Jain Digest 2002 04

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

Page 22

REGIONAL NEWS....
Mahavir Bolo" presented by the Pathshala SAN DIEGO, CA students; lectures by Samanijis Charitrapragyaji and Shardaprajanaj and bhakti and pujas conducted in all the major Jain traditions. Nearly 1,200 people participated in the celebrations.
Henry Manayan, Mayor of Milpitas, was the Chief Guest of Honor who performed the official opening of a Jain art exhibition entitled "Jain Pilgrimage - A Picturesque Experience" at the Jain Bhawan on April 27. The art exhibition was presented by
Mahendra Visaria.
Dr. Pravin Shah, a visiting scholar, conducted the Shrimad Rajchandra Bhakti Swadhyay on April 12-14. A town hall meeting and a Volunteer Recognition Program are scheduled on May 18.
SACRAMENTO, CA
Activities and events in all the major Jain traditions are being held at the Jain Bhawan on a regular basis. Information about forthcoming programs and regular activities are posted on JCNC's website at www.jcnc.org. SEATTLE, WA A copy of the recent newsletter can also be downloaded from this website. For additional information, please contact Jay Itchhaporia, JCNC President, at 408/2638739 or e-mail: Itchhaporia@yahoo.com.
The Jain Center of Greater Sacramento (JCGS) regularly conducts monthly puja on the second Sunday of each month. Children of all ages are encouraged to participate. An annual 3-day retreat is planned for August 16-18, and will be directed by a Samaniji from the Ladnau Center. JCGS organizes a number of activities, religious celebrations, and lectures by visiting dignitaries. For additional information, please contact Mohini Jain, JCGS President, at 530/756-4655 e-mail: mohini_jain@msn.com.
or
20/JAIN DIGEST SUMMER 2002 Jain Education International
Jain Society of San Diego (JSSD) celebrated Mahavir Jayanti on April 21 with stavans by Paresh Shah and a cultural pro- TORONTO: ON gram presented by Jainshala students which included ashta prakari puja, dances, a play about Chandanbala and a skit on four gatis. About 45 people participated in a bus yatra during March to various temples in the Los Angeles area including the Jain Bhavan, Self Realization Fellowship Temple, the Buddhist Temple and the Swami Narayan Temple.
Regular activities include - a monthly Jainshala for children, adult classes, swadhyay, a weekly pooja and feeding the homeless. For additional information, please contact Kokilaben Doshi at 858/6797645 or at kdoshi@ sandiego.edu.
Nearly 100 people participated in the Mahavir Jayanti program, which was celebrated on April 28. Sangeeta Jain conducted the Snatra Puja. 18 students are enrolled in the Jain Pathshala, which meets on the first Saturday of every month. The classes are divided into two levels. Level 1 students learn about the basics of the Jain
religion through classroom instructions, skits, stories and poems. Level 2 students follow a more rigorous curriculum, and develop their own skits, stories and poems about Mahavir, which they like to perform. Members of the Jain community in Seattle area meet on a monthly basis. Jain Pathshala is held on the 1st Saturday of the month and is conducted by Aleena. For additional details, please contact Aleena at 206/236-0170. Jain community members get together every month. For additional information about Jain programs in Seattle area, please contact Mukesh Jain at 425/ 706-9697 email:
or
mukeshj@microsoft.com.
CANADA Dr. Mahendra Mehta, Regional Editor
Mahavir Jayanti was celebrated at Jain Centre this evening of 25th April with some 100+ people.
There were stavans, raas, arti, mangaldivo and a novel idea brought in from India by Ashok Shah. Instead of ghee boli in dollars, he suggested we have ghee boli in number of Samayik to be performed. It started at 11 and reached up to 601. The total for the evening was 1500. Three families who took the bid were advised that they have to arrange group Samayik in the whole year so that they can reach their announced target.
Shri Attmasiddhi Shastra Puja: Ramilaben & Talakchandbhai Doshi organized, Shri Attmasiddhi Shastra Puja, The puja started with Manglacharan (salutation) and then Attmasiddhi was chanted with different rituals of the ceremony. Then the Ashtaprakari (eight-step) puja and Chaityavandan (prayer) was performed. This pooja was a combination of Attmasiddhi and traditional Snatra Pooja. A novel idea.
Akhand Namokar Mahamantra Jaap, continuos 24-hour chanting took place at the nearby Sri Jain Mandir on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti. The Jaap started on Saturday 23 March 2002 at 11:00 a.m. and ended on Sunday 11:00 a.m. Roop Lal Lecture
Continuing the fine tradition of the Roop Lal Jain Lecture Series, Dr. Christo
pher Key Chapple presented an exciting and informative lecture March 7th at the University of Toronto entitled "Jainism, Bioethics, and the End of Life." Dr. Chapple, a Professor of Theological Studies and Director of Asian and Pacific Studies at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles,