Jain Digest 2002 04

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

Page 14

COMMITTEE NEWS:
JAINA PATHSHALA TEACHERS' CONFERENCE
JAINA Education Committee organized "Second Jain Pathshala Teachers' Conference 2002" at Los Angeles, CA on the Memorial Day weekend. The conference was hosted by the Jain
Center of Southern California. There were 112 Pathshala teach
ers and educators from USA, Canada and Singapore. Twentyseven Jain Centers from North America were represented at the conference. Thirty-one Jain families of Los Angeles area hosted the attending delegates and volunteers provided transportation. the attending delegates and volunteers provided transportation. All the meals were provided by the center.
Three-day conference was full of activities that included thirtytwo presentations, breakout sessions and educational material displays from several Jain Centers. Main theme of the conference was "Jain Education for Digital Generation". Topics of the presentations were divided into several themes that included Leveraging Technology, Creative ways of teaching Pathshala, Role of ascetics in Pathshala, Place for rituals and sutras in Pathshala, Role of adult swadhyay in Pathshala, Role of children and youth in Pathshala, Future youth projects, Importance of interfaith activities. Activities beyond Pathshala, Growth and evolution of Pathshalas in America.
Jain Education CD was distributed to all Pathshala teachers. The CD contains the following fifteen folders (478 files):
01 Jaina Education Material (Revised 7 Books) 02 Los Angeles Conf 2002 - Presentations
03 Jain Workshop Material
04 Life of Mahavir-swami
05 Ahimsa - several articles
06 Inspiration Stories
07 Comparative Religions
08 Rituals
09 Jain Articles
10 Reference Books (20)
11 Unique Jain and other Presentations
12 Graphics-Tirthankar Murtis
13 Graphics-Jain Tirths
14 Dreams of Trishala -Video files AVI
The Jain Education CD is available at cost of $5.00 plus postage from the Jaina Education Committee chairperson Pravin K. Shah (pkshah1@attglobal.net) 919-859-4994. You can freely copy and distribute the CD to others.
Jain Center of Southern California managed the whole affair very well, and as a result it a very successful conference. Details of the conference will be available later.
12/JAIN DIGEST. SUMMER 2002
MEANING OF TEMPLE
By Shree Gurudedu Chitrabhanu
Jain community in North America is growing rapidly and an increasing number of Jain Centers/Societies are planning to build temples in their communities in the coming years. Many individuals have inquired in the past and sought my guidance about
the correct temple layout. As this is a very important issue, I would like to give my perspective based upon my participation in several temple ceremonies all over the world as well as what is prescribed in our scripture entitled "Pratistha Kalpa & Anjan Shalaka Vidhi”. My perspective is also shared with the opinion of Muni Shree Jambuvijayji Maharaj, internationally renowned scholar and well
respected Jain monk in India.
Murties (Idols) :
This era belongs to Mahavirswami. He was the last Tirthankar whose teachings are well recorded. Our children-especially those brought up in the western world, can easily relate to him. They will be the future torch bearers and practioners of Jainism. This is the reason why I strongly recommend that the new temples be identified with Lord Mahavir instead of other tirthankars unless there is a good reason not to do so.
Please remember that the murties are for pooja and bhakti. People go to temple for their darshan. They are the reminders of Tirthankar's presence who inspired mankind with their living example of Right Vision, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct. Darshan helps us bring out our own innate virtues and intrinsic qualities of our consciousness.
Traditionally the murties are always installed in the temple with the ceremony of Panch(five) Kalyanak (significant events in the life of a tirthankar) Pooja. This pooja is performed exclusively on the murties of tirthankaras and not on any other symbols.
The decisions about the number of murties, their location, and specific tradition should be based on fairness and mutual respect.
Orientation:
The murties should face towards East or towards North. Navakar Mantra:
Navkar Mantra has been given to us by our sages for recitation, meditation, and for Aradhana. It is not for Pooja or idol worship. It would not be appropriate to use it in place of a murti.
Sthanakavasi philosophy calls for a sthanak (place) for Samayik and Pratikraman but not for the pooja of a murti or an idol. By installing Navakar Mantra in the Center, we are doing Tirthankar's ashatana and unknowingly making an idol of a great mantra. To prevent dispute and split in the Jain community, we need to avoid statues/idols of others except those of tirthankars.