The Jains honor twenty-four great people, or tirthankaras, who serve as heroes and role models. Most religions have saints or special people that accomplished extraordinary things. Even outside the sphere of religion, people have mentors and role models. Who are the people who have most influenced you? They can be people you know personally or famous figures from the past. After compiling the list of those who are great people for you, ponder the characteristics you most admire about them. How could you develop these attributes in your own life?
Both Jainism and Buddhism claim certain jobs are not appropriate for anyone on a spiritual path. For the Jains, that would be any occupation that inflicted harm even on animals. Consider life today. Can you identify any occupations that you think conflict with a spiritual path? What are your reasons?
Jains and many Hindus and Sikhs maintain home altars. Several other religious traditions do likewise, including Orthodox Christianity and some Roman Catholics. These altars are a reminder of one's religious commitment and identity. They serve as a call to devotion. Many believe their homes are blessed by these altars. Perhaps this same impulse manifests in the secular world of work, where people set aside part of their desk or office for personal items and pictures of those closest to them. What personal items have you placed around your work or study area? What do these objects mean to you? If you were to intentionally establish a home altar, what would be on it?
