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Southern Region Youth Conference: A Success by Pavan Zaveri, Dallas, Texas
During Thanksgiving weekend, about 60 youths from the South Region met in Dallas, Texas to discuss various issues of global, national, and local concern. Groups present included Houston, Lubbock, Amarillo, Austin, San Antonio, Memphis, Phoenix, and the host, DallasFt. Worth. Beginning Thursday evening and continuing through Sunday morning, the Jain Youth Group of North Texas had organized a busy, involved schedule. The main discussions considered animal testing and dissection, stress and relaxation, faith and beliefs, and technology today. Using guest speakers and parents, each proved to be successful. In addition, some other activities were Jain Win, Lose, or Draw; Current Even Skits; a Social, and an impressive "Jain Earth Summit." Creative ideas to solve world environ
First ever Chaturmas in North America
Today our modern lifestyle is driven by stress, lack of peace and physical and mental disorders. We get few chances to listen from Jain mendicants for a day to few days. After this there is a void of a good length of time in North America. Due to lack of continuity we rarely get a chance to change our lifestyles from the fast pace.
If we get an opportunity to learn about Jainism for a significant period of time from the same group of Jain mendicants and get inspired to put some of the learning into practice we can find solutions to our dayto-day problems. Not only solutions, but to take our lives to another higher
Jain Education International 2010_02
Jain Digest
mental problems spilled forth in the "Summit" producing several practical solutions. A dedicated effort by the Jain Society and Youth Group of North Texas provided a fruitful weekend for many youths. Ages twelve and up gave different per
Participants in the Sothern Region Youth Conference
spectives on society today in the discussions. Expanding our principles of Jainism to the everyday world was the basis for this first-ever conference, and it proved to be well liked by most. Another product of this conference is the increased youth interaction across state borders as youth groups and people meet. Many thanks are due for all involved and we hope to see more such regional meetings soon everywhere.
level.
Shri Haribhai Shah, now President of Jain Center of Northern California, determined that an organiza
Participants in the Norther California Chaturmas
tion of a Chaturmas (four months of religious discourse) is the answer.
At Shri Haribhai's request, Shri Acharya Tulsi positively accepted
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Harish Jain receives highest award
Editor's Note: This article was exerpted from India Abroad, Nov. 20,
1992.
Dr. Harish Jain, President IMJM-Canada and JAINA director, McMaster University professor of human resources and labor relations, has been honored for "exemplary leadership" in promoting greater equality and understanding among people.
In 1979, Jain made a series of recommendations to trade unions, employers and the government in his book, Disadvantage Groups on the Labour Market and Measures to Assist Them. The book was based on investigations in six countries and their governments' measures to insure equality and representation in the workforce.
Jain has also received an award for his work in race relations from the Ontario government in 1987.
the invitation and sent two samans: Shri Sthitprajnaji and Shri Shrutprajnaji for the Chaturmas in Northern California. The two samans have in-depth knowledge of Jainism Preksha Dhyana meditation techniques the philosophy of Anuvrata and Jivan Vigyan (science of living).
The samans arrived in San Francisco on July 2nd of 1992. This was the beginning of the historic event - first ever Chaturmas in North America. Three dimensional program anuvrata (minor vows pertaining to common people) Preksha Dhyana (meditation of perception) and Jivan Vigyan (science of living) was carried out by them.
Immediately after arrival in Bay Area and under their holy guidance many programs and activities
continued on page 16
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