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Affiliate News, continued from page 14 August 23 - 31 Muniji will be in California. At this time the Stanak will be in the Office. Those wishing to receive Muniji's darshan are asked to inquire at the Office Building.
their goals on the medical profession. A forum where qualified career counselors would discuss such options and opportunities will be organized for the parents.
From July 29 - August 5, 1995 Shree Jinchandra Maharaj and Shree Amrendra Muniji will be at a Yogo Camp organized by the IMJM, Canada.
Jain Social Group, Los Angeles organized a dinner meeting on February 25, 1996 at the Peacock Indian Cuisine in Diamond Bar. Mahendra Khandhar, the Founder and President, presented a plaque to Subodh Sheth, the immediate past president, in recognition of his leadership and the contributions of his executive committee members. An exciting schedule of events has been planned for 1995 that will address adult and family participation. The Fifth Annual Medical Camp was held on Sunday, May 21, 1996. This event will be jointly sponsored by the Jain Center of Southern California and the Jain Bhavan.
Jain Study Circle, Inc., New York, NY held its Annual Meeting on April 16, 1995 at Mahendra and Asha Pandya's residence on Staten Island, NY. After completing the Annual Meeting there was a lively discussion on the main topic of the meeting - Penance (Tapashya) in Jainism. As expected, the participants in the evenings discussion brought forward the role of penance or tapashya in Jain philosophy that they considered important. Some of the participants thought that tapashya was a means to develop self discipline, controlling desires and emotions; others considered it to be a cleansing process. An individual's capacity to perform tapashya, especially long-term-fasting, including the possible interfering with one's normal duties was also discussed. Duli Chand Jain noted the fine line between the selfsacrifice and self-directed violence.
The Jain Study Circle conducts Quarterly Meetings in the New York metropolitan area. At these meetings no one gives discourse or lecture, but each participant is encouraged to express their own thoughts on the topic of discussion. Any one who is interested in attending these meetings, please contact Harshad Doshi at 718/ 961-7408.
The Jain Meditation International Center, New York Gurudev Chitrabhanuji was on tour to Hong Kong and Singapore during the month of March, 1995. Jains are involved in religious practices throughout these areas. The Jain Society of Hong Kong arranged for a five day lecture series during which many people of all religions participated.
A three day seminar was arranged in Singapore. In this tour Gurudev Chitrabhanuji spoke about the deeper meaning of nonviolence and that it implies more than kindness to all living things and the practice of vegetarianism, but also abjures violence to ourselves.
Jain Association of Young Adults (JAYA), Los Ange les has elected a new committee Nilay Dedhia, President; Satyam Patel, Vice President; Rajesh Shah, Treasurer; Ashita Shah, Secre- tary; Jalpa Dalal, Hemal Dalal, Pina Shah and Amisha Mehta as Members-at-large. JAYA is actively recruiting young adults 16 years old and above to coordinate social and religious activities and to share experiences and knowledge of mutual interest. JAYA's activities are also coordinated with the Jain Center Youth Council (JCYC) of Jain Center of Southern California and JAINA's Young Jains of America (YJA). For further information please contact Rashmi Shah, JAYA coordinator, at 310/541-8367.
A forum on "Growing Up In America" that was jointly organized by JAYA and JCYC was held on Sunday, March 12, 1995 at the Jain Center of Southern California. The purpose of the forum was to discuss the challenges and concerns of growing up in bi-cultural environment - Indian and American. The forum was moderated by Sailes Jain, a pathshala teacher and was attended by 50 or more students ranging in age from 10 to 16 years old. A panel of 11 young, Indian, professionals, who had spent most of their young adult life growing up in America, responded to questions posed by the students.
The panelists provided excellent insights into the challenges of growing up in America and how the differences in the Indian and American cultures may pose significant challenges for young people of Indian heritage growing up in America
Many times Indian parents have not adapted to such differences and understood the cultural differences these factors and generation gap have led to problems and conflicts between parents and their children. However, the opinions and experiences shared by the young professional panel tended to conclude that - open communication, frequent dialogue, mutual understanding and a positive attitude are the key elements for fostering successful childparent relationships for Indian families in America.
One major problem identified was, Indian parents lack the knowledge about the vast number of career options, opportunities and possibilities that are open for students. Parents tend to focus
Concept of God in Jainism
Jainism believes that the universe and all its substances or entities are eternal. It has no beginning or end with respect to time. The Universe runs on its own accord by its own cosmic laws. All substances change or modify their forms continuously. Nothing can be destroyed or created in the universe. There is no need of some one to create or manage the affairs of the universe. Hence Jainism does not believe in God as a creator, survivor and destroyer of the universe.
However, Jainism does believe in God, not as a creator, but as a perfect being. When a person destroys all his karma. he becomes omniscient and omnipotent. He is a liberated soul. He lives in the perfect blissful state Moksha. This living being is a God of the Jain religion. Every living being has the potential to become a God of the Jain religion. Hence Jains do not have one God, but Gods are innumerable and their number is continuously increasing as more living beings attain liberation.
Source Unknown
June 1995
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