Celebrations: Easter, Passover, Mahavir Jayanthi, Hanuman Jayanthi

CELEBRATIONS | EASTER | PASSOVER | MAHAVIR | HANUMAN

When we live as neighbors, we might as well learn about each other. The best way to build cohesive societies is for its members to understand each other’s sorrows and joys, and festivities and commemorations. Wouldn’t it be nice if you know a little bit about your neighbor’s festival and perhaps invite them to your celebrations to start safe neighborhoods by understanding each other? Every human and every religious group celebrates something or the other in their way, each one is different, but the essence is same; celebrations and commemorations. A simple language is used for most people to get a gist of it. Details are in the links.
ENJOY THE SONGS OF SEVERAL FAITHS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=2vAwvoqz01I
MAHAVIR JAYANTHI - BIRTH CELEBRATIONS
He is the founder of Jainism - The birthday of the last Tirthankara or great teacher and model of the Jainas. His birth and the events surrounding it are re-enacted. Monks or nuns read from the scriptures and teach about the rest of Mahavira’s life. Lay people then return home to a celebratory feast. http://centerforpluralism.com/mahavir-jayanthi-birthday-celebrations-of-mahavira/

PASSOVER/ PESACH – JEWISH
This major Jewish festival lasts eight days and commemorates the liberation of the Children of Israel and their Exodus from slavery in Egypt. The highlight is the Seder meal, held in each family’s home at the beginning of the festival, when the story of their deliverance is recounted, as narrated in the Haggadah (the Telling, or the Story). Matzah, (unleavened bread) is eaten throughout the festival, as are other foods that contain no leaven (yeast). There is a significant spring cleaning in the home shortly before the festival to ensure that no trace of leaven is left in the house during Pesach. Coconut pyramids and matza balls (which are put in soups) are foods that might be eaten at this time. http://centerforpluralism.com/a-passover-seder-haggadah-supplement/
GIFT OF EASTER
While 2,000 plus Easters have come and gone, has he risen yet? Risen within us that is? I hope and pray that each of us will let Christ rise and shine through us, so we can allow him to use us to bring about a change that we are all yearning; a world where all of God’s children are respected and honored.

http://centerforpluralism.com/the-gift-of-easter-to-humanity/

HANUMAN JAYANTI
Hanuman is an iconic representation of courage, loyalty, and devotion expressed in the form of an animal; Monkey. He is called by many names including Anjaneya, Maruti, Pavanputra, Kesari Nandan, Arbiter, Anjaniputra, Bajrang Bali and Hanuman.

http://centerforpluralism.com/happy-hanuman-jayanthi-a-hindu-festival/

Mike Ghouse Center for Pluralism.

Wisdom of Lord Mahavir – Live and Let Live

Publisher’s note:  Lord Mahavir is to Jainism, what Buddha is to Buddhism or Jesus is to Christianity.  As a part of our educational programs, at the Center for Pluralism we bring the wisdom of spiritual masters on their resepctive birth celebrations. Sunday, April 9, 2017 is Lord Mahavi’s birthday.

These great men and women are the founders of great religions or statesmen, whose wisdom and teachings contribute towards creating a better world for humanity in general.  Additionally we are pleased to acknowledge that a part of the definition of pluralism is borrowed from the Jain philosophy of Anekanatavada.  Pluralism simply is respecting the otherness of others.
Mike Ghouse

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By Anup Pahade

Lord Mahavir was the twenty fourth and last Tirthankara (spiritual guide or a Messenger) of the Jain religion of this era. According to Jain philosophy, all Tirthankaras were human beings but they have attained a state of perfection or enlightenment through meditation and self-realization. They are the Gods of Jains.

Mahavir was born on the thirteenth day of rising moon of Chaitra month, 599 B.C. in the state of Bihar, India. This day falls in the month of April as per English calendar. His birthday is celebrated as Mahavir Jayanti day.

Mahavir was a prince and was given the name Vardhaman by his parents. Being son of a king, he had many worldly pleasures, comforts, and services at his command. But at the age of thirty, he left his family and royal household, gave up his worldly possessions, and become a monk in search of a solution to eliminate pain, sorrow, and sufferings and find permanent happiness.

Mahavir spent the next twelve and half years in deep silence and meditation to conquer his desires, feelings, and attachments. He carefully avoided harming or annoying other living beings including animals, birds, and plants. He also went without food for long periods. He was calm and peaceful against all unbearable hardships that he was given the name Mahavir, meaning very brave and courageous. During this period, his spiritual powers fully developed and at the end he realized perfect perception, knowledge, power, and bliss. This realization is known as keval jnana or the perfect enlightenment.

Lord Mahavir travelled around India for thirty years preaching to the people the eternal truth he realized. The ultimate objective of his teaching is how one can attain total freedom from the cycle of birth, life, pain, misery, and death, and achieve the permanent blissful state of one’s self. This is also known as liberation, nirvana, absolute freedom, or Moksha.

Teachings of Lord Mahavir

Lord Mahavir explained the interdependent nature of life on earth and the need to live in peace and harmony. Ahimsa or Non-violence and peaceful coexistence was among the key principles in his teachings. These teachings couldn’t be more important today with the rise of violence and terrorism around the world. Live and Let Live was the guiding principle of Jainism under Mahavir and it is a principle that is greatly needed in the world today.

As the population of the world continues to increase, we will continue to see tremendous strain on the limited natural resources we have on earth. There is enough for everyone’s need but not enough for everyone’s greed. One of the important teachings of Mahavir was Aparagraha or non possession. By limiting our possessions and consumptions we can reduce the exploitation and destruction of natural resources. Contentment is greatly needed in today’s materialistic world. Jainism teaches that true happiness lies within self and having more materialistic possessions is not the key to happiness.

The principle of Anekantvada or non-absolutism is one of the great contributions of Jainism under Mahavir. This theory of pluralism guides us to view and respect viewpoints of others and become a more tolerant society. The multiplicity of viewpoints and freedom of expression are important values that need to be embraced, preserved and protected around the world.

Jainism greatly influenced Mahatma Gandhi, and he adopted the Jain principles of asceticism, compassion for all forms of life, the importance of vows for self-discipline, vegetarianism, fasting for self-purification, and mutual tolerance among people of different creeds.  Mahatma Gandhi said:

No religion in the World has explained the principle of Ahimsa so deeply and systematically as is discussed with its applicability in every human life in Jainism. As and when the benevolent principle of Ahimsa or non-violence will be ascribed for practice by the people of the world to achieve their end of life in this world and beyond. Jainism is sure to have the uppermost status and Mahāvīra is sure to be respected as the greatest authority on Ahimsa.

— Mahatma Gandhi

The message of Mahavir was the message of peace and non violence. It was a message of tolerance, peaceful coexistence and finding true happiness. If we all embrace and live by his teachings, we could make this world a better place to live for us and generations to come.

References:
http://www.jaina.org/?page=Mahavirhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jainism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anekantavada

Anup Pahade is located in Dallas, Texas and serves on the Board of Directors at Jain Society of North Texas.
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Celebrations of Easter, Mahavir Jayanti and Hanuman Jayanti

ELEBRATIONS | Easter, Mahavir Jayanthi, Hanuman Jayanti

Every human and every religious group celebrates some thing or the other in their own way, each one is different, but the essence is same; celebrations. Details in the links.

GOOD FRIDAY|  HAPPY EASTER | MUSLIM OBSERVANCE
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2013/03/what-made-me-go-to-catholic-church.html

MAHAVIR JAYANTHI - BIRTH CELEBRATIONS OF  MAHAVIR, FOUNDER OF JAINISM
http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/2012/04/mahavir-jayanthi-birthday-celebrations.html

HANUMAN JAYANTI - CELEBRATION OF LORD HANUMAN, HINDU ICON
http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2012/04/happy-hanuman-jayanthi-hindu-festival.html

Thank you

Mike Ghouse, President
America Together Foundation
(214) 325-1916 text/talk
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Mike Ghouse is a public speaker, thinker, writer and a commentator on Pluralism,Islam, India, Israel-Palestine, Politics and other issues of the day. He is a human rights activist, and his book standing up for others will be out soon | He is producing a full feature film " Sacred" to be released on 9/11 and a documentary "Americans together" for a July 4 release.  He is a frequent guest commentator on Fox News and syndicated Talk Radio shows and a writer at major news papers including Dallas Morning News and Huffington Post. All about him is listed in 63 links atwww.MikeGhouse.net and his writings are at www.TheGhousediary.com - Mike is committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. 

Mahavir Jayanthi - Birthday Celebrations of Mahavira

Mahavir Jayanti is the most important festival in Jainism, celebrating birth of Mahavira, the last Tirthankara ( Avatar) who established the religion of Jainism 2600 years ago.

Mahavira presented the concept of "anekantvad" meaning, respecting different points of view on a gien subject, indeed, the definition of Pluralism at the Foundation for pluralism is influenced by that concept. If we can learn to respect the otherness of others and accept the God given uniqueness of each one of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge.

Wiki, “ Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state of supreme being is called a jina ("conqueror" or "victor"). The ultimate status of these perfect souls is called siddha. Ancient texts also refer to Jainism as shramana dharma (self-reliant) or the "path of the niganthas" (those without attachments or aversions).”