JSCNC Pathshala Mahavir Group 9-13-20
Rita Lodaya and Purvi Shah Lesson Plan
❖ Navkar Mantra ❖ Quote/Teaching from “Thought At Sunrise” ❖ Paryushan challenge discussion: Vows and Acts of Kindness ❖ Ingredients Projects presentations-JSCNC meeting ❖ Meaning of Guru ❖ Stutis for Guru Vandan ❖ Stories about Jain Gurus ➢ Homework Assignment Thought at Sunrise The first lesson to enter the field of spiritual practice is: Do not be remiss.
When a Jain muni is initiated, the first lesson he or she is taught is not to be remiss. The weakness of the sense organs is to be remiss. Passionate emotions and limitless sleep are remiss. A person who is not remiss possesses the following quality:
He uses his senses but not with a sense of attachment.
-Acharya Mahapragya
Remiss means to be negligent or apathetic, without care. Meaning of Guru
Annual Teachers’ Day: 1- October 5th International Teachers’ Day 2- Celebrated in India on September 5th India’s 2nd President, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s birthday. Guru Vandan
Guru Vandan makes us humble and destroy our pride. By bowing down and respecting Guru, one also destroys Nich Gotra Karma and achieves Ucha Gotra Karma. He also receives the blessings from Guru.
Who are our Gurus? Arihants, Siddhas, Acharyas, Upadhyay, Sadhu/Sadhvi
We have many resources available thru JAINA Education Materials and the Jain eLibrary and resources on the web such as below: https://www.youtube.com/user/jaingurupravachans?app=desktop Stutis for Guru Vandan
मंगलं भगवान वीरो, मंगलं गौतम प्रभु।
मंगलं थू लभद्रा饍या, जैन धमर्मोतु मंगलं Mangalam Bhagaväna Viro, mangalam Gautama prabhu Mangalam Sthülibhadrädyä, Jaina dharmostu mangalam Bhagawän Mahävir is auspicious, Ganadhar Gautam Swämi is auspicious; Ächärya Sthulibhadra is auspicious; Jain religion is auspicious.
मंगलं भगवान वीरो, मंगलं गौतमो ग ण
मंगलं कुꅍदकुꅍदायर्मो, जैन धमर्मोतु मंगलं Mangalam Bhagaväna Viro, mangalam Gautamo gani Mangalam Kundakundäryo, Jaina dharmostu mangalam Bhagawän Mahävir is auspicious, Ganadhar Gautam Swämi is auspicious; Ächärya Kunda-kunda is auspicious; Jain religion is auspicious. Acharya Sthulibhadra
➢ 300 BC : About 200 years after Bhagwan Mahavir’s nirvana
➢ Son of Prime Minister Shaktal ( seven daughters and two sons); Magadha (Pataliputra)
➢ At a young age, left home; eye- opening tragic event at age 30
➢ In search of lasting happiness- became a pupil of Acharya Sambhuti Vijay ( sixth successor of Bhagwan Mahavir)
➢ Attained a high level of equanimity as a monk; passed the most difficult test
➢ Jain scriptures: passed on orally - no documentation
➢ Later years: played a major role in preserving the oldest Jain scriptures ○ Twelve Anga Agams and 14 Purvas
➢ Studied 11 of the twelve Anga Agams thoroughly ( under Acharya Bhadrabahu) Acharya Sthulibhadra (contd.) ➢ Famine - Migration to the South by Acharya Bhadrabahu; Sthulibhadhra remained in Pataliputra
➢ Lasted 12 years- he reached Nepal to learn the twelfth Agam (14 Purvas) from Acharya Bhadrabahu ○ Learnt 10 of the 14 Purvas
➢ Sisters’ visit; misuse of knowledge
➢ Acharya Bhadrabahu’s disappointment
➢ Was allowed to learn the remaining four Purvas on two conditions: ○ Would not teach the meaning ○ Sthulibhadra cannot teach those Purvas to any other monk
➢ Learned the remaining four Purvas
➢ He is revered because of his monumental efforts to save the Jain scriptures even after the long famine
JES 202 Jain Story Book Pg 47 Sadhvishri Chandanbala
➢ Born as Princess Vasumati
➢ Due to war between kingdoms , endured many hardships - renamed Chandanbala
➢ With a turn of fate, she was able to offer lentils and break Bhagwan Mahavir’s fast ( after five months and 25 days)
JES 202: Jain Story Book Pg 89
Sadhvishri Chandanbala (contd.) ➢ Later, when Bhagwan Mahavir attained kevalgyana and established the four-fold Sangha
➢ Took diksha and became the first nun (Sadhavi)
➢ Due to her knowledge, virtues and devotion to penance, also the first Head Nun of the Jain order ○ 35000 sadhvis
➢ Attained Keval gyana and eventually liberation from the cycle of birth and death
➢ Important Lessons and Notes: ○ Moola’s Jealousy towards Chandanbala: can be very destructive and should be avoided
○ Dhanavah’s compassion and fatherly love towards an orphan
○ Selfless devotion/Humility by Chandanbala towards Mahavir Swami : her guru
○ 2600 years ago : By initiating Chandanbala as the first nun of his four-fold order, Mahavir Swami emphasized the importance of treating men and women as equal