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HISTORY OF JAIN CENTERS IN NORTH AMERICA
rn February 1979, a group of 10 families started meeting
every month to study and discuss principles of Jainism and I teach them to their children, to sing Jain devotional songs, and to discuss the meaning of the songs. Due to increased response to these activities a meeting of all area Jains was called in March of 1980 to discuss the establishment of a formal organization. The meeting resulted in the establishment of the Jain Society of Metropolitan Washington (SMW). A constitution was ratified and the IRS nonprofit permit was obtained in 1980. The temple facilities were inaugurated in 1989. From an initial membership of 25 families, the Society has grown to over 330 families with 282 life members.
The Society has been a pioneer in a number of activities that have been adopted by other centers. In 1981, the JSMW held the first Jain camp in North America which was attended by Gurudev Chitrabhanuji. The first bus trip to visit Siddachalam was arranged in 1985 and Acharya Sushil Kumarji always spoke about the JSMW who began this tradition and urged other Jain Centers to do the same. The annual Panch Tirth Yatra, a bus trip to 5 Jain temples, was started in 1986. This was the first of its kind in North America. In 1986, the JSMW started the celebration of Ahimsa Day which is now being observed nationwide through JAINA.In 1987, a religious musical drama Chandanbala was performed by children for the first time in North America. Other pioneering activities included religious knowledge competitions like the aca- demic bowl.
Over the past 16 years, the number of activities being held at the center has increased. These activities include religious classes for adults and children, bhavana and pooja programs, celebration of auspicious days, Ahimsa Day, New Year's Day, camps for children, young people and adults, Panch Tirth Yatra, discussion sessions and social programs like picnics.
Jain classes have been held from the beginning. However, for the past 11 years, regular educational classes with a fixed curricu- lum are held on alternate Sundays for children and adults. The classes for children are divided into five groups levels according to age, with an appropriate curriculum designed and implemented at each level. Recently, a graduation ceremony was held for children who completed the entire curriculum and passed a written and oral examination. These children now teach the lower level classes. A Parent Teachers Association was formed to increase the participa tion of the teachers and the parents in our children's education.
Camps for adults and children have been held every year. These camps include discourses, meditation-yoga sessions, discussion groups, crafts, and group games. Jain scholars are invited to conduct these sessions. These well organized events have been attended by a large number of participants, from our local and as far away as California, Utah, Dakota, Texas, Ohio, West Virginia, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Lectures and videos on vegetarianism shown during the camp to motivated all who attend to become vegetarian.
In addition to children's camps and religious classes, children and young adults have arranged a number of other activities including: "Jeopardy" and "It's Academic" type games covering a wide range of questions about Jainism; "Show and Tell" programs where children explain a particular aspect of Jainism with the help of drawings, pictures or posters and participate in the professional staging of the musical dramas.
At the JAINA convention in 1993, the young adults and children of Washington arranged the “Jain Academic Bowl" competition between various Jain centers and staged the musical drama "Shripal-Mayana."
Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated with a speech and/or a stage program by the children. Paryushan Parva and Das Laxan Parva are celebrated with 2 to 3 pravachans every day by a Muni or Jain scholar. The some members will stay at the Jain Center through the Paryushan Parva and carry out various religious activities. Swapna Ceremony is celebrated with Swapna Gheeboli and the carrying of Swapnas to the beats of drums and music as traditionally done in India. Samvatsari Pratikraman is performed by all adults, and a Pratikraman in English is also done for those who only understand English.
Discourse and lecture programs of Jain munis and visiting scholars are arranged throughout the year. These are held as a weekly series on a particular topic, or series of meditation and yoga sessions.
Ahimsa Day is celebrated on the Thanksgiving Day by performing Samuha Ayambil, arranging lectures on vegetarianism, and inviting other local vegetarian organizations to join us. Samuha Ayambil is also performed in April and October. Bhavana programs are held on second Friday of every month. Pooja programs are held regularly at the Center or at the sponsor's home. In addition to our religious programs, we have many social programs which are held to bring all members, adults as well as children, together. These programs include: an annual picnic, skiing trips, roller skating, group games, visits to a recreational or informative places, to name a few. Sessions are also held to gather information from experts on nonreligious topics of general interest.
The JSMW reached a major milestone in March of 1989, when it bought 4.35 acres of land. The work was completed in record time and the inauguration of the Center and the Pratishtha Mahotsav of the Jain temple was performed in August of that same year. The Pratishtha was performed in the presence of Chaturvidh Sangh including 7 Sadhus and 2 Sadhvis. The spiritual leaders who were present included: Acharya Sushil Kumarji, Gurudev Chitrabhanuji, Bandhu Triputi (Munishree Munivijayji, Keertichandraji, and Jinchandraji), Charukeerti Bhattarakji, Amarendra Muniji, and Sadhvi Madhusmitaji and Jaysmitaji. The temple has two Shwetambar and 1 Digambar idols with Shantinath Bhagwan as the Moolnayak. The 4200 sq. ft. building includes a large hall, classrooms, library and rooms for accommodating of visiting munis and scholars.
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JAIN DIGEST For Private & Personal Use Only
November 1996
Jain Education Intemational
www.ainelibrary.org
