Jain Digest 1998 01 Vol 14 No 01

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

Page 12

REGIONAL NEWS (continued)
to elect new officers for the year 1998. For further information please contact Kanti Shah 918-369-3163.
Dallas, Texas
Swadhyay activities are continuing on a regular basis twice a week in addition to weekend Pujas and meetings. We were blessed with a week long visit by Saman Shrut Pragnaji and Ashwini Pragnaji from Nov. 20 to 26, 1997. Through their lectures they emphasized ways to control and change human nature to get on the path of progress towards salvation. They covered such topics as Leshya's (so that one can choose to avoid the worst ones and strive to remain in the gentle ones), stress manage- ment through mental control as well as physical activities derived from Preksha Dhyan (meditation) and proper understanding of Karma's and how to control them in daily life and ways to stop in-flow and to remove the ones that have been attached to our soul. Through additional Preksha Dhyan sessions members were able to learn and actively practice their techniques.
Jain Youth Group members conducted a food drive in December and donated collected items to the area food banks. About
ten members donated their TIME to the Salvation Army by working in their warehouse stocking and dispensing toys and clothing to the needy.
Jain Society was singularly recognized and awarded a plaque for its contributions, by the India Association of North Texas. Jain Society along with Gurudev Chitrabhanuji held an Ahimsa March for JSNT's year long celebration of FREE DOM-50 (50 years of India's independence). It also contributed money towards about 2000 food cans to help JSNT in reaching their goal of 50,000+ cans for the charitable organizations in the DFW metroplex. Recently JSNT president Pradeep Shah talked on Asian News Radio program about the principles of Jainism and what makes one a Jain.
Jain Society is actively working towards a goal of an expanded Jain Center. Since we have outgrown our present facilities and there is no room to expand here, we are looking at new locations to build a new temple as well as a new hall and class rooms for Pathshala.
The JSNT contact person is current president Pradeep Shah at 972/867-6255.
Houston, Texas
Jain Society of Houston celebrated its second anniversary of the Pratishtha (done in Nov. 1995) on December 7, 1997. It was a great success. Dr. A. L. Mehta conducted the pujas and other rituals. A lot of members participated in Abhishek and flag hoisting ceremony.
Plans for the Jain Center expansion have been reviewed and one of the plans (Plan A) has been recommended by the planning committee as it fulfills all the requirements in a cost effective way. This plan calls for an addition of about 3760 sq. ft. for additional class rooms and guest quarters and also for renovation of the existing hall, kitchen, playground and other facilities. JSH contact is president Jitendra Shah at 281/550-3155.
Jain Fellowship (the youth) helda workshop on January 31 which included how to make Malas, take care of Murtis and yoga. A camping trip is planned for the weekend of March 7-8 and the Annual Banquet is planned for April 4, 1998. The group is also very busy as Houston is the host city for the upcoming YJA convention during the weekend of July 4th. Jain Fellowship contact is Jharana Sanghani at 281/530-0535.
West Chandrakant Parekh, Regional Editor
Los Angeles, CA
Jain Center of Southern California has elected a new Board of Directors which includes: Kantilal Shah, President; Dhiren Mehta, Vice President; Ramesh Khandhar, Secretary; Hemant Gandhi, Treasurer; Tejas Mehta, Public Relations; and Harish Khona, Yogi Shah, Vipul Shah, Pratibha Desai, Pradip Dalal, Rasik Shah, Viren Shah, Gordhan Patel, Shashikant Jogani, and
, Shashikant Jogani, and Vipin Vadecha as Directors.
Vastu Mahurat Snatra Puja and the opening ceremony of the newly acquired Post Office Building was organized on Sunday, September 28. The ribbon cutting ceremony was performed by Dr. Chunibhai and Ilaben Shah. The first floor of the 10/JAIN DIGEST SPRING 1998
building is occupied by the U.S. Postal Service (hence the name) and the second floor is now used to organize pathshala classes. The acquisition of the Post Office Building and the adjoining empty lot are of major significance to expand the existing Jain Center and its various facilities. Efforts Jain Center and its various facilities. Efforts to develop the expansion plans are now underway. Kartiki Punam was celebrated on November 16.
With an enrollment of 240 students, a staff of 40 teachers, and a group of 35 volunteers, the Jain Center has one of the largest pathshala programs in America. The Jain Center Youth Council (CYC) has elected a new committee which includes Suken Jain and Karishma Shah, Joint Pres
dents; Bansari Shah, Vice President; Nikita Shah, Secretary; Vrinda Shah, Treasurer, Pinita Shah, Activity Director: Tanvi Vyas and Ketan Shah, Historian; Nehal Shah and Amrish Parekh, Public Relations; and Shanehi Shah, Rachana Shah, Sonal Sheth, and Neera Jhaveri, Members at Large.
From December 26 to 29,75 children, ages seven to nineteen, and 11 volunteers attended a winter camp held at Camp Arrowhead in San Bernardino Mountains. T he topic of "Paap and Punya" was addressed at the camp. The children were divided into three classes based on age groups (ten and under, eleven to thirteen, and fourteen and older). It is interesting to note that the majority of the students scored
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