Jain Digest 1998 07 Vol 14 No 03

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

Page 12

REGIONAL NEWS (continued)
Northeast
Vinay Vakani, Regional Editor
Essex Fells, NJ
Jain Center of New Jersey (JCNJ) has been very busy this summer. JCNJ had many Jain scholars visiting for religious ceremony or Swadhayay.
A Siddhachakrapujan by Babubhai Kadiwala and Padmavatidevipujan by Rajendra Dalal were performed at the temple. Muni Jinchandraji and Saman Shrutpragnaji gave two lectures each, and Kiranbhai Parekh conducted Swadhyaya for three weeks and will come back for one more week later this summer. The High School Graduating Class kept up with JCNJ tradition and performed Pooja to celebrate their graduation. Pathshala classes were conducted until the summer break and will start again in the fall.
Paryushana Parva was celebrated under the guidance of Pandit Dhirajbhai Mehta. He gave discourses on Kalpa Sutra in the morning and Paryushana Na Kartavyo/ Ganadharvad in the evening. The attendance at both times was plentiful. A Snatra Pooja was performed everyday during Paryushana by brothers Virendra C. Shah and Kirti C. Shah. Angies were done on all three Pratimas of Rishabhadev, Parshwanath and Mahavirswami every evening by Niranjan shah. Mahavir Jayanti was celebrated on Sunday with great enthusiasm in which over 2,000 local Jains participated during the Swapna Darshan ceremony. This year JCNJ had the highest number of Atthai Tapasvies- 56 to be exact with many young people participating in this difficult endeavor.
New York, NY
Jain Study Circle, Inc. held its quarterly meeting in Forest Hills residence of the Nahar family on August 6, 1998. After conducting certain official business related to projects completed or in progress, funding and election of new officers for the organization, the participants engaged in at
10/JAIN DIGEST⚫ FALL 1998 Jain Education International 2010_02
serious discussion on the topic of Char Kashays (Four Passions). How these four passions- Krodh (anger), Maan (pride), Maya (deceit) and Lobh (greed) control one's destiny and Samyam (restraint) is necessary to combat these passions- these were the points brought out during the discussion. Jain Study Circle publishes Jain Study Circular, which is sent to approximately 6000 Jains throughout North America. Jain Study Circle has also published the Studies in Jainism series of books that the Jain community has found very useful. Jain Study Circle has recently opened its website on internet. Jain Study Circle holds quarterly meetings in the New York Metropolitan area in which the participants discuss topics on Jain principles and precepts. If you would like to attend, please call 718/699-4653 or visit JSC web site at www.jainstudy.org.
Jain Center of America, (New York)
Jain Center of America (JCA) in New York City celebrated Paryushana Parva from August 19 through August 26, 1998 with great enthusiasm and very active participation of its members living New York city and Long Island. There were daily discourses by Kiranbhai Parekh and Muni Roopchandji at the Ithaca Street Temple and at Francis Lewis High School. JCA also celebrated Mahavir Jayanti on Sunday August 23, 1998. Despite the uncomfortable heat in the school gymnasium, the Swapna Darshan ceremony was attended by a large gathering and a huge sum of money was raised at this occasion. The organizers were delighted by the turnout and the generous contributions by the attendees. At the appropriate time, Kiranbhai Shah read the Mahavir Janma segment form the sacred book of Kalpa-Sutra. Dr. Dilip Mukhtyar, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, made a detailed presentation of the planned construction of the new temple on outskirts of
New York City and made a persuasive appeal for contribution for the Temple Construction Fund. This year JCA had 50 Atthais-a record for JCA-with many young people participating in this extremely difficult Tapasya. A large number of areas Jains participated in Samvatsari Pratikraman and asked forgiveness-Michhami Dukkadam! from each other.
JCA will celebrate the Dash Lakshana Parva of the Digamber Tradition from August 27, through September 5, 1998 under the guidance of Bhuwankeerti Bhattarakji.
Earlier in the summer, JCA organized a Health Camp at the Ithaca Street Temple. At this camp, a team of doctors provided medical consultation and services such as checking of blood pressure, cardiogram, mammogram etc. for about 70 participants. A Meditation Camp was also organized by JCA at Sidhhachalam. A Jain Youth Camp was organized on Long Island under the guidance of Gurudev Chitrabhanuji in which about 125 young people participated.
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The society had formed a Pratishtha committee with over 20 subcommittees and 300 volunteers to plan, prepare and execute a variety of tasks to complete the celebration of this Mahotsav. This was truly a sincere and devoted team effort where everyone contributed to the best of their abilities to ensure a safe and successful program. The volunteers of other Jain Sanghs including The Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago, Jain Society of Toronto, Jain Society of Cincinnati/Dayton, Jain Society of New