by Manish & Varsha Mehta, Ann Arbor MI
Jains believe that the function of living beings is to help each other. Thus we practice nonviolence and compassion. People in a nursing home, hospice or in similar institutions need our attention. They feel happy when individuals volunteer to help and show concern for their well-being. A simple project involves contacting nursing homes, hospices and similar institutions, placing bird feeders in windows or on branches of trees and visiting these places to refill them on a regular basis. The residents of those institutions will enjoy watching the birds. They will also be happy to meet and talk with the volunteers. Our youngsters also will enjoy working on these projects.
by Prakash Mody, North York, ON, Canada
Jains believe in reincarnation &endash; transmigration of soul. Jains also believe that death is a natural process. Jainism teaches that one should neither wish to end one's life sooner nor have an intense desire to prolong one's life through extraordinary means. One should not suffer from any kind of anxiety at the time of death. An individual should face death in a calm and peaceful manner. Jains believe in the theory of karma that says that our thoughts and feelings determine what happens in our lives and in the future. Thus we should have pure thoughts and feelings, especially at the time of death. With this end in view, during the last moments of an individual's life, NAMOKAAR MANTRA and other religious prayers, depicting the principles of Jain religion, are recited. Audio-video material is also used for this purpose. When people visit the family of the deceased, NAMOKAAR MANTRA, and other prayers and religious songs are recited. This provides support and consolation to the family, relatives and friends.
It is important to let others know the Jain beliefs and customs. Among other things, the health care professionals and people in schools and offices should know that we Jains are vegetarians and so the individual who has been injured or hospitalized should be given a vegetarian diet. Upon death, one may opt for organ donations. The body is cremated as soon as possible.
by Prakash Mody, Toronto, Canada
Jainism is an important aspect of Indian culture. This fact has been recognized by Indian administration from time to time by issuing postage stamps depicting Jain images. Here are a few examples:
1. In 1934, King George V issued a set of four stamps of temples and shrines, for the commemoration of the Silver Jubilee of his reign. One of these was a 11/4 anna (1/16 of a rupee) stamp of the Jain Temple of Calcutta. The stamp displayed the traditional eighteenth century Jain shrine of Rishabhadev, the first of the twenty-four TEERTHANKARs, the spiritual victors (JINs) who attained omniscience and salvation.
2. On August 15, 1948, one year after independence of India, a 15-rupee stamp was issued depicting the Rishabhadev's Temple at Shatrunjaya which was built in the eleventh century.
3. Jains everywhere celebrated, on November 13, 1974, the 2500th anniversary of the twenty-fourth TEERTHANKAR Mahaveer's NIRVANA. On that occasion, a 25-paisa (1/4 rupee) stamp depicting the Jal Mandir (lake temple) at Pavapuri (Bihar) was issued.
4. On July 27, 1977, a 25-paisa stamp showing a nineteenth century wood carving of a mythological elephant (AIRAAVAT) from a Jain temple in Gujarat was issued under the Treasures of Museum Series.
5. A one-rupee stamp of the millennium of the statue of Gommateshwar Bahubali was issued on February 9, 1981. Chamundaraya, a royal minister, erected this 58 ft statue of Bahubali, a son of the first TEERTHANKAR Rishabhadev, on the top of a 300 ft high hill at Shravanabelgola, Karnatak, a thousand years ago. The statue is a center of attraction for visitors from all over the world. A ceremony called MAHAAMASTAKAABHISHEK (the great head anointing) is held at Shravanabelgola once every twelve years.
6. On the first death anniversary of Dr. Vikram A. Sarabhai (1919-1971), a 20-paisa stamp was issued showing him with his ROHINI rocket and a dove. He was a Jain and an internationally renowned scientist. Dr. Sarabhai headed the National Committee for Space Research.
We have to first examine the impact of any custom and tradition on our lives and on the lives of others around us. Thus we should not pick up things such as drinking, drug abuse, gambling, dating and divorce because they involve considerable mental violence and may lead to physical violence as well. We need not adopt such things just because others do them.
- Navin S. Dedhia