JES 104 Jain Moral Skits Level 1 Book

The book "$JES 104 Jain Moral Skits Level 1 Book," compiled by the JAINA Education Committee, is designed for young Jain children to learn fundamental Jain moral principles through engaging skits. The third revised edition, published in January 2004, aims to make Jain educational material widely available in English for Jain youth and laypeople, particularly in English-speaking countries.

The book is structured to be accessible and educational, covering various moral and ethical topics derived from Jain philosophy. It emphasizes core Jain tenets such as non-violence (Ahimsa), non-absolutistic viewpoint (Anekantavad), and non-possessiveness/non-attachment (Aparigraha). The preface highlights that these principles foster proper conduct, right thinking, interdependence, harmony, peace, and spiritual well-being.

The book is organized into 24 distinct moral skits, each with a clear moral lesson. The content is presented through dialogues between characters, making it relatable and understandable for children. The skits cover a wide range of relatable childhood situations and ethical dilemmas, including:

• Honesty and Integrity: Skits like "Cheaters Never Pass" and "Honesty is the Best Policy" teach the importance of truthfulness and the negative consequences of deceit and stealing.
• Kindness and Compassion: "Kindness Leads to Friendship," "Compassion is the Way to Go," and "Always be Merciful" emphasize treating others with kindness, empathy, and understanding, even when they make mistakes.
• Sharing and Generosity: "Sharing is Caring" and "Sharing is More Fun" highlight the virtues of sharing possessions and helping others.
• Managing Emotions and Behavior: Skits such as "Jealousy Leads to...", "Pouting is not Pleasant," "Name Calling is not Nice," and "Showing off is not Nice" address negative emotions like jealousy, anger, and pride, and encourage positive behaviors like humility and self-control.
• Responsibility and Accountability: "Learning Responsibility" and "Be Responsible for Your Own Actions" teach children to own up to their actions and take responsibility for their consequences.
• Respect and Gratitude: "Respect All - Big and Small" and "Thankfulness leads to Contentment" stress the importance of respecting elders, teachers, and all living beings, as well as appreciating the efforts of others.
• Good Thoughts and Character: "Pure Thoughts for a Pure Heart" connects thoughts, actions, habits, and character, promoting the cultivation of positive mental states.
• Adherence to Principles: "Stand Up For What You Believe In" encourages children to uphold their principles, even in challenging situations.
• Avoiding Judgment: "Don't Judge a Book by its Cover" teaches the lesson of not forming premature judgments about people based on superficial observations.
• Understanding Prayer: "Understanding Prayers" explains the deeper meaning of prayers beyond mere recitation, emphasizing the imbibing of virtues.
• Reverence for Tirthankars: "Bhagawän Mahävir, Our Idol" introduces Bhagwan Mahavir as an exemplary figure whose teachings and life exemplify Jain principles.

The book also includes introductory Jain prayers like the Navkar Mantra and Chattäri Mangalam, along with a pronunciation guide and a disclaimer regarding the simplified transliteration used. The JAINA Education Committee expresses gratitude to numerous individuals and organizations for their contributions to the compilation, revision, and publication of this series, underscoring their commitment to promoting Jain values and a lifestyle consistent with Jain principles, such as vegetarianism and abstaining from alcohol and drugs. The series is intended to be distributed on a cost basis and is not copyrighted to encourage widespread use.