Life And Work Of Acharya Sushil Muni

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This document details the life and extensive work of His Holiness Jain Acharya Sushil Kumarji Maharaj, affectionately known as Guruji, who passed away on April 22, 1994, at the age of 68.

Born on June 15, 1926, in Sikhopur, Haryana, India, Guruji initially belonged to a Hindu Brahmin family. At the tender age of seven, he left his family to live with Jain monk Shri Chhotelälji Mahäräj, who became his spiritual mentor. Influenced by a vision of the great yogi Shri Roop Chandji Mahäräj, Guruji took diksha (initiation) at fifteen, becoming a Jain monk of the Sthänakaväsi sect. He pursued a rigorous academic career, earning multiple degrees, and also mastered classical Indian and yogic philosophies through direct experience rather than solely through a master.

Guruji's life mission was dedicated to promoting peace, universal brotherhood, and harmony among diverse religious traditions in India and globally. He viewed all great religions as expressions of a single divine truth. A pivotal and groundbreaking aspect of his work was his international tour, which began in 1975. Breaking from the traditional Jain monastic practice of traveling solely on foot, Guruji, with the encouragement of Gurudev Shri Chitrabhanuji, embarked on this journey to spread Lord Mahavir's message of non-violence, peace, and the oneness of all living beings to a wider audience. This tour garnered him international acclaim as a true spiritual leader.

Guruji was a self-realized master, renowned for his teachings on the effects of sound on spiritual progress and his development of the Arhum Yoga system. Arhum Yoga is an ancient practice focused on self-mastery through watchfulness and direct perception, integrating philosophy and yogic practices rooted in the Arihanta tradition. It encompasses the Eight Steps of Yoga, sound vibration, healing, Kundalini awakening, color science, holistic health, and core Jain principles like Ahimsa and Anekäntaväda, all stemming from the profound knowledge within the Namokar Mantra.

His work extended beyond interfaith harmony to significant organizational and peace-building initiatives. In India, he presided over numerous World Religions Conferences, fostering unity. In 1981, he played a crucial role alongside Gurudev Shri Chitrabhanuji in uniting various North American Jain sects by establishing JAINA (Jain Associations in North America), a non-sectarian umbrella organization.

Guruji held esteemed positions, including Honorary President of the World Conference of Religions for Peace and Director of the Temple of Understanding. He was a founding member of the Global Forum of Spiritual and Parliamentary Leaders on Human Survival and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. His involvement in committees like the Punjab Peace and Unity Committee and the Ram Janmabhumi Babri Masjid Solution Committee demonstrated his commitment to resolving complex societal conflicts. Many of these conferences adopted declarations promoting world peace, universal brotherhood, environmental protection, and non-violence, and were attended by prominent Indian leaders.

He founded numerous spiritual organizations, including the World Fellowship of Religions (1950), Vishwa Ahimsa Sangh (1957), Kundalini Science Center, International Mahavir Jain Mission (1978), Arhat Sangh (1979), World Jain Congress (1981), and the World Center of Nonviolence.

A landmark achievement was the establishment of Siddhachalam in Blairstown, New Jersey, in 1983. This 108-acre site became the first Jain pilgrimage place (Tirtha) outside India, serving as a retreat center and the headquarters for several of his organizations, promoting Ahimsa, vegetarianism, and animal welfare as a wildlife sanctuary.

Guruji was a tireless advocate for peace and non-violence on a global scale. In 1982, he inspired leaders of eight nations to submit a memorandum for peace to the United Nations. He also mobilized support for peace rallies and facilitated dialogues to resolve political conflicts, notably motivating the Sikh leader Tara Singh and influencing the resolution of the Punjab crisis by convincing terrorist groups to honor a compromise with the government. He advocated for religious tolerance during Pope John Paul's visit to India and organized a Cow Protection Rally.

His international engagements included addressing the World Hindu Conference in Britain (1989), where he promoted Ahimsa, meditation, and vegetarianism; the World Conference on Religions for Peace in Australia (1989), emphasizing the protection of the animal kingdom and environment; and mediating the Babri Masjid issue in India (1990-1991) by persuading Muslim leaders to negotiate with Hindu leaders.

In 1990, he participated in the Global Conference for Human Survival in Moscow, meeting with Mikhail Gorbachev to discuss world peace and global cooperation. In 1991, he attempted to mediate the Gulf Crisis by seeking to persuade Saddam Hussein towards a peaceful resolution.

His work gained international recognition when the International Mahavir Jain Mission became an affiliated NGO with the United Nations in 1992. The UN adopted the concept of Ahimsa at the Sacred Earth Summit, and Guruji launched the World Movement of Nonviolence for Peace and Environment at the UN's Global Earth Gathering and Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro (1992), with Dr. Robert Muller as co-president. He met Mikhail Gorbachev again in Kyoto, Japan (1993), supporting his vision for an Ahimsa University and the World Movement of Nonviolence for Peace and Environment. He addressed the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago (1993), advocating for non-violence towards all living beings.

Guruji's efforts also led to the preparation of a Jain Encyclopaedia and the initiation of a Jain study program at Columbia University. He had also planned to establish a Jain "Chair" at Toronto University.

The document concludes by highlighting Guruji's legacy as a proponent of self-less service, peace, unity, and universal brotherhood, dedicating his life to the upliftment of all living beings. It calls for the continuation of his mission to achieve world unity through Ahimsa, addressing ongoing global injustices.

Excerpts from Guruji's speeches emphasize the power of thought, the oneness of humanity irrespective of caste or creed, the importance of open-mindedness in spiritual practice, the concept of the Arihanta system as a model for ideal community with both freedom and equality, the practice of meditation through focused action and self-knowledge, and the nature of unconditional love. He also proposed a new symbolic trinity of non-violence, love, and freedom as keys to humanity's survival and future.