Sri Mahavira Jaina

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

 2600 years ago, A prince in India renounced kingdom and pleasures and took up monkhood and did lot of tapasya, and became enlightened. He is Sri Mahavira Jaina, a tirthankara.

Let us look at three of his teachings, 

1. Ahimsa

2. Anekantavada

3. Aparigraha

Ahimsa

'Himsa' in Sanskrit means Violence. Ahimsa means 'Non-Violence'.

One should never harm anyone through thoughts, words or actions. And it is also not just non-harming, we should wish them well, and make every effort to help others.

The benefit of the practice of Ahimsa is, world will be a better place.

Anekantavada

Mahavira, was playing hide and seek in his 3 storied palace as a kid with his friends. He was hiding in the middle floor. One kid asked another kid in ground floor, "where is Mahavira?" , that kid answered 'He is up'. The seeking kid went to third floor and asked another, "where is Mahavira?", that kid answered 'He is down'.

Hearing this, Mahavira understood the 'Anekantavada', the theory that everybody are partially right from their position, and nobody knows and owns the complete truth.

What do we learn from this ?

People are always quarreling, disputing with each other, confrontation, taking hard positions. 'My religion, philosophy is right. Yours is wrong.'  People are willing to kill each other for protecting what they think is right.

Benefit of following Anekantavada is again a peaceful world where every opinion is honored and co-exists and be in harmony.

Aparigraha

Aparigraha means 'Non-accumulation' or 'Non-possesiveness'.

Do not accumulate beyond what is needed.

It also means 'I do not own anything'. I am not the owner. I am only a trustee.

There are so many Kings who ruled this world, rich men who owned riches, poor men who possessed few things . They thought they owned the land, buildings, money etc. What happened to them. 

We do not own anything or anyone.

What is the benefit of Aparigraha ?

We do not own lot of things due to greed. We do not keep on accumulating things, denying others. Share with others, thus making world a better place.

Hari Om Tat Sat