Jain Digest 2004 04 Vol 23 No 2

SR No.: 527092
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA
Publication Year: 2004
Total Pages: 36
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, USA_Jain Digest, & USA
File Size: 8 MB

Page 22

Jain Summer Camp with Gurudev Shree Chitrabhanuji Washington DC, June 18-21,2004.
Jain summer camp was a memorable experience for many adults and youth which they will cherish for years to come. Many adults and children made new friends and developed a deeper understanding of Jain religion. The location for this off-site camp was about 100 miles outside Washington DC, in the small town of Frostburg. The town is located about 3000 feet above sea level in the Cumberland Mountains in western Maryland. The campus offered a tranquil atmosphere to learn and enjoy. The cool fresh mountain air made learning even more enjoyable.
Gurudev Shree Chitrabhanuji led the entire camp for four days with over 150 attendees. Their ages ranged from 6 to 86! Gurudev's multilingual lectures in English and Gujarati were enlightening. He was accompanied by Respected Pramodaji. Her command over Gujarati, pleasant demeanor and inspiring speeches had everyone requesting her to lead more sessions. The camp topics included Jain religion fundamentals, application of Jain Dharma in our day-to-day lives and self development. There was a Jain stavan competition, and yoga and Pratikraman daily. Delicious breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner became the talk of the garden walk! Unique programs such as Jain Stutis with meanings enlightened the youth attendees. The evenings were filled with social and recreational activities. Gurudev's followers from Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania did not want to miss this opportunity. They arrived by road and by air to be a part of this enriching experience.
The planning and coordination provided by the president, Kamlesh Shah and his wife Arti were appreciated by all attendees. Volunteer help was also provided by Himanshu Mehta, Kalpana Hegde, Vinay Vira, Monali Shah, Manan Shah, and Narendra Goda. If you wish to obtain a DVD of the camp discourses, please call 301-838-9778.
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observing celibacy. But that is meant for those aspirants who have husband. attained a high spiritual level.
Sexual urge being more or less irresistible for most of the people, those who cannot observe celibacy are advised to get married and stay in Gruhashthäshram. Marriage has been devised mainly for providing sheltered sex and procreation. But that life need not be unrestrained. Married people are therefore supposed to observe this restraint in modified form. Though mythology abounds in polygamy for males, monogamy has been accepted as a model and should be the object of pursuit for an average man. Keeping the males in view, Jainism calls the modified form of this restraint as Swadäräsantosh. Swadärä means one's own wife and Santosh means content. Therefore, the term means staying contented with the
20/JAIN DIGEST⚫ Summer 20004 Jain Education International 2010_03
wife. By implication, it also denotes staying satisfied with one's
But, sex life for a layman should not be unrestrained or lustful. Jainism therefore lays down the following five activities as transgressions of this restraint, i) premarital sex, ii) extramarital sex, iii) lustful play, iv) undue indulgence in others' weddings etc. and v) intensified attachment. The third category also covers incest, gay life, masturbation, pornography etc. that need to be avoided. If
a person therefore stays aware of his instinct and properly observes this restraint, he or she can lead a happy married life, beget and raise children and lead stable family life. Such persons would obviously refrain from excessive attachment and as such, can avert undue craving for each other. They may therefore be capable to overcome the sensuous instinct in due course.