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Yesterday was my 29th birthday (thanks to everyone who sent me your well-wishes!). I was supposed to kick back and relax, take it easy for the day, but for me there’s no such thing as absolute zero. There is no standing still. Jains have a system of meditation which focuses on 12 areas called Bhavanas…

Worship is an act of reverence, of giving or acknowledging worth to something/someone beyond yourself. In this way, despite the fact that Jains do not have a central God(s), Jains offer worship to the 24 Tirthankaras. But the Tirthankaras were humans, right? How does one worship a human? First we must understand the Jain attitude…

Every month, I look for an opportunity to give back and show my appreciation to my host faith for those 30-31 days. Today, I found a way for not only me, but for all of us to reach out and help a community in need. Meet the Jain Center of Greater Phoenix in Arizona. The…

The Jain concept of ahimsa (non-injury) prevents one from doing any harm to our fellow sentient beings. While the monastic order (Sadhus and Sadhvis) go to great lengths and austerities to prevent harm upon others, householders are encouraged to observe this principle as well. This is why most householder Jains often employ themselves in business,…

Yesterday, I asked the Congregation what they would do if they knew without a shadow of a doubt that they only had one more month to live. The answers were what one might expect. Spend more time with family, travel, eat delicious food, meditate in some mystical land. These are wonderful thoughts, and I appreciate…

Practicing as a Jain ascetic this month, I took certain vows. The five most important being: Ahimsa (Non-injury) Always tell the truth Do not steal Celibacy Non-possession So far I’ve done pretty well. I even took on the practice of one small meal a day. With non-injury it means that I must avoid killing or…

Fasting, the act of abstaining from food, drink, or really anything else for a prescribed amount of time, is a time-honored practice in many faiths. In February, I fasted for a day after I found out about my Hindu Mentor’s passing. As a Latter-day Saint in July, I observed a fast on the first Sunday…

“To kill any living being amounts to killing one’s self. Compassion to others is compassion to one’s own self. Therefore one should avoid violence like poison and thorn.” –Mahavira It’s no secret that Jain philosophy is big on ahimsa (non-injury), however does that hold true outside of their relationship with their fellow man? According to…

Today’s post is by my wife, Heather, as a recap of the week. Enjoy.   Today marks the end of my first week of being married to a monk. Married to a monk…that doesn’t even make sense. Monks don’t get married, and now we know why. To be more specific, I am married to a…

Mahavira, like so many who change the world, was just a humble man. Born around 599 B.C.E at Kshatriyakund in what is now northeastern India, the man who would reintroduce the world to the teachings of the jina (one who has conquered their karma and is now liberated) arrived as a prince named Vardhamana. One…
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