Message by Lord Mahavira

Lord Mahavira taught the entire mankind the lesson of Ahimsa or Non-violence with the notion Ahimsa Parmo Dharm or non-violence is the first act to adhere to. Lord Mahavira gave the first importance to Non-violence in His entire life. Once Lord Mahavira was on deep meditation, looking at his calmness and non-violent appearance, Indra Dev, who was the king of Swarg(heaven) according Hindu mythology was mesmerized when he looked at this sight, and gave the verbal praise in front of Saiyam Dev who lived with Indra Dev. Saiyam Dev's pride was hurt when Indra appreciated the calm and composure look of  Lord Mahavira. 


Saiyam Dev took a pledge to break or disturb this camlness of Lord Mahavir. He resorted to a series of physical torture on Lord Mahavira throughout six months. But Lord Mahavira was unperturbed by these acts of Saiyam Dev and continued to be in a state of deep meditation. 
Saiyam Dev surrendered himself to Lord Mahavira and decided to return but when Saiyam Dev turned to see Lord Mahavira's face thinking that He would be glad at his departure, Siayam Dev was shocked when he saw  tears and compassion in the eyes of Lord Mahavira. Saiyam Dev bowed down on his knees and asked the Lord what led Him to feel so for a person who gave so much pain and torture to Him. 


Lord Mahavira told him that when He decided to leave all the comforts and luxurious living of his life, He went with a motto to finish His past births' misdeeds (or karma) through Tapasya. Lord Mahavira said "I was all alone in my path to finish the misdeeds of my past births but you came as a friend in my journey to help me to get rid my past misdeeds......you took the burden of my karma.......but now I am free from some of my past misdeeds but you, my friend have taken the burden of my misdeeds......when you have to suffer because of your misdeeds, the pain and sufferings I have gone through because of your acts, how would you be able to bear with it, brought tears in my eyes."


Hence, one should always keep in mind that if you are intentionally hurting someone, then you are actually helping the other person to get rid off his sufferings but you are taking the load of those misdeeds.        

Inspiration From Aung San Sui Kyi

Aung San Suu Kiyi was fifteen years under house arrest in Myanmar but years of mental torture could nether break her nor dent her courage and mental fortitude to endure all that she went through- plus the trauma of being denied the right to live with her family- needs a certain spiritual courage and deattachment and Aung San Suu Kiyi's Myanmaar Leader of the National League for democracy revealed these trials in plenty. The world has recognised her stoic struggle and moral victory including her nobel peace prize. Her rare combination of intelligence and charm and generous compassion with which she looks at her erstwhile tormentors.

During her captivity, she had busied herself studying and exercising. She occupied herself in meditation, working on her skills in the French and Japanese language and relaxed herself by playing Banch on the piano. This regular practice of meditation helped her withstand her long confinement and separation from family for so many years.

She is recognized as a symbol of moral and spiritual beauty of a pilgrim.  What Rabindranath Tagore once wrote in his poem "I feel beautiful as my mind is free", rightly applies to Aung San Kyi's beauty that knows no fear.

In Buddhism, it is explained that at this core of our being are profound Brahmaviharas or  heavenly realms which are our true nature and they need to be accessed. These are karuna or compassion, upeka or equanimity, mudita or sympathetic joy for others and metta or loving kindness. Buddism tells you to overcome and avoid negative patterns of thought and at the same time, enhance positive thinking to attain a compassionate , balanced and a spiritual outlook for a more fulfilling sense of well-being.

Suu Kyi's own book, Fear of Freedom proposes that dictators are worried more than anything, by the fear of freedom. She refused to enter into combat with her captors on terms of hate, violence and revenge, and managed with compassion and tolerance to keep the spirit of freedom alive, without fear.

This quality of inner and moral beauty, and spiritaulity in its stoic grace, has enhanced Aung's persona today as the international icon of heroic and peaceful resistance in the face of oppression. Truly, she is a democratic pilgrim.