Power of Jain Chantings-II

Everyday, I gain knowledge from my Gurus although I also gain awareness through newspaper, books and knowledge-based television programs. If one face problems, then make it a point to wholeheartedly remember your guru, which helps one to come out of the problems. This time when I remembered my guru, I could feel his presence and when I went to Jain temple, I saw that my Guru was there. Whatever Guruji spoke in the Pravachan, it seemed as if Guruji sensed my troubles and spoke on that only. He said that one should have control over whatever one speaks, words can avoid disasters and bring happiness and peace. Yours thoughts determine your words, hence one should be a well-wisher for others. Make your mind and thoughts simple and do not indulge in unnecessary things. Do not have the tendency to collect material things as when time passes by, things which you desire are lost in time. If you do not have a desire for materialistic things , you safe yourself from the grief of loosing things. 


My guru Dr.Rajendra Muni Ji told us a story. Once there lived a wealthy trader. He had to travel to different countries for trading gold and gems. One day, when the trader was about to leave for abroad, people asked him that does he know how to swim. He replied "no". Then, worried relatives and neighbors gave him two empty containers, and said that in case you encounter with problems while traveling, these empty containers will safe you from drowning. Unfortunately, the ship on which he was traveling began to sunk. At that very moment he thought that if these containers could save him, then why not put all his gold and gems in those containers. 


When the traders filled those containers with gold and gems, the containers became heavy, and the trader drowned along with those containers. 


Hence, we can understand that one should keep their mind and thoughts simple, and at peace. This can free us from the complexities of life, if we engage our whole life in collecting and relishing in materialistic things and by expecting too much from our relationships, we drag ourselves back to the struggling world.                   

Power of Jain Chantings

I have a habit of reading something before I go to sleep since childhood, and so even today I keep certain books and reading materials besides my bed. One night, while reading a book, a pamphlet came out of the book which was on Jain chantings. The pamphlet also said that if one reads these mantras before going to bed, one gets eternal peace. I wondered how is it possible? I have an emperical mind so I test what I read.    
Next day, suddenly when I came back after dropping my daughter to the metro station, on the way I saw my Acharya Shiv Muni Ji ,I payed my respect to him, and he blessed me to attend the Dyan Shivir which I could not attend earlier. It was a merical to meet such a dyan yogi who owned a group of 1400 Sadhu and Sadhvis. 
 I again chanted those mantras at night. Next day, I din't go outside my home, suddenly a Jain Sadhu came home for Gocheri and He recited Mangli and blessed me and my mother-in-law who is bed ridden. 
I again chanted those mantras at subsequent nights. One morning when I got up , I had a gut feeling that I should go to temple. I went to my Jain temple where it was written that a Jain sadhu was staying there. I payed my respect to Him and performed Puja in the temple. I felt satisfied and at peace while I was returning home.
I continued to chant those mantras at night and in the morning I received a call from my father. He was very excited and he narrated what happened when the supreme Jain sadhu Acharya Sudha Sagar Maharaj came to our house for his Aharchariya which was great thing for anyone from Jain religion. He gave blessing to each member of our family. This was a very mystical experience.


From that day on, I chant those mantras and daily I gain new experiences which motivate me to reach higher spiritual self.                          

Learn To Love

A young man planted a flower garden ,but when the flowers came up,so did a  great crop of weeds among them.Wishing to eliminate the unwanted guests,the young man consulted gardeners far and wide,but none of their solutions worked.Finally the young man made his way to the palace to seek the wisdom of the royal gardener.But alas, he had already tried out all the methods the kind old man recommeded to hin for eradicating such troublesome weeds.The royal gardener stared at the young man for some time and then said, Well, the only thing I can suggest is that you learn to love them''.

The Sis Ganj Story

Soon after the joyous celebrations for Guru Nanak,comes the sad event of the martyrdomday of Guru Teg Bahadur,the ninth Sikh Guru. It was at the site of the SisGanj Gurdwara in Delhi's Chandni Chowk where the guru was beheaded in 1675.Guru Teg Bahadur had  taken on the mighty Mughals and made the supreme sacrifice of his life to protect the faith and honour of the persecuted and the down trodden. He is called Hind-di-chaddar or sheild of India. The guru was borne in Amritsar in 1621 and named Tyagmal. The name Teg Bahadur,"mighty of sword" was given to him by his father, Guru Hargobind, after he fought with Valour against the Mughals.

Aurangzeb's seized power in 1658 after executing liberal minded brother, Dara Shukoh. Aurangzeb had perceived India as an Islamic Theocracy and sought to convert Hindus to Islam. He decided to begin conversions with the Kashmere Pundits.

In a desperate bit to save their community, Kashmere Pundits led by Pundit Kripa Ram visited Guru Teg Bahadur at Anandpur requesting him to protect their faith. The compassionate Guru heard their request and said "these atrocities can only be stopped with supreme sacrifice of a Mahapurush" and so it was the guru decided to step in knowing fully that he might have to pay with his life. He asked the Kashmere Pundits to tell Aurangzeb that if he could convert guru Teg Bahadur, they would all convert. On hearing this, Aurangzeb had the guru imprisoned and brought to Delhi.

The Mughal first killed his companions captured with him, hoping it would force him into compliance. The Guru witnessed the savagery with Divine calm. When he still could not be persuaded to abandon his faith, he was asked to perform miracle to prove his divinity. The Guru refused and was beheaded at the spot where the Sis Ganj Gurudwara now stands. 

Life

People and situations respond to you differently once your thoughts change. Situations change, people change,  even solid material things change, once you learn to perceive situations differently from what they appear.Most people react , they do not  respond.Response is action.Action is a conscious decision; reaction is an act of impulsiveness.No one can go back and make a brand new start. Anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. We indulge in vices not only physically but more often through our minds. Guard against this tendency. So one can turn adversity into advantage through understanding and effort.For life to turn into a great victory,you have to win many small battles along the way.

Kalam's Khazana

As a young citizen of India armed with technology, knowledge and love for mu nation, I realize, small aim is a crime............
I will work and sweat for a great vision, the finish of transforming India into a developed nation powered by economic strength with value system........
I will keep the lamp of knowledge burning to achieve the vision- developed India
                                                       - A.P.J Abdul Kalam"Ignited Minds"   
Men often become what they believe themselves to be. If I believe that i cannot do something, it makes me incapable of doing it. But when I believe I can, then I acquire the ability to do it even if I didn't have it in the beginning"
                                                  - Mahatma Gandhi 

A gift from father to daughter

The day after dusshera,  I received a call from my father. He sounded thoroughly excited. He asked me that am i able to hear music from the back. I listened carefully then i could hear drums,  folk songs,bhajans and Ma durga's aarti. My father told me that 20 km away from Shridham, 15 to 20 idols of Ma durga are collectively immersed in the Narmada river.People welcome them from whichever place they are passed. As my father was telling this, i could visualise all these events. Each idol of Ma Durga was crossing in front of our house with loud Sher-kali dance and folk bhajan. When my father called me, that was the time, the idol of Ma durga was being welcomed in our house, people who came with the idol of Ma Durga were having bhog prasad in our house which were prepared by the halwai of the house.
Many idols of Ma Durga were crossing in front of our house and were heading towards the river Narmada. It seemed as if Ma Durga landed on earth to give a glimpse of herself to her devotees. All devotees were busy in Seva of Ma. It seemed as if I was day-dreaming, the emotions with which my father was describing all these events were automatically trasferred to me. It was a kind if revisiting my childhood days.

From this event, I understood that whether it is for god or a human being, it is only through emotions that one can communicate what feelings are going in a person.