who i am i

Slide 1: 

? I am a symbiosis of physical and spiritual substances Why am I here? I am here to realize who I am From where did I come? I come from the past karmic influences Where am I going? I am moving towards liberation Who Am I?

ESSENCE OF JAINISM : 

Non-Violence (Ahimsa) Strengthens the autonomy of life of every being Non-One Sidedness (Anekantavad) Strengthens the autonomy of thought of every individual Non-Possession (Aparigraha) Strengthens the interdependence of all existence ESSENCE OF JAINISM

Namokar Mantra - (Panch Parmeshti) : 

Namo Arihantänam (12 Attributes) I bow to Arihantas-those living beings who have reached enlightenment by overcoming inner enemies and weaknesses, who have attained infinite knowledge, infinite bliss, and showed us the path, that brings an end to the cycle of birth and death. Namo Siddhänam (8 Attributes) I bow to Siddhas those who have attained the state of perfection and immortality by liberating themselves of all Karmas. Namo Äyariyänam (36 Attributes) I bow Ächäryas to those living beings who are the heads of religious order and who practice what they know. Namo Uvajjhäyänam (25 Attributes) I bow to Upädhyäys those living beings that are well versed in all Ägams and teach the same to the deserving pupils and other followers. Namo Loe Savva Sähunam (27 Attributes) I bow to all the Sädhus and Sädhvis (monks) that follow the five great vows of conduct and inspire us to live a simple Namokar Mantra - (Panch Parmeshti) 12 + 8 +36 + 25 +27 = 108 Rosary beads

Treasure in Jainism(Validated and commonly accepted today) : 

Treasure in Jainism(Validated and commonly accepted today) Filtered/boiled water Jain mathematics Plant life & Environmentalism Equality towards women Animal Protection Molecules and atoms Compassionate diet/Vegetarianism Meditation and Yoga – mind “More than 2500 Years old…”

Hidden Jain Treasures : 

Hidden Jain Treasures Near Validation (by science): Anekantvad Vegetarianism Mediation & Yoga Power of Forgiveness Vows and Penance Far from Validation: Karma Theory - Vibration Concept of Soul?? Re-incarnation Cosmology Managing Passion Spiritual ladder

Six Universal Substances : 

Six Universal Substances

CLASSES OF SOUL : 

CLASSES OF SOUL 2 CLASSES Worldly (Sansarik) Liberated (Siddha)

QUALITIES OF SOUL : 

QUALITIES OF SOUL Everlasting Sentience Omniscience

5 Vows – MahaVratas : 

5 Vows – MahaVratas Ahimsa – The vow not to kill, To practice non-killing, as opposed to himsa or killing Satya - The vow not to lie Non-stealing -The vow not to steal Brahmacharaya - The vow to be chaste Aparigraha - The vow to renounce property

THREE JEWELS : 

Samyak Darshan (Right Faith) Enlightened World-View Samyak Gyan (Right Knowledge) Types of Knowledge Bhavanas Samyak Charitra (Right Conduct) Lay Vows Holy Vows THREE JEWELS

Nav Tattvas - (9 Fundamentals) : 

Nav Tattvas - (9 Fundamentals) Jiva - Soul Ajiva - Non-living matter Punya - Results of good deeds Pap - Results of bad deeds Asrava - Influx of karmas Bandh - Bondage of karmas Samvar - Stoppage of karmas Nirjara - Eradication of karmas Moksha - Liberation

Doors of Inflow of Karmas : 

5 SENSES Touch Taste Smell Sight Hearing 4 PASSIONS Anger Pride (Ego) Deceit Greed 5 INDULGENCES Causing Injury Lying Stealing Incontinence Possessiveness Doors of Inflow of Karmas

Slide 13: 

Liberation Omniscience View/Faith Deluding(Mohniya) Feeling producing(Vedaniya) Life span (Ayushva) Karmas and Liberation Ghati Karmas(Destructive Karmas) Aghati Karmas(Non-Destructive Karmas)

PATH TO LIBERATION : 

Wandering Souls Karmic Bondage and Inflow Karmic Shedding The Vows CONDUCT Non- Violence FAITH KNOWLEDGE Purity ofThought TIME AWARENESS Omniscience & Liberation PATH TO LIBERATION

Jain Symbol : 

Jain Symbol Digit of the Moon represents the region beyond the three worlds wherein reside the liberated souls. Swastika signifies the cycles of births and deaths due to karma, in any of the four forms; heaven, human, tiryanch (animals, birds, and plants), and hell of the worldly (non-liberated) souls. Palm of the hand signifies this assurance; 'do not be afraid', indicating that human beings, which are suffering due to karmic bondage do not need to be disheartened. Wheel of Dharma (Chakra) with 24 spokes represents the religion preached by the 24 Tirthankaras consisting of nonviolence (Ahimsa) and other virtues. Outline figure represents the Jain description of the shape of the universe, resembling a person standing with feet apart and arms resting on both hips. Three Dots represent the Jain path of liberation (Jain trinity): Samyak Darshan, Samyak Jnana, and Samyak Charitra, which together leads to liberation. Also these Dots represent the three worlds: earth (place for humans, animals, birds, vegetables etc.), hell, and heaven, where all non-liberated souls born, live, die, and suffer.

Twelve vows for Laymen : 

Twelve vows for Laymen Five Main Vows of Limited Nature (Anuvratas): Ahimsa Anuvrat - Non-violence (Sthula Pranatipat Viraman) Satya Anuvrat - Truthfulness (Sthula Mrisavada Viraman) Achaurya Anuvrat - Non-stealing (Sthula Adattadana Viraman) Bhramacharya Anuvrat - Chastity (Sthula Maithuna Viraman) Aparigraha Anuvrat - Non-attachment (Sthula Parigraha Viraman) Three Merit Vows (Guna-vrats): Dik Vrata - Limited area of activity vow Bhoga-Upbhoga Vrata - Limited use of consumable and non-consumable items vow Anartha-danda Vrata - Avoidance of purposeless sins vow Four Disciplinary Vows (Siksha-vratas): Samayik Vrata - Meditation vow of limited duration Desavakasika Vrata - Activity vow of limiting space Pausadha Vrata - Ascetic's life Vow of limited duration Atithi Samvibhaga Vrata - Limited charity vow

Das Lakshan Dharma (Ten Virtues) : 

Das Lakshan Dharma (Ten Virtues) Uttam Kshama – supreme forbearance Uttam Mardava – supreme gentleness Uttam Arjava - supreme uprightness Uttam Shaucha - supreme purity Uttam Satya - supreme truth Uttam Sanyam - supreme restraint Uttam Tapa - supreme austerity Uttam Tyaga - supreme renunciation Uttam Akinchanya - supreme lack of possession Uttam Brahmcharya - supreme chastity

The Six Avashayakas - (Six Essentials) : 

The Six Avashayakas - (Six Essentials) Samayik - a state of total equanimity Chauvisantho – prayers to the Five supremes, 24 Jinas, and 4 mangalas Vandana - offering salutations to sadhus (monks) and sadhvis (nuns) Pratikraman - realizing what we have done wrong and annotating on it Kayotsarga - meditation of the soul Pratyakhyan - renunciation

14 Gunasthanas : 

14 Gunasthanas Mithyatva Gunasthanak - stage of false beliefs with intense raag and dwesh Saswadan - the stage of having tasted the righteousness Samyak-Mithyadrashti - stage of fluctuation between the false & right belief Avirati-samyakdrashti - the stage of the right belief but no renunciation Deshvirti - the stage of the right belief with the partial renunciation Sarvavirti or Pramatta samyati - the stage of the total renunciation Apramatt samyati - the stage of the total renunciation and no carelessness Nivritti-Badar - the stage of an extraordinary efforts Anivritti-Badar - the stage of almost passionless state Sukshma samparay - the stage of the subtle greed Upashant Kashaya - the stage of the passionless state by the suppression Kshina Kashay - the passionless stage Sayogi kevali - the stage of the omniscient with activities Ayogi kevali - the stage of the omniscient without activities

Slide 20: 

Meditation

Twelve Bhavanas (Twelve Reflections) : 

Twelve Bhavanas (Twelve Reflections) Anitya - Impermanence of the world - Alone. Asarana - Birth is inevitably followed by death, helpless in face of death. Samsara - Worldy life is an ocean of illusion. No permanent relationship. Ekatva - Aloneness. There is absolute solitude of each soul. Anyatva - Separateness - Try to know the inner-self to attain “Pure-Self". Asuci - Impureness of the body. Asrava - Inflow of Karmic Fusion. Samavara - Karmic shield is anti-dote to Asrava, stops influx of karma. Nirjara - to discard- to separate- liberate, Shedding of Karma from soul. Lokasvarupa - To reflect about the Universe. Bodhi Durlabha - Unattainability of right faith, knowledge, and conduct Dharma-Swakhyat - Teachings of the "Tirthankara- Arihant"

6 Leshyas (Color of your soul) : 

6 Leshyas (Color of your soul) People in this state: Black (worst) - have no compassion or mercy. Blue - are proud, haughty, and lazy Brown - Always remain sad and gloomy Red - careful about their actions and discriminate between good and evil Yellow - kind, benevolent, and forgive everyone even their enemies White (Best) - observe the principles of non-violence, truth, non-stealing, celibacy, and non-attachment. They are trustworthy, treat every soul as if it was their own soul, and do not have ill feelings towards anyone

AnekantavadaThe Blind Men and the Elephant, by John Godfrey Saxe, American poet (1816-1887) based the following poem on a Jain fable : 

AnekantavadaThe Blind Men and the Elephant, by John Godfrey Saxe, American poet (1816-1887) based the following poem on a Jain fable It was six men of Indostan To learning much inclined, Who went to see the Elephant (Though all of them were blind), That each by observation Might satisfy his mind The First approached the Elephant, And happening to fall Against his broad and sturdy side, At once began to bawl: “God bless me! but the Elephant Is very like a wall!” The Second, feeling of the tusk, Cried, “Ho! what have we here So very round and smooth and sharp? To me ’tis mighty clear This wonder of an Elephant Is very like a spear!” The Sixth no sooner had begun About the beast to grope, Than, seizing on the swinging tail That fell within his scope, “I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant Is very like a rope!” And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long, Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong, Though each was partly in the right, And all were in the wrong! Moral: So oft in theologic wars, The disputants, I ween, Rail on in utter ignorance Of what each other mean, And prate about an Elephant Not one of them has seen! The Third approached the animal, And happening to take The squirming trunk within his hands, Thus boldly up and spake: “I see,” quoth he, “the Elephant Is very like a snake!” The Fourth reached out an eager hand, And felt about the knee. “What most this wondrous beast is like Is mighty plain,” quoth he; “ ‘Tis clear enough the Elephant Is very like a tree!” The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, Said: “E’en the blindest man Can tell what this resembles most; Deny the fact who can This marvel of an Elephant Is very like a fan!”

24 Tirthankaras : 

24 Tirthankaras Tirthankar - Symbol Bhagwan Rishabhdevji - Bull Bhagwan Ajitnathjit - Elephant Bhagwan Sambhavnathji - Horse Bhagwan Abhinandanji - Monkey Bhagwan Sumatinathji - Kraunch-bird Bhagwan Padmaprabhuji - Lotus Bhagwan Suparshvanathji - Swastika Bhagwan Chandraprabhji - The Moon Bhagwan Suvidhinathji - Crocodile Bhagwan Sheetalnathjii - Shrivatsa Bhagwan Shreyansnathji - Rhinocerous Bhagwan Vasupujyaii - Buffalo Tirthankar - Symbol Bhagwan Vimalnathji - Boar Bhagwan Anantnathji - Falcon Bhagwan Dharmnathji - Vajra Bhagwan Shantinathji - Deer Bhagwan Kunthunathji - Goat Bhagwan Arhanathji - Nandavart Bhagwan Mallinathji - Urn Bhagwan Munisuvrat Swamiji - Turtle Bhagwan Neminathji - Blue Lotus Bhagwan Arishtanemiji - Conch Shell Bhagwan Prashvanathji - Snake Bhagwan Mahaveer Swamiji - Lion

Slide 25: 

Parasparopagraho Jivanam Souls influence each other through service which may be favorable or unfavorable They cannot live independently of one another They must bear the karmic results individually.. They create a common environment and live together in wealth and woe

Optional : 

Optional

5 Samitis & 3 Guptis : 

5 Samitis & 3 Guptis Five Samitis: (Conduct) Iriya Samiti - regulation of walking. One should walk carefully looking forward about six feet distance so as not to cause the pain or death of any living being. Bhasa Samiti - regulation of speaking. One should avoid the eight faults of speech during conversation. The eight faults are anger, pride, deceit, greed, laughter, fear, gossip, and slander. Always use sinless and concise speech. Esnna Samiti - regulation of begging. Monks should search and obtain pure foods and other articles necessary for use, and to use the same in a faultless manner. Adana Nikshepana Samiti - regulation of taking or keeping. One should lay down or take up an article of use very carefully so as not to endanger the life of small creatures and insects. Utsarga Samiti - regulation of disposal. One should dispose of waste things properly. Three Guptis: Mana Gupti - regulation of mind. One should guard one's mind from impure thoughts such as anger, hate, curse, greed, jealous, ego, etc. Always be forgiving and devote the mind to pious meditation. Vachana Gupti - regulation of speech. One should guard his speech so that it might not utter harmful, harsh, careless, foul, senseless, embarrassing, or bad language. Kaya Gupti - regulation of bodily activity. One should guard movement of his body, so as not to hurt others, walking with an eye on the path so as not to harm, or kill an innocent life such as ants, bugs, etc. One should not day dream while doing any activity. Develop decent behavior and manners.

A Temple : 

is an abode of art, Literature, music and provides ample opportunities for blossoming of talents Protects, preserves, and promotes culture Relieves mental stress giving solutions to personal, family, and social problems Inspires to help others in their troubles Moulds life instilling moral and spiritual values through devotion, upasana, and association with sadhus A Temple