PRERIT SHAH Mumukshush of North America (MONA) Young Jains of America (YJA) Convention Summer

Salutations To -  Arihantas  Siddhas  Acharyas  Upadhyays  Sadhus 2

Objectives  Understand & Define Stress.  Understand the importance of Jain fundamentals in understanding & managing Stress.  Provide the resources to learn more about Stress Management & other issues. 3

Key Questions 1. What is Stress? Who experiences Stress? 2. What are the Causes of Stress? 3. What are the Consequences of Stress? 4. How can you manage the Stress? 4

Stress Management Logic Define Stress What is Stress? Who experiences Stress? Consequences of Stress How does it affect me? Causes of Stress What causes stress? Who is responsible? Manage Stress How do I manage & mitigate Stress? 5

What is Stress?? High Blood Pressure?? Hyper Activity of Endocrine System?? Headache?? Fear?? Harassment?? Environmental or External force?? OR Something else?? According to American Institute of Stress, “Stress is not a useful term for scientists because it is such a highly subjective phenomenon that it defies definition. And if you can't define stress, how can you possibly measure it? “ (Ref:  Let’s understand Jainism in order to understand Stress. 6

Jainism & Stress Management  Jain Tattva (Physics) provides a very clear understanding about the phenomenon of stress.  In order to understand stress, we’ll first need to understand our self and physical principles of the universe around us.  Study of Jain Tattva (Physics) is extremely important to define stress, understand its causes and to find ways to manage stress.  Let’s explore few basic principles of Jainism in order to understand our self and the physical principles of the universe. 7

Nature of Universe What is Modification (Paryay)? Change of state of each attribute of the Substance is called Modification. 8

Six Substances 9

Dravya (Substance), Gun (Attribute) & Paryay (Modifications) 10

Dravya (Substance) Multiple Aspects – Every Substance exhibits eternal aspect (Dhruv – non-changing) and transitory aspect (Utpat-Vyaya – changing every Samay) Conservation of Substance – These 6 substances are in existence since the infinite time in the past and they will remain in existence till infinity in future. Substances can neither be Created nor Destroyed!! They will continuously change their modes while maintaining their fundamental attributes. Classification – From the Number Point of View, Substances are infinite. From Type Point of View, there are Six Substances. 11

Gun (Attribute)  An attribute is that which exists in each and every part of the substance in any shape or form (all modes/states).  There are 2 types of Attributes –  Samanya (Common) – Present in all 6 substances  Vishesh (Specific) – Present in one or more, not all  Each Substance consists of infinite Attributes. Here, we’ll study only few of them.  Each Attribute of every Substance is independent of other attributes.  All Attributes pervade in the Swa-Kshetra (entire region) of the Substance and exist simultaneously. 12

Vishesh Gun (Special Attributes) of Jiv Dravya 13

Vishesh Gun (Special Attributes) of Pudgal Dravya 14

Paryay (Modification)  Change of state of each Attribute of the Substance is called Modification.  Each Modification of each Attribute of every Substance is independent of each other.  Each Modification of each Attribute of all Substances occur in a specific sequential fashion (Krambaddha Paryay).  Each Modification of Each Attribute of all Substances pervades in the Swa-Kshetra (entire region) of the Substance.  Each Substance is considered the Doer of its own Modifications. No Substance can interfere with other Substances. 15

Types of Paryay  Swabhav Paryay (True nature or Natural behavior of Substance) – Paryay of Attributes which occurs without any instrumental cause.  Example – (1) Sweetness of Sugar.  Vibhav Paryay (Impure behavior of Substance) – Paryay of Attributes which takes place in the Presence of Instrumental cause.  Example – (1) Modified taste of sugar when sugar is heated.  Even when a Substance expresses Vibhav Paryay, its ability (swabhav) to express Swabhav Paryay does not get destroyed and it remains within the Substance. 16

Paryay in Pudgal Dravya AttributeParyay Varn (Color) White, Red, Black, Yellow, Blue Ras (Taste) Sweet, Sour, Bitter, Astringent, Pungent Gandh (Smell) Fragrance & Bad Odor Sparsh (Touch) Light-Heavy, Hard-Soft, Cold-Warm, Viscous-NonViscous 17

Classification of Paryay in Jiv AttributeSwabhav ParyayVibhav Paryay Gnan (Knowledge)Keval Gnan (Infinite Knowledge) Mati-Shrut-Avadhi- Mann Paryay Gnan Darshan (Perception) Keval Darshan (Infinite Perception) Chakshu-Achakshu- Avadhi Darshan Shraddha (Belief) Samyag Darshan (Right Beliefs) Mithya Darshan (Wrong Beliefs) Charitra (Conduct)Veetaragata (Equanimity) Kashaya (Passions) Veerya (Energy) Anant Veerya (Infinite Energy) Limited Energy Sukh (Happiness) Anant Sukh (Infinite Bliss) Sansari Sukh-Dukh (Worldly Happiness & Unhappiness) 18

State of Extreme Stress Mithya Gnan (Wrong & Limited Knowledge) Sampurna Dukh (Extreme Unhappiness) Kashayas (Extreme Passions) Mithya Darshan (Shraddha) (Wrong Beliefs) Simultaneously Mithya Drashti Sansari Jiv (Worldly Soul with Wrong Beliefs) 19

Conclusions - What is Stress? Who Experiences Stress? Who Does Stress?  Stress is a Vibhav Paryay of Jiv.  Since, Stress occurs in the Jiv Dravya, Jiv Dravya experinces the Stress.  Since, Stress occurs in the Jiv Dravya, Jiv is the Independet Doer of the Stress. No other Substance causes Stress in Jiv. 20

Key Message  Don’t blame others for Stress. Jiv himself is the independent Doer & Knower of the Stress. All causes of Stress lies within Jiv himself. Accept your own responsibility for your Stress. Circumstances do not bring Stress. 21

Summary & Conclusions  Stress is Self Inflicted.  Circumstances & other people don’t cause Stress. Our own Wrong Beliefs (Mithya Darshan) & Passions (Kashayas) are the root causes of our Stress.  Study of Jain Tattva (fundamentals) is extremely important to define stress, understand its causes and to find ways to manage stress. 22

References Entire “Stress Management Workshop” and free weekly teleconference classes on “Jain Fundamentals” for Young Jain Professionals (YJP) are available from Mumukshus of North America (MONA). Refer MONA YJP section on the website: Jain Scriptures by KundaKund Acharya  Punchatikay Sangrah  Pravachansar  Samaysar Jain Tattva Parichaya by Dr.Ujwala D. Shah. 23