Dharma Shiksha - Class 16

Jai Jinendra everyone!

Welcome to yet another recap of the wonderful Dharma Shiksha classes we've been conducting with the little ones under the supreme guidance of our Gurujis.

In the last class, kids revised the "Samyaktva Sutra" - which is basically the first two lines of the Arihanto Mah Devo Path.

This time, we went a step further and familiarized them with the rest of the Path along with its meaning. We are summarizing it below for your reference:

🪷Arihanto Mah Devo Path (with meaning)🪷

✨Arihanto Mah Devo, Javajjivam Susahuno Guruno

Jin Panattam Tattam, Iya Samattam Maye Gahiyam

As we discussed in Class 15, the above lines are also referred to as the "Samyaktva Sutra." For meaning of these lines, please refer to the previous blog.

✨Panchendriya Samvarno

Panchendriya refers to our five senses - to hear, see, smell, taste and touch. Samvarno means to keep in control.

So in totality, this means those who manage to keep their five senses under control.

✨Tah Navvih Bambhcher Guttidharo

This means our Gurus strictly follow 9 (nav) principles Brahmacharya (celibacy).

Now our Jain sadhus and sadhvis lead very strict lives to keep their minds and hearts pure. One of their most important promises is called Brahmacharya, which means staying away from any kind of attraction or attachment to the opposite gender.

Here’s what it looks like in simple words:

1. No sitting together – Sadhus and sadhvis never sit at the same place like we do at a dining table. They always maintain distance.

2. No touching – A sadhu never touches a woman, and a sadhvi never touches a man.

3. No staring – They don’t look at members of the opposite gender for too long, even by mistake.

4. No places with noise or distraction – They don’t stay in places with loud music, gossip or chatter, because it can disturb their spiritual progress.

So like this, there are 9 principles of Brahmacharya that Jain sadhus / sadhvis are supposed to follow.

✨Chauvviha Kasaya Mukko

Chauvviha translates into four.

Kasaya refers to the four "kashayas" or four sins - anger (krodh), ego (maan), deception (maya) and greed (lobh).

Mukko means "free of."

So in totality, this means those who are trying their level best to be free of these 4 evil sins.

✨Iya Attharas Gunehin Sanjutto

This means that those who are following the above mentioned 18 "gunas" or 18 "virtues" - namely, control over 5 senses, 9 principles of Brahmacharya and freedom from 4 sins - those are our REAL Gurus.

✨Panch Mahavvaya Jutto

This means those who follow the 5 "Mahavrats" religiously.

In case you are wondering what the 5 "Mahavrats" are, we're enlisting them below:

1. Ahimsa Mahāvrata (Great Vow of Non-violence)

• Never harm any living being — not even the smallest insect.

• Be gentle in thoughts, words, and actions.

2. Satya Mahāvrata (Great Vow of Truthfulness)

• Always speak the truth.

• Words should not hurt or mislead anyone.

• Silence is better than a harmful truth.

3. Asteya / Achaurya Mahāvrata (Great Vow of Non-stealing)

• Never take anything that is not willingly given.

• Avoid dishonesty in every form.

• Even desiring what belongs to others should be avoided.

4. Brahmacharya Mahāvrata (Great Vow of Celibacy)

• Sadhus and sadhvis avoid physical contact, closeness or even long glances at the opposite gender.

• This keeps their mind pure and focused on the soul.

5. Aparigraha Mahāvrata (Great Vow of Non-possession)

• Giving up of all property, wealth and comforts.

• They also give up attachment to people, places and even their own body.

  
  

✨Panch Vihayaar Palan Samatto

This means those who follow the 5 "Aachaars" or the 5 "codes of conduct."

They are:

• Gyan Aachaar - To learn and understand the truth correctly as narrated by our Tirthankars and Kevalis.

• Darshan Aachaar - Having the right faith in Jain principles of truth, non-violence, soul, karma and moksha.

• Charitra Aachaar - Living life with discipline keeping in mind the 5 "Mahavrats."

• Tap Aachaar - Practicing self-control through fasting, meditation, swadhyay etc.

• Veerya Aachaar - Always putting in effort, courage and energy in spiritual practices.

  
  

✨Panch Samiyo Tiggutto

Panch Samiyo refers to "panch samiti." It means walking, speaking, eating and doing things with utmost care and awareness so as to cause minimal harm to all living beings.

👉 In short: Be mindful in every action.

And Tiggutto refers to "teen gupti" which means controlling our mind, speech and body.

• Mind (mann): Don’t think bad thoughts.

• Speech (vachan): Don’t say hurtful or false words.

• Body (kaya): Don’t do harmful actions.

👉 In short: Think good, speak good, do good.

Easy way to remember:

• Panch Samiti = Careful actions 

• Teen Gupti = Self-control

  
  

✨Chhattis Guno Guru Majjh

This means only those who follow the above mentioned 36 "gunas" - control over 5 senses, 9 principles of Brahmacharya, freedom from 4 sins, following 5 "Mahavrats", following 5 "Aachaars", following 5 Samiti and 3 Gupti - are our REAL Gurus!

So here we conclude the meaning of the entire "Arihanto Mah Devo" Path. Now we do realize that this is a lot to follow and learn, but please remember - Practice makes a man (and kid!) perfect 😀

So tell the kids to practice practice practice - and they'll be reciting the Path with its meaning like parrots before you even realize it!

And we can guarantee one thing- their Dadas & Dadis are going to be SUPER proud of them🥲

STORY TIME

The Story of Sulsa’s Strong Faith

Once upon a time, Bhagwan Mahavir Swami came to a city called Champa Nagri. A huge crowd gathered to hear his sermon. In the crowd was a shravak named Ambad Parivrajak.

After the sermon, Ambad went to Bhagwan and said, “I’m going to Rajgrihi city. Do you want me to give anyone there a message?”

Bhagwan smiled and said, “Rajgrihi has many of my devotees, but the most sincere one is a woman named Sulsa. She is a rare soul...”

➡Ambad’s Test

Ambad became curious. He thought, “Let me test Sulsa’s faith.”

So, he went to Sulsa’s home dressed like a sadhu. He said, “O Sulsa, if you give me food, you’ll go definitely to Moksha.”

Sulsa smiled politely and said, “I’ll surely give you food, but I know Moksha can't be attained just by offering food. Moksha comes from right faith, right knowledge and right conduct.”

Ambad gets upset on hearing this and leaves.

➡Disguises of the Gods

Ambad was very clever and had some rare powers from his past tapasya. He could change his human form!

• First, he took the form of Lord Brahma, complete with four arms sitting on a lotus. People worshipped him and told Sulsa, “Come, bow down to the great Brahma!” But Sulsa said, “That’s not a true saint. A real sadhu doesn’t do magic tricks.”

• Next Ambad became Vishnu, then Shiva, but each time Sulsa said, “They are not my GOD. I only bow down to the true Tirthankar.”

Ambad grew frustrated.

➡The Fake Tirthankar

Finally, Ambad created a fake Samavasaran (divine assembly) and took the form of a Tirthankar. Everyone believed him and ran to Sulsa: “This time it’s YOUR god! Come quickly!”

But Sulsa calmly said, “There can only be one Tirthankar at a time, and right now that is Bhagwan Mahavir Swami. If he had really come here, my heart would know. This one is fake.”

➡The Truth Revealed

At last, Ambad gave up. He came back to his real form and went to Sulsa’s house. Sulsa welcomed him and offered him food.

While eating, Ambad asked, “Sulsa, why didn’t you come to bow to Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva or even the Tirthankar who recently visited Rajgrihi?”

Sulsa smiled and said, “Because I knew they were all tricks. Real GOD does not need to show magic. My faith is only in Bhagwan Mahavir Swami.”

Hearing this, Ambad was amazed. He stood up, bowed down to Sulsa, and said, “You are truly great. I only wanted to test your faith, and you passed every test.”

Moral of the Story

👉 Sulsa showed us that true faith means never being fooled by tricks or appearances. Real GOD and real sadhus don’t need magic — they shine through truth and Dharma.

So we should only have faith in GOD - not "gods" as we discussed in our last class!

🙏BOLIYE MAHASATI SULSA JI KI JAI🙏

Names of Next 6 Tirthankars:

Our kids have hopefully already learned the names of the first 6 Tirthankars, so in this class, we introduced them to the names of the next 6 Tirthankars. Please make sure they revise all 12 names 🙏