PRACTICE OF RELIGIONThey returned home determined to come again to repeat the soul-satisfying experience. Dick Davis, a hang glider, pilot and explorer, a super achiever in business-finance-investments from Florida, a man with winsome personality and heady success in business got so deeply impressed with Chitrabhanu’s teachings that he took him as his Guru. He gave up smoking and drinking and chose meditation as his path to self and new life. he became Chairman of New York based World meditation Centre. He has visited India thrice travelling; sleeping in Ashrams and worshipping in temple. He says, “In India at the Ranakpur Jain temple, the pillars were carved over a period of a hundred years. They are incredibly lace-like. It is built high, over underground waters. They believe that it gives the temple worshipper good vibrations from the deep waters’. He stood by the ancient pillars of faith and felt those vibrations.
Bob Feinson (Bahubali) goes on to confirm his vegetarianism: “I often think of you when I eat Chinese food in Taiwan or Hongkong. I know you will remember my comment about whether I can still eat Chinese food if I reach Nirvana? But in these countries they have vegetarian restaurants (Buddhist) that features a complete line of foods without any meat, fish eggs and cheese.”
He continues: “This last trip in Osaka, we were in a seafood restaurant where one of the courses was Lobster—raw and alive. They had taken out the tailmeat, chopped it up, but the front of the lobster was untouched, and it was still moving as people were eating the raw flesh. This is common in Japan and Korea (as you most likely know). But I will never get used to seeing this barbarism”:
In his deep philosophical strain, Balbhadra talks about meditation: “Gurudev, the meditation on self which you indicate has effected greater clarity, regaining, or balance. Strength, vitality and joy. These is not the attachment now to Diksha. Whether Diksha happens or not, all will be fine. And using your words, it appears that a person must find his security in risk and advance with conviction towards his greater self-realisation. The challenge will be to ensure solitude time for self-realisation. The challenge will be to ensure solitude time for self-realisation. The challenge will be ensure solitude time for self-realisation, to maintain the Dharma principles, and to do whatever is necessary in one’s present community. The greatest difficulty and challenge is to achieve true aparigraha (non attachment while fulfilling one’s karmic responsibilities.”
Sujata Chandan writes from Paris: “Everyday I pray and practise the beautiful mantra you gave me. Humanity in the western world is eager for living without time, and fed up of running after money they already spent before they received! Anyway I know the world is a stage, only I do not forget to close the curtain of this stage everyday; thanks to meditation and vibrations exchanged with you and the universal Divinities”.
It is interesting to read the comments on ‘fasting’. Clare Rosenfield (Brahmi Devi) writes, “Through fasting one day a week, I, too, in my own way, am gaining confidence in my health, in being able to be free from the need for food atleast one or two days at a time. Freedom from food = freedom from attachment.”
And here is Dhena Priya Kanta writing from the Jain Meditation International Centre, Toronto (Canada), regarding seven days fasting:
“There have been many people wanting to fast for seven days; and it takes many hours of my time to guide them through a seven-day fast. Before they begin fasting, I talk to them for two hours at least, explaining about fasting and possible symptoms which may occur while their bodies throw out toxins and mucus accumulated there for years. Also I try to remove the deep seated fear of abstaining from food and remove all negativity from their minds about fasting. Then when the person starts the seven days, I keep in touch everyday all through the fast and also three or four days after they break their fast and begin to eat.”
Brahmi Devi writes about Paryushan Parva: “Thank you, Divine soul, for the Gift of Paryushan to all of us. I realised that you have given us everything we need to know in our lifetime – how to go inside, into the inner world, how to go to the height, up the Siddhanum, and how to out, to connect with living beings in the outside world. And when we have done one of these three, we are really experiencing them all. Until hopefully, we feel the trinity in one continuously.”
Vikas Anand expresses deep satisfaction at the observance of religious practices by him and his friend Ananta. He writes: “We have been fortunate to be able to maintain the Vratas of Ahimsa by stoically and steadily continuing to place matters of spirit before matters of the body and the world. We are moving ahead with our plans to bring Jain culture to this area at a slow but steady pace, introducing your books and your philosophy of loving kindness and compassion to all whom we come in contact with. The people of this region have a tradition of being hunters and fishers; hard working middle class people who drink and smoke liberally but go to church regularly. Jain culture is somewhat exotic and foreign to them, but the principles are very appealing to those who are educated and seeking another way of living than the one they presently have. It seems but a matter of time before their hearts open to the timeless teachings of Ahimsa.
Jane Hein (Jagruti) has been fascinated by shlokas and loves to memorize: “It is amazing how the recitation itself gives the gist, and whenI recite so many sutras in a row from Shri Samayika sutra as well as Chattari Mangalam, Om Punyaham Punyaham, Mangalam Bhagawana Viro and some others, I feel very fortified and substaines from within and all around by Siddha-substratum consciousness.”
“I ask to have my consiousness raised above any unforgiveness that may be housed in my consciousness known or unknown to me—either from this life time or another life time.
I ask that I raise my consciousness to the level where I can forgive myself”.
Trude Fontana writing from Germany declares faith in Jain philosophy while at the same time raises intersting questions which came up in the mind in a natural and logical way:
“The Jain religion is a wonderful one; I love it very much, it is according to my feelings, I love it with all my spiritual force but I know it makes human life very complicated in view of all the difficulties connected with the idea of non-violence. There are in India too many insects, dangerous animals, and many dogs everywhere to be treated in the right loving way. Jains try not to give any trouble to animals, but without taking further interest in them or assisting them. The number of poor and help needing creatures in India is perhaps too gigantic for human forces. In Europe it is much easier. The climate is not so favourable to immense procreation.
Prosperity allows good nourishment of animals, their sterilisation, provision of hospitals and ambulances etc. There are many well-functioning societies for the protection of animals. But the cultural development based on the Jewish Christian crazy idea of human supremacy permits slaughter houses and vivisection!”
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The Wave of Bliss | So Hun | Ahimsa | Looking up to the Teacher | The Practice of Religion | Through the Eyes of the Camera | A Pioneer Shows the Way