· Samvatsari is a great festival of world friendship, forgiveness is the greatest religion– Acharya Lokeshji
· Forgiveness can resolve many conflict in current global context – Acharya Lokesh
Dubai/New Delhi: Founder of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti and World Peace Centre Jain Acharya Lokesh addressed the most important Jain Samvatsari Mahaparva attended by thousands of devotees, especially the youth at Dubai Jain Center. The lecture series of Acharyashri Lokesh highlighted the teachings of Bhagwan Mahavira and importance of Samvatsari Mahaparva which were of great benefit for devotees present on the occasion.
World peace ambassador Acharya Lokeshji, while addressing the devotees on the topic ‘Samvatsari Mahaparva’ and ‘Bhagwan Mahavir’s life & philosophy’, said that Samvatsari Mahaparva has a very special significance in Jainism. The essence of this great festival is to do penance for all the mistakes committed knowingly or unknowingly throughout the year and to ask for forgiveness with simplicity, honesty purity for the impolite behavior towards others and to forgive others. Bhagwan Mahavira said that ‘Forgiveness is the ornament of the brave’, only great people can take and give forgiveness. He said that in the current global context, when different communities have adopted the path of violence due to mutual differences, it is possible to resolve mutual differences through forgiveness.
World peace ambassador Acharya Lokeshji, in his discourse said that Samvatsari festival is a great festival for connecting human beings and reforming the human heart, which is celebrated with sacrifice, renunciation, fasting, Paushadh Samayik, self-study and self-restraint. Even those who are not able to find time to fast during the year are awakened on this day. Those who never fast are seen performing religious rituals on this day.
Acharya Lokesh said that gold becomes pure by being heated and man becomes God by being sacrifices and striving hard. This festival takes us from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge. Through penance, chanting, meditation, self-study, the internal enemies like anger, pride, illusion, greed, attachment, hatred etc. will be destroyed, only then the true and pure soul remains, hence it inspires the soul to reside in the soul.
Acharyashree in his lecture said that Samvatsari festival is an experiment of review, reflect and confess. It is an honest effort to look back at oneself. This festival is a festival of immersing ego and possessiveness. This festival is a festival of worshiping the non-violence. Presently the whole world needs non-violence and friendship. This festival is a festival of non-violence and friendship. Peace can be achieved only through non-violence and friendship.
All the programs of Paryushan festival, were successfully organised with the enthusiasm and arrangements of the entire Dubai Jain Sangh. The efforts by Shri Vipul Bhai Kothari, Shekhar Bhai Patni, Chandu Bhai, Rajesh Bhai Sirohiya, Karan Bhai, are appreciable and unprecedented. Yogacharya Shri Kundan Ji conducted meditation and yoga sessions.