Friday, April 20, 2018

CA to renounce fortune worth crores, become a Jain monk

TIMES NEWS NETWORK
20.04.2018

 
Ahmedabad: Renouncing a fortune worth crores is never too easy for anyone, but this 24-year-old chartered account has certainly proved that wrong! Mokshesh Sheth, who hails from a prosperous Mumbai-based business family, has decided to renounce the world and seek salvation by dedicating himself to the Jain community.

Mokshesh, who is part of JK Corporation that has interests in diamonds, metals and sugar industries, will enter the Jain monkhood at an elaborate ceremony to be held at Tapovan Circle on Gandhinagar-Ahmedabad road on Friday morning. He will be given diksha by Hemchandrasurishwar Maharaj in front of thousands of Jain devotees from across the country.

Mokshesh, who has an enviable academic record, says he wants to “audit” the religion as a humble student instead of sifting through accounts books. Mokshesh was upbeat on eve of the big day of his life. “I was about 15 when I first got inclined to become a Jain monk. I craved for internal peace which the material world would not have provided. As a CA, I would have audited the books of accounts but as a monk, I want to audit the religion as a humble student,” he said, adding that he wants happiness for all, instead of only himself.

His family originally hails from Deesa in north Gujarat and has made Mumbai its home for over 60 years now. His father Sandeep and uncle Girish Sheth still live in a joint family in Mumbai.

Mokshesh, the eldest of the three brothers, went to Manav Mandir School in Walkeshwar and scored 93.38% in Class X and 85% in Class XII examinations. He later went to HR College for graduation in commerce, simultaneously pursuing chartered accountancy too. He cracked the exam in his first attempt and joined the family’s metal business at Sangli.

“Mokshesh was always spiritually inclined and first expressed his wish to become a monk some eight years ago. However, we convinced him to first complete his education and experience the world before taking the leap of faith. In 200-year old history of our family, Mokshesh would be the first man to embrace monkhood from the family while five women have become Jain sadhvis,” said Girish Sheth.

Mokshesh said that after much deliberation, the decision to allow him to become a monk was taken in January this year. Since then, the family has organised shobha yatras for Mokshesh at 15 locations in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka. His 85-year-old grandfather was also inspired to join him but the senior monks asked him to serve the community while remaining in society.


SEEKING INNER PEACE:
Mokshesh Sheth

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