________________
Personal Perspectives of Members on Impact of Jain Center in Their Lives
Ramesh P. Kothari
On our arrival from Cincinnati in 1982 we knew very few of our Jain families. The Jain Center had many activities even without the building of our own at that time. We got involved in activities of the Jain Center including children, swadhyayas, shibirs, Mahila Mandal poojas, Paryushana, ayembils and more. The activities were held at homes and Community Center Buildings that took extra efforts to get the facilities to match our festival dates. We found that as we participated in more and more activities of our Center, we felt more at home in our newly built Center and began to know more Jain families.
I have seen Paryushana Tapasvis continue to grow from just a few adults to over 100 during last few years. I am impressed with how our Young Adults who have soared the ranks of Tapasvis in large numbers during Paryushanas. The dedication of the Executive Committee members, pathshala teachers and other elders in volunteering their time, talent, and other resources have inspired me to be part of our growth in some small way. This participation has made us feel more at home in our large community.
The level of current activities and participation of the various groups at our Center would have been impossible for me to imagine when we arrived in Los Angeles in 1982. I remember Sunday school class of six or so in a home compared to over 250 students now. I also know of the weekly swadhyays of just few people in homes to over 100 adults now on Sundays at our Center. I also remember having our functions in other local community center halls with limits of 200 or 300 before our own hall became our permanent place of gathering for over 1000 in recent years.
I am thankful to all members of the Jain Center to be part of our large family. I wish continued success in our new building construction and other activities sponsored by our Jain Center.
The concept of Moksha fascinates me. I cannot imagine a place that is so pure neither I
can think how it would feel to have eternal happiness. - Vidhi Doshi (11)
Jain Education Intemational
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
