Yogkshem Varsh: A New Era of Spiritual Awakening

Today’s era is considered the age of science, technology, and material progress, but at the same time it has also become an age of stress, dissatisfaction, violence, war, and mental unrest. Humanity has conquered the outer world but has not been able to conquer the inner world. It has created means but forgotten meditation; it has gained comfort but lost peace. In such a time, if a spiritual movement shows a person the path to return within, it is not merely a religious program but the foundation of a spiritual revolution. In this context, the Yogkshem Varsh being observed under the guidance of Acharya Shri Mahashraman, in the great Jain tradition of penance, renunciation, spiritual practice, and non-violence, appears to be the foundation of a new chapter of spiritual revolution.

On the land of India, this is a unique year that has not been declared by the United Nations, nor inspired by any political organization, nor associated with the memory of any great personality. The purpose of celebrating Yogkshem Varsh is holistic personality development. My two-day visit to Ladnun and participation in the Yogkshem Varsh programs led me to conclude that Yogkshem Varsh is once again becoming a golden opportunity for the progress of the Jain Terapanth order. Its objective is the attainment of the unattained and the preservation of what has already been attained. This occasion will serve as a medium for changing vision and thinking. It will accelerate the practice of knowledge, philosophy, and character. It will provide deep understanding of many new and traditional subjects, bringing seriousness and depth to oratory and thought. It will also become a medium for presenting religion—especially Jainism—in a way suitable to the modern age.

Along with Yogkshem Varsh, development has three meanings—moving forward, pausing, and looking back. Moving forward means absorbing the latest spiritual philosophies of the world. Pausing means examining and rediscovering our heritage. Looking back means revitalizing our tradition and philosophy. Certainly, under the guidance of Acharya Mahashraman, a great ascetic, disciplined, visionary, and radiant spiritual leader, a new spiritual history is being created at Jain Vishva Bharati, where spirituality and modernity are beautifully integrated, and a new tradition of spiritual training is being developed. This is truly a unique and perhaps the first comprehensive experiment in Jain history in which, throughout Yogkshem Varsh, along with monks and nuns, the lay community is also being given deep and systematic training in Jain and Terapanth philosophy, spirituality, yoga, meditation, self-study, restraint, and life values.

The word Yogkshem has been used in Jain, Buddhist, and Vedic traditions, and it carries special significance. The Terapanth order has given it a new context, associating it with the awakening of wisdom and inner insight. The meaning of Yogkshem Varsh is very deep and comprehensive. Yoga does not mean merely physical exercise or postures, but self-discipline, meditation, spiritual practice, penance, self-study, discipline, and self-awakening. Kshema means self-welfare, mental peace, balance, security, and spiritual progress. Thus, the objective of Yogkshem Varsh is that yoga—meaning self-discipline and spiritual practice—should develop within a person, and kshema—meaning peace, contentment, and spiritual welfare—should be established in life. When an individual’s life becomes balanced and peaceful, society will become peaceful, and when society becomes peaceful, world peace will become possible.

During the time of Acharya Tulsi, special programs related to spiritual practice, yoga, and spiritual awakening were also organized under the Yogkshem concept. Seeing the success and meaningfulness of those experiments, the tradition has now been restarted in a new form through Yogkshem Varsh. This is a beautiful coordination of tradition and innovation, where ancient spiritual practices are being presented in a new form according to the needs of modern religious society. This is the sign of a living religion—that it continues to develop its form with time for the welfare of society. The world today is passing through a very worrying phase. In many parts of the world, war, terrorism, violence, intolerance, mental stress, depression, family disintegration, and environmental crises are increasing. Science and technology cannot provide complete solutions to these problems because these problems are not external but related to the human mind. Until there is peace within a human being, peace outside is not possible. Therefore, today the world needs meditation more than weapons, compassion more than competition, and spirituality more than materialism. Yogkshem Varsh is an important step in this direction, inspiring people to undertake the journey within.

Through Yogkshem Varsh, the message is being given that religion is not something merely to be heard, but something to be lived and adopted in life; religion is not something only to be believed, but something to be practiced. If a person adds a little restraint, a little meditation, a little self-study, a little renunciation, and a little love to life, life itself can change. This small change can later bring a big change in society. Therefore, Yogkshem Varsh is an important step toward transformation—from individual transformation to social transformation, and from social transformation to national and global transformation. The programs of Yogkshem Varsh were named “Pragyaparva” because awakening wisdom was their main objective. The Agamic aphorism “Panna Samikkhae” was kept as its symbol. The goal behind this unique experiment and training, as envisioned by Acharya Shri Mahashraman, is to develop the personality of the fourfold religious order, increase intellectual capacity, develop emotional maturity, teach the art of behavioral transformation, and teach practical living—in one sentence, to create a spiritually scientific personality.

Throughout Yogkshem Varsh, trainees are being given knowledge of many subjects along with practical training in yoga, meditation, kayotsarga, chanting, contemplation, and mantra practice. If humanity adopts non-violence, wars can end; if it adopts the philosophy of Anekant, disputes can end; if it adopts non-possession, economic and environmental crises can be reduced. Thus, Jain philosophy is not merely a religious philosophy but a philosophy of world peace, and Yogkshem Varsh is an effort to bring that philosophy into practice. Acharya Shri Mahashraman’s visionary thinking, discipline, spiritual life, and efforts to provide spiritual direction to society are truly unique. He has not confined religion to tradition alone but connected it with life and society. He has the remarkable ability to manage time—doing more work in less time with ease and calmness. His busyness never turns into restlessness because every activity emerges from inner stillness. His dynamism flows from inner stability and equanimity. He has not confined spiritual practice only to monks and nuns but has tried to bring it to the lay community as well. Yogkshem Varsh is the result of this far-sighted spiritual thinking, which may prove extremely important not only for Jainism but for society as a whole in the coming times.

In fact, Yogkshem Varsh can be seen as the beginning of a golden era in Jain history. This year is the year of spiritual practice, self-awakening, restraint, character building, and above all, a year of spiritual revolution. If the message of Yogkshem Varsh reaches the masses and people adopt yoga, meditation, restraint, non-violence, peace, and love in their lives, a new transformation can come in society. Then religion will not remain confined to temples but will be visible in every sphere of life. In essence, it can be said that Yogkshem Varsh is not just an event but an idea; not just a program but a movement; not just a year but the beginning of an era of transformation. It is truly the foundation of a new chapter of spiritual revolution, which is trying to lead humanity from the outer world to the inner journey. The meaningful success of the conscious efforts of Acharya Shri Mahashraman and Sadhvipramukha Vishrutvibha lies in the fact that under their guidance we move forward to great heights of progress and enter new dimensions of awakened consciousness. If this effort succeeds, the coming time will certainly be an era of spiritual awakening, non-violence, peace, and love—and that will be the greatest success and meaningfulness of Yogkshem Varsh.