Jain Center Los Angeles CA 1998 07 10th Anniversary of Jain Bhavan

Author(s): Jain Center So CA Los Angeles
Publisher: USA Jain Center Southern California

Page 89

Swadhyay in Diamond Bar / Walnut area Shree Rameshbhai Khandhar and Yogeshbhai J. Shah
These classes were started in early 1996 following a JCYC winter camp. Rameshbhai Khandhar initiated a discussion about winter camp experiences with some of the friends at a get-together. This was followed by questions about Jainism, Karmas and how it affected us. The discussion took a new turn as more people joined in this interesting and fascinating exchange of ideas. After an educational and enjoyable discussion, many participants liked the idea to have a Swadhyay on regular basis.
Yogeshbhai J. Shah called several area families to discuss possible class, time and place, and decided to put it in action. These efforts resulted in a regular Swadhyay in Diamond Bar/Walnut area.
First swadhyay was held at a Jain family home in Diamond Bar in January 1996. The topic was "27 questions of Gandhiji to Shrimad Rajchandra". Everyone agreed to meet at 10:30 AM on every other Sunday for two hours, when there is no JCYC class at Jain Bhavan. The first swadhyay was attended by about eight adults. The attendance grew to about 25 to 30 adults as more people learned about it. After "Gandhiji's questions" were completed in about three months, everyone was ready to study Atma-Siddhi which contains the essence of Jainism. The book "I am soul" by Pujya Tarulatabai Mahasatiji is used as a reference book to study Atma-Siddhi.
Later, Dilipbhai Shah joined the swadhyay and taught the participants interesting topics like, the meaning of Namokar Mantra, Siddha-Chakra, etc. Both Rameshbhai and Dilipbhai have been adding Jain stories at the end of each swadhyay session and making the discussions more interesting for everyone.
These swadhyays are held at different Jain family homes. Yogeshbhai J. Shah maintains the class schedule. Usually the classes are suspended during summer or when Jain dignitaries from India are invited at our Center for discourses and shibir.
For more information on this swadhyay, please contact Yogeshbhai J. Shah at 909-861-3557 or Rameshbhai Khandhar at 909-598-1777.
In my opinion it is more important to let Jainsim reflect through your every day actions in
life. - Deepa Shah (15)
Jain Education Intemational