identity is the root cause of unhappiness. Be straightforward to yourself and recognize your true nature. The Soul is made up of countless qualities like knowledge, happiness, effort, faith, and conduct. It has the potential to achieve omniscience (Keval Jnän) and reach a state of supreme bliss. Again, the body, the Karmas, the thoughts and all the emotions are separate from the true nature of the Soul. Dharma will one taste the true happiness that comes from within.
Das Laksan - Day 2
Amit on September 2007Modesty/Humility – UTTAM MARDAV
External View: Wealth, good looks, reputable family or intelligence often lead to pride. Pride means to believe one to be superior to others and to look down on others. By being
proud you are measuring your worth by temporary material objects. These objects will either leave you or you will be forced to leave them when you die. These eventualities will cause you unhappiness as a result of the ‘dent’ caused to your self-worth. Being humble will prevent this.
Internal View: All souls are equal, none being superior or inferior to another. In the words of Srimad Rajchandra: “Sarva Jeev Che Sidh Sum, Je Samje Te Thai – All souls are akin to the Siddha (liberated souls); those who understand this principle will achieve that state.” This view encourages you to understand your true nature. All souls have the potential to be liberated souls. The only difference between the liberated souls and those in bondage is that the former have attained liberation as a result of their “effort.” With effort, even the latter can achieve liberation.
Das Lakshan - Day 1
Amit on September 20071) Forgiveness – UTTAM KSHAMA
External View: We forgive those who have wronged us and seek forgiveness from them. Forgiveness is sought not just from human colleagues, but from all living beings ranging from one sense to five senses. If we do not forgive or seek forgiveness but
instead h arbor resentment, we bring misery and unhappines on ourselves and in the process shatter our peace of mind and make enemies. Forgiving and seeking forgiveness oils the wheel of life, allowing us to live in harmony with our fellow beings.
Internal View: Forgiveness here is directed toward oneself. The Soul, in a state of mistaken identity or false belief, assumes that it consists of the body, the Karmas and the emotions,
likes, dislikes, anger, pride, etc. As a result of this incorrect belief, it inflicts pain upon itself and is thus the cause of its own misery. Nischay Kshamä (forgiveness) Dharma teaches
the Soul to correctly identify itself by encouraging it to contemplate its true nature and hence achieve the state of right belief or Samyak Darshan. It is only by achieving Samyak
Darshan that the Soul ceases to inflict pain on itself and attains
supreme happiness.
Last Day
Amit on September 2007We have been exchanging Michhami Dukkadam [probably without knowing, experiencing or feeling] for Forgiveness every year at the end of Paryushan. Allow me (the author) to take you through following steps which enables you to experience what forgiveness is. Please follow these simple steps with your conscious mind & body. And feel the experience what Michhami Dukkadam/Forgiveness is.
step 1
close your eyes….for a moment just reflect on what the word
Forgiveness
might really mean.
What is forgiveness?
[ponder for a short while and after contemplating goto next]
step 2
And now, very gently — no force — just as an experiment in truth –
just for a moment — allow the image of someone for whom you have
much resentment — someone from whom you have anger and a sense
of distance — let them just gently — gently, come into your mind –
As an image, as a feeling.
May be you feel them at the centre of your chest as fear, as resistance.
However they manifest in your mind body, just invite them in very gently
for this — moment — for this experiment.
And in your heart, silently say to them, ‘ I forgive you’.
‘I forgive you for whatever you have done in the past that caused me
pain, intentionally or unintentionally. However you have caused me pain,
I forgive you’.
Speak gently to them in your heart with your ownwords– in your own way.
[close your eyes and talk in your heart with them– only for forgiveness]
In your heart, say to them, ‘I forgive you for whatever you may have done in
the past, through your words, through your actions, through your thoughts
that caused me pain, intentionally or unintentionally. I forgive you.’
Allow….Allow them to be touched… power of your thought is immense
and it would touch them….
just for a moment at least…
by your forgiveness.
Allow forgiveness.
It is so painful to hold someone out of your heart.
How can you hold on to that pain,
that resentment, even a moment longer?
Fear, doubt… let it go… and for this moment,
touch them with your forgiveness.
‘I FORGIVE YOU.’
Now let them go gently, let them leave quietly.
Let them go with your blessings.
step 3
Now picture someone who has great resentment for you.
Someone near or dear
May be a friend, customer/client oremployer/employee…..
staff or family…
supplier/creditor or a banker/broker of insurance
anyone who has any cause of resentment for you.
Could be spouse or parent, children or neighbour
who had any cause of resentment for you in recent past.
Feel them in your chest, may be in heart, seeing themin your mind as an image
– sense of their being. Invite them gently in.
Someone who has resentment, Anger –
someone who is unforgiving towards you.
Let them into your heart at this moment.
And in your heart, say to them ‘ I ask your forgiveness,
for whatever I may have done in the past that caused you pain,
intentionally or unintentionally —
through my words, through my actions, through my thoughts.
However I caused you pain,
I ask your forgiveness. I ask your forgiveness.’
‘Through my anger, my fear, my blindness, my laziness.
However I caused you pain,
intentionally or unintentionally — I ask your forgiveness.’
Let it be. Allow that forgiveness in.
Allow your self to be touched by their forgiveness.
Power of your thoughts is immense… they are forgiving you.
If the mind rises up
with thoughts like self-indulgence or doubt,
just see how profound our mercilessness is
with ourself and be open to the forgiveness.
Allow yourself to be forgiven.
Allow yourself to be forgiven.
However I caused you pain,
I ask for your forgiveness.
Allow yourself feel their forgiveness.
Let it be.
Let it be.
And gently …. very gently … let them go on their way
in forgiveness for you — in blessings foryou.
step 4
And turn to yourself in your own heart andsay
‘ I forgive you’ to you/rself.
whatever tries to block that
the merciless and fear.
Let it go.
Let it be touched by your forgiveness andyour mercy.
And gently in your heart, calling yourselfby
your own first name, say,
‘ I FORGIVE YOU ‘ to you.
It is so painful to put yourself out of your heart.
Let yourself in. Allow yourself to be touched
by this forgiveness.
Let the healing in.
Say, ‘ I FORGIVE YOU ‘ to you.
[ you will feel very peaceful…light hearted and relieved
if not, try repeating step 2,3 & 4….
till you have softened your heart, feel your inner peace…
then goto step 5]
step 5
[ say with immense love and joy,….openly, loudly…]
Let that forgiveness be extended to the beings all around you.
May all beings forgive themselves.
May they discover joy.
May all being be freed of suffering.
May all beings be healed.
May they be at one with their thru nature.
May they be free from suffering.
May they be at peace.
Let that loving kindness,
that forgiveness,
extend to the whole planet…
extend to entire universe
to every level of existence, seen and unseen.
May all beings be freed of sufferings.
May they know the power of forgiveness,
may they know their true being.
May they know their vastness
their infinite peacefulness.
May all beings be free.
May all beings be free.
[SOURCE: Dr. C.Northrup (p507-509) ISBN 0- 7499-1484-X]
Day 7
Amit on September 2007Samvatsari Pratikraman
Of all the days of Paryushan I felt the biggest change on this day. Everything culminates into realizing what we’ve done and haven’t done over this past year. I felt cleansed and relaeased from the past year and now looking forward.
Day 6 - Essay by Sonam Sheth (CT)
Amit on September 2007Atthai
As I concluded the Namokar Mantra, a Jain prayer, the eldest member of our family fed me the first ceremonial drops of Nimbu Pani (lemon water); this was the first time in eight days that I would put something in my mouth besides boiled water. As it slid down my parched throat, my stomach sighed in relief. This feeling of satisfaction was the culmination of a rare feat I had achieved – an eight day fast. I had proven to myself that no obstacle could stand in my way as long as my determination and commitment remained strong.
* * *
Year after year, I have seen other followers of Jainism (a religious philosophy based on non-violence) fast during the religious week of Paryushan. This past summer, I felt that my time had come to take on this endeavor. One of the basic principles for a Jain is to focus on spiritual elevation and transcend material desires. The realization that this fast might help to achieve mastery over my most basic instincts fascinated me and gave me the strength to follow through. Little did I know, I would learn the true meaning of dedication and determination in those eight days. Renouncing food and controlling my mind changed my perception of everyday life. The amount of perseverance and willpower that my fast took was more than I could have ever imagined.
Half way through my fast, my body experienced many changes. My stomach shrank, my breaths were shorter and more frequent, and yet, to my dismay, all my senses became sharper. As I watched television to keep my mind occupied, my fingers mechanically switched to the Food Network again and again. All my eyes noticed was how many glowing, luscious burger commercials were played during an hour long episode. The sizzle of the frying pan while my mother cooked for the rest of the family would call my nose to attention. When I left home in hopes of giving my senses some rest, what was once a single, ordinary Taco Bell in the town of Danbury multiplied into a sanctuary of bliss on every street corner. As I headed back home, even the haunting tune of the ice cream truck would make my mouth water. As temptation tugged at my sense of taste, before sunset each day, I drank two glasses of slightly tart boiled water. Water that would normally make my mouth sour was never tastier than on the eighth day of my fast. Nevertheless, having faith in my religion gave me the confidence needed to conquer my challenge.
Though I had not put a single morsel of food in my mouth, it was in those eight days that I would live, sleep, and breathe food. It was with every alluring commercial that my determination grew stronger, and with every temptation I resisted, my dedication surged. After the fast, I gained a renewed discipline. At an age when most teenagers undergo a right of passage, I chose one that taught me more about myself. The eight-day fast during Paryushan contributed to my own sense of personal fulfillment and internal serenity. The sense of spiritual satisfaction I gained from controlling my mind and appetite was incomparable to any other previous experience in my life. I chose to do something that is not required by my religion but rather allowed me to test my boundaries. This experience taught me that my key to continual growth and maturity is self-exploration.
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