For Svetambar Jains, Paryushan starts tomorrow, Sept 3, and it ends on Sept 10.
Das Lakshan for Digambar Jains, starts on Sept 10 and ends on Sept 19.
Many are deciding what to give up and where to focus their attention during this time for internal contemplation
Many are looking to see how to tweak their menu/ eating habits to satisfy the biggest asks of Jainism: Practicing Ahimsa [ Hurt none] and Anekantvad [Everything is possible].
To that end, we practice :
5 major vows of
Ahimsa [Hurt none]
The next four prevent hurting of living creatures and support the vow of Ahimsa.
Satya [ Be honest with yourself an others],
Asteya [ Take only what is given],
Aparigraha [Take only what you need] and
Brahmacharya [ chastity]
And the 2 minor vows of :
Guna Vratas and
Shiksha Vratas.
More about these minor Vratas later
Using the philosophy of Anekantvad, one can understand how we are causing Himsa [Hurt] and not following our above mentioned vows.
So how does this relate to Paryushan?
We have been given the next 8 days as an opportunity to contemplate on the many ways we may have failed in our vows of being a Jain Shravak or householder and making a SMART action plan for next 1 year to avoid repeating these mistakes to live a life more aligned with our Shravak vows [see image below].
The premise here is that one can change only what one knows is not working or broken. In the rat race, we call living a good life, does one have time to examine their actions under a microscope to recognize Himsa as occurring?
I am going to be honest, not for me. Technology has made me it’s slave and is stealing time from me under the pretext of saving me time. Or I have not harnessed it’s power, letting it rule me versus the other way around as with most things in life.
I follow both the Paryushan and Das Lakshan. Paryushan sturctures the day as I should be living every day of my life and Das Lakshan gives me food for contemplation.
,I spent today, trying to figure my meal plan for the next 2 weeks so I can spend all my time in reflection and SMART goal planning.
My list of items to choose from:
- Idli sambhar [ use dough that is not fermented and add fruit salt to make idlis soft]
- Dosa Sambhar Idli sambhar [ use dough that is not fermented and add fruit salt to make idlis soft]
- Roti/ Paratha: Ajwain, Rice paratha, Bajra roti,
- Sabji: Paneer, Sev tomato, Ganthia tomato, Ripe banana, Bharela ripe banana, Methi Papad, Gatta sabji, Guava sabji, Apple sabji
- Kathol: Chick pea, Rajma, Moong, Moth
- Dal, Kadhl, tomato soup
- Rice: Plain rice, Kadhi, Pulav: chickpea, Paneer {Avoid Paneer if going dairy free, recommended]
- Dal Dhokli/ Pasta in dal
- Pudla: Besan, Moong dal
- Dhokla: Moong, Rava, Khaman
- Muthia
- Bean burrito
Let’s start the week with
Day 1: Idli sambhar/ Sambhar rice
Day 2: Besan Pudla/ Rajma and rice
Day 3: Ajwain paratha with Chickpea/ Chickpea pulav
Day 4: Whole Moong with roti and ripe banana sabji/ Moong and rice
Day 5: Dhokla/ Muthia day
Day 6: Rice and moth bean/ Sev sabji, Moth bean, Rice paratha
Day 7: Dal Dhokli
Day 8: Moong dal pudla/ Kadhi and pulav
Day 9: Khichdi and tomato soup
Day 10: Gatta sabji n paratha/ Kadhi and Rice
Day 11: Dosa n sambhar/ Rice and sambhar
Day 12: Bharela ripe banana, Paratha/ Dal and rice
day 13: Bajri roti n methi papad/ khichdi n tomato soup
Day 14: Bean burrito [ Avoid cheese if going dairy free]
Day 15: Guava sabji n roti/ rice and moth
Day 16: LAST DAY: Ganthia sabji and Ajwain paratha
This is my meal plan for the next 2 weeks.
In closing, for the new beginning tomorrow…..
Life, a daily exploration 