Jain Digest 1999 11 Vol 15 No 04

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

Page 9

stall were donated to Shri Mandir. For further information, please contact Kokila Doshi at kdoshi@acusd.edu or 858/6797645.
SOUTHWEST
Jadavji Kenia, Regional Editor
Tulsa, OK
Tulsa during November 12 to 16. She spoke very effectively to our small group. All of our members enjoyed listening to her for four days. Tulsa Jain Sangh will hold an election on December 12 to elect officers for year 2000. Tulsa Jain Sangh contact is Kanti Shah 918/369-3163, KANARU @aol.com
Dallas, Texas
Among the dignitaries since the last report, on Sep. 25-26 we had Professor Dr. Sagarmal Jain who discussed a need to modernize Jainism, moving from rituals and traditions to being practical and rational. Paryushan Parva was observed with great enthusiasm from September 7th-14th with daily Pratikraman and Tapasya for eight days and with a continuation of Das
Lakshna Mahaparva until September 24th. During Das Lakshna there were pujas in the mornings and Swadhyay sessions in the evening. The Mahaparvas were concluded with Ratna Traya Puja and Kshmavani Puja during the weekend (Sep 25-26) at the Jain Center in Richardson, Texas. Swapna darshan ceremony was held in which the Jain Youth Group and younger children Phoenix, AZ participated as usual. Younger Youth Group presented slides covering Bhagwan Mahavir's life. The older group presented a skit depicting Bhagwan Mahavir's ascent from 1st Guna Sthanak to the 14th. Samvatsari Pratikraman was held at two locations and attended by over 200 people. Pratikraman in English was conducted on September 5th. The following Tapasvis did atthai and major Tapasya during Paryushan: Damjibhai Shah (9 upvas), Usha Daftary (Chauvihari atthai), Ashok Daftary, Gautam Daftary, Kirit Daftary (Waco, TX) , Pramila Daftary (Waco, TX), Veena Daulat, Mamta Mehta, Jayshree Parekh, Jitendra Ravani, Bina Shah, Nalini Shah and Usha Shah - all regular atthais. Ramaben Daftary did 6 upvas. Our con
gratulations to all the Tapasvis and
Tulsa Jain sangh had very good Paryushan Parva and celebrated Mahavir Swami's Birth by Swapan darshan. On Samvatsari, youth outnumbered adults in upvas, ekasana and beasana. Our Derasar and Jain center project is moving well. We are expecting to receive building permit by end of November 1999. We are hoping to start construction by April of 2000. We need lots of support from our Jain community in USA. For more information please contact Kanti Shah at (918) 3693163. Our young group will co-sponsor south region Dallas/Tulsa youth convention in Dallas during Thanksgiving. Tulsa youth is responsible for schedule, programs and speakers. They have worked very hard and
all participants deserve a big hand from all of us. Tarlaben Doshi, a Jain scholar visited Michchhami Dukkadam to all local mem- Center of Greater Phoenix E mail address
sive on young minds observing Jiv-Daya in practice along with some learning as to how to help and take care of speechless yet needy animals. JSNT contact is our current president Sudhir Mehta at 972/612-1144 or current vice president Kirit Daftary at 254/ 776-4209..
bers as well as Jain Digest readers everywhere. Diwali celebrations was held on November 7, 1999. Mahavir Nirvan Puja was followed by a Jain song from young children and a couple of Jain games - Who wants to be a Tirthankar and Family Feud between Jain and Shah Families performed by the Jain Youth Group. These games were very informative for the general audience. Jain Youth Group (along with youth from Tulsa & Houston) is hosting a Southwest Region Youth Convention during the Thanksgiving Weekend. About 50-60 youth are expected to participate. Earlier on October 10th, youth along with some adults visited an animal sanctuary personally managed and funded by our own members Bonny and Ratilal Shah near Dallas. They have over 200 animals ranging from birds and ducks to goats, llamas, donkeys, pigs and horses. This visit was truly impres
The Jain Center of Greater Phoenix had good Paryushana Mahaparva and is aware of the following tapsayas: Bipinbhai Patel eight upvas, Ushma Bavishi seven upvas and one ekasana, Jainy Savla (14 years old) 30 ekasana, 15 beasana and one upvas, Bina Desai eight beasana, Kiritbhai Gosalia six upvas. There were several young jains who followed fasting rituals during Paryushans ranging from several upvas to a day of beasana. They are Prayash Gandhi, Jinesh Savla, Milee Gosalia, Meera Gosalia, Abha Gosalia, and Mital Gosalia. The Swamivatsalya was celebrated on October 3, at Dobson Ranch followed by general body meeting. Jain center thanks the event coordinator Nita and Dilit Sheth. Pathshala
kids are also participating in community volunteering events on a routine basis. Jain
is jain_phoenix@hotmail.com and contact is Bhakti Gosalia at (623) 561-2148).
Houston, TX
Dr. Sagarmal Jain's scholarly teachings
of Jin Vani during the Paryushan and Das Lakshana Mahaparva provided pious perspective of our religion. He let us dive into deep detailed analytical imperative and implicative understandings of the Samyak Gyan, Darshan, Charitra, Tap, Karma Bandh, Karma Nirjara and Moksha in real life. Dr. Jain explained and emphasized importance of begining, continuing and working for finishing journey towards Mukti regardless of variations in ways and means adopted. He sailed us through quick and brief glance at the history of our Jain religion. We along with our youngsters ac
JAIN DIGEST WINTER 1999/7