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Jain Society of Metropolitan Washington
A non-profit tax-exempt religious organization, id # 54-1139623
Welcome Message from President Janak Rajani
Sunday, May 24, 2015
His Eminence Jean-Louis - Cardinal Tauran, His Eminence Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, Dr. Francis Clooney, Dr. Dipak Jain, Mr. Prem Jain, Mr. Arvind Vora, distinguished members of the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee, my dear volunteers and all members of the Jain Society.
On behalf of the Jain Society of Metropolitan Washington (ISMW), I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you and offer my sincerest thanks to all the dignitaries and attendees for your presence in this first ever Jain-Catholic dialogue at our Jain Society right here in Silver Spring, Maryland.
To give you some background, JSMW was established in March, 1980 with the objective of promoting a better understanding and following of Jain principles. In its current facility, located on a sprawling 4.35 acre lot with 4,300 sq. ft. building, JSMW has grown from its initial membership of less than 30 families to more than 600 families today. Our Jain Center is thriving with many activities on a weekly and monthly basis. Activities such as monthly Snatra Pooja, Devshastra Guru Pooja, and adult/ youth Pathshala classes on 1st and 3rd Sundays are just a few to mention.
We have embarked on a journey to build an authentic Shikarbandhi Jain Temple. We have already achieved an important milestone of purchasing land for this purpose. A 23,000 sq. ft. temple is planned on a 5.5 acre lot, with separate Shwetambar and Digambar temples. The prathistha is planned in Fall2017, opening doors to the future generations of Jains to practice the teachings of non-violence by Lord Mahavir and other Tirthankars.
Jainism, by the virtue of its three tenets, Ahimsa (non-violence), Aparigraha (non-possessiveness), and Anekantavada (non-absolutism), is built on the foundation of compassion. Lord Mahavir said, "Have compassion towards all living beings. Hatred leads to destruction." As we look around us in this world, the lack of compassion has resulted in neighbors being enemies, violence towards the innocent, vengeance gone unchecked, and strife that divides a house in halves. In this day and age, coming together of the Catholic faith, where the basic teachings are immersed in compassion; and Jainism, where the three main tenets can be interpreted in one word: COMPASSION for other living being.
The word "compassion" means to "suffer with someone, with the sense of coming to the person's aid. It is an emotion in us caused by some evil or dire condition seen in someone else. The Good Samaritan is a memorable example.
We hope this dialogue continues between the two religions, bringing people together for the cause of peace and promoting compassion within the human hearts.
Thank you and Jai Jinendra.
Janak Rajani
President, Jain Society of Metropolitan Washington
