Jain Digest 1990 04 Vol 17 No 02

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 9

Page 6 The results of the Essay Competition 1989:
Forgiveness Group A (ages 12 & under) 1st: Shilpa V. Sejpal D/O Vasant & Prabha Sejpal,
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following piece was given by the 12 Burlington, NC
year old Umang Dosi, daughter of M. Dosi, of the Jain 2nd: Nirav Shah S/O Narendra & Damini Shah, Livonia, MI
Society of Rochester. 3rd: Ami Shah D/O Suresh & Indira Shah, St. Louis MO
At the February meeting of the Jain Soci
A ety of Rochester, Umang Dosi, disGroup B (ages 13 to 15)
cussed forgiveness. She refreshed that forgive1st: Shweta Shah D/O Pravin & Arti Shah, Cary, NC
ness is considered a very high virtue in Jain 2nd: Rajat Fofaria S/O Ramesh & Chetana Foraria, Garner, NC
religion because it helps in controlling two of 3rd: Avani Doshi D/O Mahendra & Indira Doshi,
our worst enemies: anger and ego. She menTroy, MI
tioned two aspects of forgiveness. The first was
to forgive other persons for their confusion, Group C (ages 16 & up)
mistakes or ignorance which controls organi1st: Sacheen H. Mehta S/O Hasmukh & Usha Mehta,
zation of the anger emotion and also provides Manchester, MO
time-element or patience that is essential in 2nd: Seema Singhvi D/O Surendra & Sushila Singhvi, St. Louis, MO
developing better communication and under3rd: Nirav K. Vora S/O Dinesh & Saroj Vora, Seven standing. The second aspect equally important Hills, OH
was to seek forgiveness from others for your own confusion, mistakes or ignorance. This helps in conquering over personal ego and enhances several desirable interpersonal quali
ties of being humble, considerate, thoughtful, • The First Youth Cultural Program under kind and consciously open and clear. the auspices of the Jain Center of Northern Cali- The former aspect is usually implied when fornia was held on February 24, 1990. The pro- one talks about forgiveness. Umang exempligram was attended by over 300 people. The fied the latter aspect by telling a story about whole program was arranged, coordinated Gautam Swami, chief disciple of Lord Mahavir and orchestrated by the youths and about 45 and Anand, a rich merchant and farmer who youths participated in various programs. Be- had given up worldly pleasures in pursuit of sides various religious activities, a play was eternal peach while continuing with his houseperformed on the life of Lord Mahavira. hold duties. Anand, respectful of Gautam
A bus trip was also arranged for the children Swami, enquires if a housholder can attain to visit Jain Bhavan in Bueana Park, California, supreme divine knowledge. Gautam Swami on March 10-11. This was the first bus trip or responds affirmatively to this, but refuses to ganized by the Jain Center. Thirty-eight chil- believe Anand who claims to have attained dren and 10 adult volunteers participated in such divine knowledge. On this, Gautam this trip.
Swami asks Anand to observe repentance for not being truthful. Gautam Swami further
confers with Lord Mahavir on this incident. Sumit Vora Honored Eagle Scout
But Lord Mahavir finds Gautam Swami Award
wrongful in his thinking masked by ego. The Sumit Kumar Vora of Seven Hills, Ohio moment Gautam Swami realizes that he is son of Dinesh and Saroj Vora, has been hon
being too proud of his knowledge, he immediored for achieving the prestigious Eagle Scout,
ately goes back to Anand and apologizes. the highest honor in the Boy Scouts of Amer- In the story, Umang explained how Gautam ica. Sumit is a follower of Jainism, and is a Swami conquered his ego and swallowed his recipient of many awards as well.
humility by seeking forgiveness from Anand.
(continued on page 12) Jain Education International 2010_02