Jain Center Minnesota MN 2007 07 Pratishtha

Author(s): Jain Center Minnesota USA
Publisher: USA Jain Center Minnesota

Page 95

Celebrating over Thirty Years of Community
Jain Center of Minnesota
by
Vishant Shah
Growing up in the Twin Cities Jain community, I took for granted how close-knit, supportive and welcoming our community was. It was normal to meet in each other's homes for Pratikraman, because the community was so small. We met to discuss Ram Uncle's monthly lectures on practicing Jainism, or to hear special guest lecturers from out-of-town, like Bandhu Triputi. It was like we were practicing Jainism with our extended family. These activities built strong bonds between families, developing a sense of community and a sense of belonging.
It was only when I traveled outside Minnesota that I recognized how special the bonds were in my Jain Center. Although attending major events at the Chicago temple or making a pilgrimage to Palitana were exciting specifically, I remember being awestruck by seeing and being jostled by the large number of fellow Jains - I was always happy to return to the support and warmth of the Jain Center of Minnesota (СМ).
Although we were small, the JCM has never let its size limit the opportunities for its members to learn about Jainism and to meet other Jains. For example, I participated in Young Jains of America events in Chicago and San Francisco, which increased my knowledge about Jainism, gave me suggestions for practicing vegetarianism on road trips in the US, and allowed me to meet other Jains around the country. I learned about the experiences of kids from large temples, like the one in Northern California, as well as ones from smaller centers, like the one in Kansas City, which more closely mirrored my experiences. By representing our Jain Center, I came to appreciate the unique aspects of our community, as well as the commonalities we shared with other Jain communities around the country.
One of the most important life transitions for my wife and I was getting married. Ram Uncle married us in a Jain ceremony because it celebrated values that were important to each of us. This celebration would not have been possible without the JCM. Friends helped with details large and small, danced in the streets of St. Paul behind the horse, and made everyone at the wedding, whether Jain or not, from India, the US or elsewhere, feel welcome and included. I cannot imagine making important life transitions like this without the love and support of our community.
This summer the JCM celebrates the Pratishtha at the Hindu Temple of Minnesota. This event is an exceptional achievement, attributable to the hard work of the Jain community of Minnesota. The Pratishtha represents a transition for the community, from members gathering in each other's homes, and then the old Hindu Temple, to having one place large enough for everyone to come together to learn about and celebrate Jain traditions. I think this event is about celebrating the growth of the Jain community in the Twin Cities as well as the new physical space for the temple.
As the JCM continues to expand, it will help members through life transitions with the same values and energy it did thirty years ago. Although the Jain community of Minnesota will continue to change as new members arrive and old friends leave, we have a wonderful new temple to worship in, and a space to come together in as a community.