Jain Digest 1997 04

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

Page 10

The first anniversary of the temple Pratishtha was celebrated in November, 1996.
The 1996 South Regional Convention where over 200 people gathered at the Jain Center in November, 1996 to discuss and learn about Jainism, was hosted by Jain Fellowship of Houston with the help of volunteers of all ages. The convention's theme "Days of Our Lives: Modernizing Jainism" described the goals of the lectures and discussions programmed for the convention. The conference reviewed modern issues with a Jain outlook, instead of simply presenting Jain ideology and concepts. It addressed issues that affect people in their day-to-day life. The participants took home information to help them transform their daily habits to be more Ahimsak, more healthy and more Jain.
The participants debated topics such as environmentally-friendly habits, animal rights awareness, Jain history and issues that confront the Jain the community, ritual vs. philosophy, abortion and Jain participation in the political arena. A conference culminated in a lively garba-rass.
The members of the Asia Society of Texas visited our center on Saturday, January 18, 1997 as a part of their program to bring greater understanding among Asian organizations. The program included a lecture on understanding of Jainism, the history of the Jain Society of Houston, a visit to the temple, an exhibition of Jain artifacts/pictures/books and cultural program by youngsters.
3905 Arc Street
Houston, TX 77063 713/879-9457
The Jain Center of Greater Phoenix
The Center had Dharmalabh from Mumukshu Sudhaben Sheth visiting from Agaas, India and Subhashbhai Sheth from Vankaner, India after the auspicious Paryushan Parva of 1996.
Works by Shrimad Raj Chandra were part of the celebration of the Greater Phoenix Jain Mumukshus in the Indocultural religious center during the fourth quarter of 1996.
In February, 1997 our young people and adults held a camp in Payson, Arizona.
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Chandrakant Parekh Regional Editor
The Jain Center of Southern California
The new members elected to the Board of Directors include: Shashikant Jogani, Gordhan Patel, Kanti Shah, Prafula Shah, Viren Shah, Devika Udani, and Vipin Vadecha. In addition, Virendra Shah, President; Sumati Shah, Vice President; Ramesh Khandhar, Secretary; Harshad Kothari, Treasurer; Hemendra Shah, Public Relations; and Shailesh Shah, Yogesh Shah, and Harshida Vasa, Directors, will continue to serve the second year of their term of appointment.
Nearly 70 children, ranging in age from 8 to 16 years, and ten adult volunteers including three teachers, Ramesh Khamdhar. Yogesh Shah and Dipika Shah,
Jain Center of Southern California. JCYC Winter Camp 96,in the San Jacinto Mountain
participated in the Jain Center Youth Council's (JCYC) winter camp held from December 27-30, 1996 at Pine Spring Ranch in Riverside County. The curriculum for the camp included prayers, yoga and meditation, leaming to understanding of Samyak Darshan, Samyak-Gyan, and Samyak-Charitra, and a review of a variety of articles on Jain religion, worship, ethics, practice, beliefs and discrepancies. On the
last day, the students were required to take a test in order to assess their understanding. There were consistently good test scores confirming our youngsters ability to concentrate, learn, understand, and benefit from a peaceful environment devoid of distractions like television, the phone and interruptions of family and friends. Following the success and popularity of this camp, the coordinators are thinking about organizing a similar one this summer.
The Jain community of San Fernando Valley organized a Panch Kalyanak Mahotsav at the Valley Hindu Temple located at 18700 Roscoe Boulevard, Northridge, California 91325, Telephone: 818/7727736. The Prathishtha Mahotsav program, celebrated from December 19 - 22, 1996 included a variety of religious ceremonies leading to the prathistha of the murtis.
A record number of children are enrolled in pathshala and the religious classes for the adults have also grown in popularity. Children and adults participated in a shibir organized on January 26, 1997. Children, ranging in age from 8 to 16, were divided by age groups into three classes to
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learn about the Nav Tarva in English. The adult session, was conducted in Gujarati by Girishbhai Shah and explored the topic of "Punya and Pap." A set of vu-graphs prepared by Sushma Parekh were of great help in providing a step-by-step explanation of the subject matter.
The JAINA Executive Committee met at the Center in February, 1997. Following a review and discussion of the status of
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