02.02.2012 ►Amet ►Diksha @ HereNow4U

2012 Karuna's Mewar Tour

Diksha was announced for this morning’s Pravachan. By chance, some days before I had met Samani Mudit Pragya. One of the Samanis accompanying her had given the information on her forthcoming Sadhvi Diksha. When I congratulated her, she had a glow from deep inside in her eyes. Everyone could see how happy she was, and how much she was looking forward to one of the most important events in her spiritual life. It was really a great pleasure to witness her happiness, which saints are used to share with everyone approaching them.

A characteristic trait of the saints is their voluntariness to share their uplifting feelings with others. Not only this, but they also inspire people to be happy to be alive and to subdue sucking down feelings or emotions. This is the realisation of what often is called “to be in contact with the self”. In the beginning I did not know where to apply and how to live. But in the course of time with increasing practice of meditation I got more and more aware how important this attitude is in a time where much soul-destroying news are spread.

Lay followers are remembered to this when they are with the saints. Lay followers rather often are trying to be in the presence of saints. They also try to avoid sucking down feelings, mainly in contact with others. Instead of that they prefer to reflect uplifting feelings to others. This typical Jain attitude towards life is something very precious Jain people can give to the world, which actually needs such an attitude more than ever.

Sadhvi Mimansa Prabha, former Samani Mudit Pragya, in her speech was very calm and composed. No sign of nervousness or agitation in her voice and attitude. In the hierarchy of the order Sadhvi Diksha for a Samani is comparable to a promotion in a worldly profession. Nothing of all the well-known worldly attitudes in such a situation was visible here. The other aspirants were novices. They were realising for the first time their spiritual quest in day-to-day life. They had the chance to get Diksha together with someone who already had begun to live a spiritual life.

When I followed the Diksha ceremony, I remembered other Diksha ceremonies I had the chance to witness. This 2012 ceremony to me strongly was appealing to the inner dimensions of an aspirant having taken the decision to live a totally spiritual life: Turning the back to worldly affairs without ignoring them, but laying explicit stress on the inner, non-material reality under the aspect to serve mankind. No more focussing on the world, but on the spirit.