How my Sutra became an anchor point for me in my life

Jai Jinendra, my name is Tulsi, and you may know me as the Public Relations Officer for the Jain Student Forum. Outside of JSF, I am involved in various activities, but a part of me is still curious and questions the Jain religion, even as I continue to learn about it. When people think about religion, they often associate it with prayers, festivals, or rituals. For me, my journey began by learning sutras.

Growing up as a young child, my mum had taught me some sutras. I slowly began to memorise them, and their words started to become familiar, but I did not fully understand their meaning. Later in Life, I joined the SCVP (Shri Chandna Vidyapeeth School) Jain Sutra class, which taught me the meaning of these sutras and introduced me to some new ones.  Reciting them gave me a sense of inner peace and hope in moments of life when I felt unsure of myself.

My favourite amongst all of them is the Navkar Mantra, as it’s the most powerful sutra. By chanting it when I have been feeling lost, it has helped me reduce my levels of anxiety and stress, making me feel more positive. It has also given me a source of strength and courage to face some of life’s difficulties that have been thrown my way.  No matter where life takes me, I know that my sutra becomes my anchor point, and I can return to it at any moment in life.