Jain Center Los Angeles CA 2008 09 Pratishta Souvenior

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

Page 149

Biren Mehta Sateen Sheth
Jain Study Group
The Jain Study Group (JSG) was formed in August of 1997 by a small group of young adults who desired an in-depth study of Jainism in English. The group is based at the Jain Center of Southern California (JCSC). We meet weekly on Sunday mornings from 10:00 AM until 12:30 PM. Our meetings are led and facilitated by Pravin Mehta, Pallavi Gala and Rajnikant Mody, who provide a practical understanding of spiritual concepts to the group as well as inspiration by way of their personal experience.
While youth Pathshala classes provided a great opportunity to learn the fundamentals of Jainism, many young adults found that no similar medium existed to continue their spiritual study and progress once they began their college and professional lives.
JSG attempts to nourish the roots of ethics, religion, and nobility that started in the Pathshala (JCYC) classes and the cultural activities at the JCSC. The JSG provides the charter for young adults to learn the principles of Jainism and practice it in daily life. Young adults learn to live in harmony with Western society and lifestyle while maintaining and enhancing the ethical and spiritual values that they have learned from their parents, family and friends of Eastern culture. These youngsters emphasize the practical implementation of Jain concepts, such as non-violence, self-restraint and non-possessiveness, into their current lifestyle.
Second generation Indian-Americans of the Jain community face a unique challenge as they must try to acquire the best elements and avoid the negative elements of both Eastern and Western cultures. Searching for peace and true happiness, these exceptional youngsters at JSG aim to successfully reach this goal and maximize the potential of this human life.
After 10 years of regular meetings, the group has grown to over 50 people who are dedicated to improving themselves. As our JSG group expands, and our generation comes of age, we look forward to maintaining a strong Jain community and improving ourselves through group motivation.
Biren Mehta and Sateen Sheth are members of the Jain Study Group at Jain Center of Southern California. They can be contacted at bmehta7696@yahoo.com and sateen@gmail.com respectively.
Jain Center has helped me build a strong group of friends.
Prasheen Shah, 15