Notes - Week 1

WEEK 1 NOTES

DHARMA

·   ·         You feel there has to be something more than the never-ending cycle of birth and death; childhood, education, career, marriage, children; eat, work, sleep. 
·         We looked at the nature of atma (soul) and realized that its true nature is just to be in eternal bliss, freed and detached from the above never-ending cycle. 
·         The dharma of atma means the way for the atma to get to that stage of eternal bliss. 
·         It is this Dharma that we have come to seek.

AIM OF JAINISM

·         Aim of Jainism is to liberate the soul from the never-ending cycle.

·         The only way to get liberation is by following the right FAITH, the right KNOWLEDGE and the right CONDUCT.

·         An ideal religion is practical, logical, not superstitious or mythical, not dogmatic, and rituals have a reason behind them.

CONCEPT OF GOD AND UNIVERSE IN JAINISM

·         In Jainism, the Universe was not created by any event or any person or any God.  It has always existed and will forever exist.

·         There is no God in Jainism who created the universe, or maintains or controls it.

·         There is no God to obey or fear or ask favours.

·         JINAS or TIRTHANKARS are worshipped not as a person God, but for their virtues (guun).  We pray that we too can practice those virtues.

·         In short, it is all up to you!

·         Jainism is all about self-effort to detach the soul from the never-ending cycle.

4 INNER ENEMIES (KASHAY)

·         The first step in Jain Dharma is to recognize our 4 inner enemies.

·         Anger (Krodh), Ego (Maan), Deceit (Maya), Greed (Lobh)

·         Anger is a result of things not happening to our expectations.

Answer lies in Detachment and Forgiveness.

·         Ego is subtle as much as blatant, manifests itself through knowledge, family, worship, austerity, and not just the obvious like power.  Recognise both, especially the subtle form of Egoism.

Antidote of Ego is Humility.

·         Deceit arises from the pressures, temptations and compromises of life.

In Truthfulness there is peace and strength.  Live a transparent life with no discrepancy in thought, speech and action.

·         Greed arises from dissatisfaction from your current state. 

Contentment is the answer.

·         Learn to be aware of these 4 inner enemies.  It is only by consciously realizing how they are affecting us in everything we do, can we make an effort to avoid them.  Awareness is the big key starting point.  These 4 inner enemies will be mentioned throughout the course so increasing your awareness of them will be crucial in appreciating the path to liberation.

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