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On September 24, Samvatsari and Aliant Chaturdashi poojas were conducted by Arhant and Vandana Jain of Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
Siddhachalam, NJ. Siddhachalam, north America's Jain Shrine, organised Dashalaxan Paryushan from September 8 - 15, 1988. The program mainly consisted of fasting and meditation with Acharya Sushil Kumar, and prayers and poojas.
Washington, DC. Jain Society of Washington DC celebrated Dashalaxan Paryushan festivities from Saturday September 10 - 18,1988. Lord Mahavir Conception was celebrated with Drean ceremony of Lord's mother Trishala on September 10, begginning at 3.00 PM. Reading of Kalpa Sutra, prayers and devotional songs were the other features of the day.
On Thursday 15, Samvatsari Pratikraman was organised. On September 17 and 18,Pancha Tirtha Yatra, a religious visit to the Jain Shrines, was organised on a charter bus. In total five Chaityalayas, a Prakrit Jain word for places of Worship of Jains, were visited. Two in New York, Siddhachalam and Essex Falls in New Jersey and Allentown in Pensylvania. The members presented devotional music on Saturday eve at the New York Chaityalaya and participated in Snatra Pooja at Essex Falls Chaityalaya during their Pancha Tirtha Yatra.
On September 8,9,11,12,13,14 and 16 organised reading of Kalpa Sutra every evening at different locations.
QUINTESSENCE OF TRUTH Religious Verses of Saint Pujyapada
450 - 513 A.D.
Body, house, wealth and wife, sons and friends and enemies - all are different from the soul; Only the fool calls them his own.
From all directions come the birds
and rest together in the trees; but in the morning each goes his own way.
flying in all directions.
Death is not for me. Why then should I fear ? Disease is not for me. Why then should I despair ? I am not a child, nor a youth, nor an old man
All these states are only of my body.
Time and again in my foolishness I have enjoyed all kinds of body and have discarded.
Now I am wise ! Why should I long for dross ?
The soul is one thing, matter another - that is the quintessence of truth.
Whatever else may be said is merely its elaboration.
- Prof. S.A.Srimandhar Kumar
Bangalore, India.
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