By Aarthy Shah
YOUNG GENERATION
My Exploration with the Truth
Aarthy is a Biomedical Engineer currently located in Boston, MA. Originally from the small town of Parkersburg, WV, she has always found joy in hiking, music, yoga, and spending time with friends and family. The endless rollercoaster of life encouraged her to dive a bit deeper in the depths of Jainism this year in the sanidhya of Rashtrasant Param Gurudev Shree Namaramuni Maharaj Saheb. Her unique experience in Paramdham Sadhana Sankul has completely transformed her outlook on life. Attending Updhaan was the beginning of the journey towards my soul (Aatma Yatra). I have never met Param Gurudev before, listened to any of his discourses, nor have I been exposed to such highlevel Gujarati words and phrases. I was born and brought up in the United States in a Jain family. Beyond the quick prayers and bowing to the Omniscient beings (Manglik) before leaving the house, observing Paryushan (8-10 holy days of the year set aside for spiritual practices), and refraining from eating anything non-veg, I never knew much about Jainism or how to identify myself as a “Jain” beyond the food limitations. I stuck with what I knew best – the American lifestyle, friends, music, culture, and values. Bhaav Updhaan Tapp Aradhana is the chance to develop our tolerance power over the period of 11 days. It provides the opportunity to reconnect with our souls and its qualities to gain confidence in ourselves that we can also perform penance and practice spiritual techniques/activities like the supreme beings who have achieved omniscience. By observing guidelines like the ones listed below, we are letting go of the comforts we are used to in the worldly lifestyle (sansaar). 1) Sleeping without a mattress on the floor 2) Having tasteless food 3) Disconnecting from cellphones, laptops, and other electronic gadgets 4) Rotating through 3 pairs of fully white clothing for 11 days 5) Not showering or looking in the mirror for 11 days 6) Observing complete silence and avoiding any sort of communication that distracts from the awareness of our souls, and 7) Observing the 5 vows of a Jain ascetic (nonviolence (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), nonstealing (asteya), celibacy (brahmacharya), and non-possession (aparigraha)) It is a chance to push the limits of your self-control and to discipline the mind (the lifestyle of practicing
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restraint is known as Saiyam). If followed and practiced properly, it is a doorway to experiencing the untapped potential energy our souls contain.
From the very first day of Updhaan, I knew I was in for something beyond my imagination. The inexplicable overwhelming emotions I felt when receiving the most revered religious symbol (upkaran) of Jainism, the rajoharan1, rattled me to the core.
Not knowing Param Gurudev, not understanding the meaning of receiving a rajoharan, not understanding what Bhaav Updhaan Tapp is or what I’m doing there, I still felt this strange flood of emotion and cried so much that I was shocked to see that my body contained so many tears. Little did I know that emotion was just the beginning. It was the catalyst in my search for the truth and answers to questions like, “Who am I?” “What is the meaning of this life?”
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