Jain Digest 1997 11

SR No.: 527069
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 36
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, USA_Jain Digest, & USA
File Size: 8 MB

Page 22

Why Go to Temple?
(Based upon Teddy Roosevelt's reasons for going to church in Ladies' Home Journal in 1917)
1. In this actual world a templeless community, a community where men women have abandoned and scoffed at or ignored their religious needs, is a community on the rapid downgrade. It is perfectly true that occasional individuals or families may have nothing to do with temple or with religious practices and observances and yet maintain the highest standard of spirituality and of ethical obligation. But this does not affect the case in the world as it now is, any more than that exceptional men and women under exceptional conditions have disregarded the marriage tie without moral harm to themselves, interferes with the larger fact that such disregard, if at all common, means the complete moral disintegration of the body politic.
2. Temple work and temple attendance mean the cultivation of the habit of feeling some responsibility for others and the sense of braced moral strength which prevents a relaxation of one's own moral fiber.
3. There are enough holidays for most of us that can quite properly be devoted to pure holidays.
4. Making Sundays differ from other holidays-among other ways-in fact that there are fifty-two of them every year. At least on Sunday, go to the temple.
5. Yes, I know all the excuses. I know that one can worship the God/Creator and dedicate oneself to good living in a grove of trees, or by a running brook, or in one's own house, just as well as in a temple. But I also know as a matter of cold fact the average person does not thus worship or thus dedicate himself. If he/she stays away from the temple, he/she does not spend his/her time in good works or in lofty mediation. He/she looks over the colored supplement of the newspaper, watch sports on TV or goof around. 6. He/she is very fortunate that he/she will hear a "vyakhyan/parvachan" by a good man who is engaged all the week long in a series of wearing and humdrum and important tasks for making hard lives a little easier, a little happier, a little uplifting.
7. He/she will listen to and take part in reading some beautiful passages from the "Agamas/Gita". And if he/she is not familiar with the "Agamas/Gita", he/she has suffered a loss.
by Ramesh Shah, Cleveland, Ohio
8. He/she will probably take part in singing some good "stavans/prayers/bhajans".
9. He/she will meet and nod to, or speak to, good, quiet neighbors. He/she will come away feeling a little more charitable towards the entire world, even toward those excessively foolish young men/women who regard temple going as rather a soft performance. 10. I advocate a man's joining in temple works for the sake of showing his/her faith by his/her works.
11. The person who does not in some way, active or now, connect himself/herself with some active, working temple, misses many opportunities for helping his/her neighbor and therefore, incidentally for helping himself/herself.
Shri V. R. Gandhi Scholarship Fund Established
The Late Shri Virchand Raghavaji Gandhi, the renowned Barrister-at-Law, a great exponent of Indian culture, a humanitarian, a patriot, and a Jain scholar represented Jainsim in the Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893. He spread Lord Mahavir's message of non-violence and universal love across the world vigorously. He would have accomplished much more but for his untimely demise at an early age of 37.
In order to commemorate this historical event and to honor this great Jain leader and philosopher, JAINA, through the efforts of Shri Pravin C. Shah of New York, has agreed to institute a scholarship fund entitled Shri Virchand Raghavji Gandhi Scholarship Fund. Money received in this fund will be used for the purpose of promoting and encouraging studies in Jainism in India through a reputable institute.
Your generous, tax-deductible contribution to this worthy cause will be greatly appreciated. Please make your check payable to JAINA, or to S.S. Jain Foundation in Canada. Indicate in the memo VRG Scholarship Fund and mail to:
Jitendra Turakhia Anop R. Vora
Pravin K. Shah Pravin C. Shah
For more information, please call any of the following members of Shri V.R. Gandhi Memorial Committee:
Kanti Mepani Naresh S. Shah
315/622-3287 716/473-9290 919/469-0956 5.16/48-8265
20/JAIN DIGEST. WINTER 1997
Vinay Vakhani
Ramesh Solanki
201/656-8515 516/741-9269 201/967-9344 630/682-0465
Mr. Jitendra Turakhia Treasurer, JAINA 4013 Pawnee Drive Liverpool, NY 13090