Day 1 - Reflections from Pujya Saman Shrutpragyaji’s Discourse
Reflections from Pujya Saman Shrutpragyaji’s Discourse – Day 1
Jain Society of Greater Atlanta (JSGA), Atlanta
Today, I had the pleasure and honor of attending the first session of Pujya Saman Shrutpragyaji’s three-day discourse at the Jain Society of Greater Atlanta (JSGA).
Swamiji began by sharing that over the next three days, he would explain the Seven Universal Laws. Today’s session focused on the first two laws, laying the foundation for understanding how our thoughts, emotions, actions, and attachments shape our lives.
P.S. These are my personal notes and reflections from today’s session
The Four Influencing Factors
Before introducing the universal laws, Swamiji spoke about four entities that constantly influence every individual.
- द्रव्य — Substance
- क्षेत्र — Place
- काल — Time
- भाव — Thoughts, intentions and feelings
Each of these can have either a positive or a negative influence on us depending on the circumstances.
Universal Law #1 – Law of Attraction
The first law revolved around one central idea:
Our thoughts shape our reality.
Some of the punch lines that stayed with me throughout this part of the discourse were:
- What you think is what you become.
- What you repeatedly think is what you become.
- What you imagine, you create.
- What you visualize, you manifest.
- Nothing is coincidental in this universe.
- Everything is the Divine plan.
Swamiji encouraged everyone to be very clear about what they ask from the universe.
- “आप ब्रह्मांड से माँगिए, और वह छप्पन फाड़ के देगा।”
- Be specific when you ask.
- Order the universe very clearly.
“Knock, and the door will be opened to you.” - Bible
“आप जिसको दिल से पसंद करते हो, वह आपको मिलता है।”
- If you think you can’t, you are absolutely right.
- If you think you can, you are absolutely right.
- Success is 80% conviction and 20% hard work.
- “Hard work उसी का success होता है, जो अच्छा सोचता है।”
Think positively, and positive outcomes follow.
Think negatively, and negative outcomes follow.
The choice is ours.
The importance of being conscious of our thoughts was emphasized repeatedly.
Universal Law #2 – Law of Detachment
The second universal law focused on detachment.
Punch lines:
- “कोई भी चीज़ हमारे जीवन में आई है, वह जाने के लिए ही आई है।”
- Nothing is permanent.
- Everything that comes into our life will eventually leave.
- “जो जगह खाली होती है, वह भरती ही है।”
Using biology as an example, Swamiji explained that when one cell dies, new cells are created. Life constantly renews itself.
The takeaway was simple:
- Build relationships, achieve what you want, enjoy life.
- BUT don’t become emotionally dependent on anyone.
- Don’t make anyone dependent on you either.
- Everyone in this universe is ultimately independent.
To explain the true meaning of detachment, Swamiji drew several lessons from the life of Shri Krishna, who, according to Jain tradition, will become a Tirthankar in a future चौबीसी. Rather than discussing detachment as an abstract concept, he illustrated it through different aspects of Krishna’s life—love, relationships, power, and the results of one’s actions.
1. Detachment in Love – Shri Krishna
- Shri Krishna’s love for Radha was divine, not driven by lust.
- “प्रेम रखो, पर एक-दूसरे पर dependent मत रहो।”
- “ज़्यादा साथ रहते हो, उतना boring होता है।”
Love should enrich life, but not become dependence.
Detachment from Loved Ones –
Story of Dev Sharma
Swamiji narrated an incident involving Mahavir Swami, Gautam Swami and Dev Sharma.
Mahavir Swami instructed Gautam Swami to meet Dev Sharma personally. During their conversation, Gautam Swami realized that Dev Sharma was deeply attached to his wife and that she occupied his thoughts constantly.
After the meeting, Dev Sharma unfortunately passed away in an accident.
Curious about his next birth, Gautam Swami asked Mahavir Swami, who, through his Keval Gyan replied that Dev Sharma had been reborn as a जू (hair louse) on his wife’s head.
The story illustrated how attachment binds the soul.
Story of Bharat Maharaja and the Deer
While meditating in the forest, Bharat Maharaja witnessed a pregnant deer attempting to jump across a water stream. During the jump, the deer gave birth, the newborn fell into the water, and the mother died.
Filled with compassion, Bharat Maharaja rescued the young deer and raised it with great care.
Over the next eleven years, however, thoughts about the deer’s well-being repeatedly entered his mind—even during meditation.
According to the story, because of this attachment, Bharat Maharaja was born as a deer in his next birth.
Compassion is beautiful. Attachment is what binds karma.
Detachment from Power
Another interesting perspective came through the example of Shri Krishna.
When offered the golden city of Dwarka at the age of sixteen, he chose knowledge over power and comfort.
Some memorable lines:
- “दूसरे के हाथ की दी हुई सोने की चिड़िया नहीं चुननी, ज्ञान को चुनना।”
- “सत्ता को छोड़ना सीखो।”
- “Power को पचाने की ताकत नहीं है, तो power खतरनाक है।”
- “With great power comes great responsibility.”
Power itself is not wrong.
The greed for power is.
And if one is blessed with power, it should be exercised selflessly, fairly and without ego.
Detachment from Results
The final aspect of detachment revolved around outcomes.
Swamiji quoted one of the most well-known verses from the Bhagavad Gita:
“कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।”
The emphasis was on giving our very best in action without becoming attached to the results.
- There should be full quality in every action.
- “जैसी मति, वैसी गति।”
- The way we think shapes our next birth.
- Always cultivate good भाव.
- Mind over matter.
Looking Ahead
The next two universal laws to be discussed are:
- Universal Law #3 – Law of Vibration
- Universal Law #4 – Law of Karma
I’m looking forward to continuing this journey over the next two days.
Personal Reflection
Reflecting on today’s session, I genuinely feel that I was at the right place at the right time.
Interestingly, it almost feels like a real-life example of the very first universal law that Swamiji spoke about—the Law of Attraction.
When wanting it the most, on a Friday evening after work, I found myself driving nearly 35 miles—almost an hour—to JSGA to attend this session.
Looking back, it doesn’t feel coincidental.
I’m grateful that I made the drive, grateful for the opportunity to listen, and grateful for the reflections I brought back with me.
Whether one calls it the Divine plan, destiny, or simply the way the universe works, today’s session reminded me that perhaps we often receive exactly what we sincerely seek.
And maybe that’s the biggest takeaway I carried home today.
“What we seek, is what we get.”
~ Dhairya Kamdar
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