Sushil Kumar (Jain monk)
Indian Jain monk
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sushil Kumar (15 June 1926 – 22 April 1994) was a Jain teacher, monk and an Acharya.[1] He was a self-realized master who devoted more than 50 years to promoting non-violence, peace and knowledge of the self.
Sthānakavāsī; Arhat Sangh
Sushil Kumar | |
|---|---|
 Picture of a marble plaque showing Sushil Kumar | |
| Personal life | |
| Born | 15 June 1926 |
| Died | 22 April 1994 (aged 67) |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Jainism |
| Sect | Śvētāmbara; non-sectarian Sthānakavāsī; Arhat Sangh |
Kumar, known as 'Guruji' by his devotees, was born on 15 June 1926, in Sikhopur, a small foothill village in Haryana, India. The village was later named Sushilgarh in Kumar's honor. As a seven year old he left his home to live with Shri Chotelalji Maharaj, who later become his religious guru.[2]
When Kumar was a young boy, Roop Chandji Maharaj, a great yogi and Jain master, appeared to him in his spirit and told him to become a monk. His knowledge was realised through direct experience, and his powers were awakened through the grace of past lives. When he was 15 years old he became a Jain Muni (monk) in the Swetamber Sthānakavāsī sect.[2]
During his academic career in India, he passed through a number of examinations such as Shastri, Acharya, Sahitya-Ratna, Vidya-Ratna, etc., and mastered the classical studies of Indian religious and yogic philosophies.[2]
His primary ashram in North America, Siddhachalam, was established in 1983 in Blairstown, New Jersey. He was one of the founding fathers of American Jainism.[3][4]
Although he was ordained as a monk in the Sthānakavāsī Jain tradition, he regarded himself to be non-sectarian. In 1979, he formed Arhat Sangh, a syncretic, non-sectarian group within Jainism.[5]
Life
Sushil Kumar was born into a Brahmin household.[6] As a Jain monk, he traveled on foot thousands of miles across the length and breadth of India. He represented the Sthānakavāsī Jain tradition in the making of Saman Suttam, a compilation of Jain principles that was acceptable to all sects of Jainism.[7] He discovered and mastered the secrets of sounds behind the Namokar Mantra, an auspicious rendering that is central to Jains and wrote a book on the subject, Song of the Soul.[2]
For as long as historical records have been available, Jain monks did not use any mechanical means for travel. However, on 17 June 1975, Kumar made the decision to travel outside India by aircraft.[8] He said he was prodded in meditation to do so by the 12 C Acharya, Dadaguru Manidhari Jinchandra Suriji Maharaj. Dadaguru asked him to travel to faraway lands to spread Bhagwan Mahavir's message of Ahimsa (non-injury) and Anekantavada (belief that no one has a monopoly on truth).[9] The decision caused some controversy in the Jain community,[10][11] but allowed other Jain monks and nuns to begin using mechanical means of travel, including outside India.[12] He has traveled and taught extensively, spreading the message of non-violence and self-awareness. He has founded many ashrams and centres in the East and West.[2]
During his travels, Kumar helped found many organizations and communities across the globe that engage in promoting Ahimsa and Anekantavada. One of the principal organizations he founded in North America was the International Mahavira Jain Mission, which manages the ashram Siddhachalam that he founded in New Jersey. Siddhachalam is regarded as the first Tirtha (site of pilgrimage) outside India.[13]
On 1 March 1980, Sushil Kumar was declared an "Acharya" (master) of Arhat Sangh of the Jain tradition.[14]
Kumar was a master of meditation and the science of sound. His teaching system is called Arhum Yoga. It is an ancient system of the mastery of the inner self through watchfulness and direct perception. Arhum yoga encompasses all aspects of philosophy and yogic practice in the Arihant spiritual tradition.[2]