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JAIN DIGEST
From the President...
SPRING 2005 VOL.24 NO. 1 CIRCULATION: 11000
In this issue
Jai Jinendra!
JAINA President's visit......3
Here is a summary of what is happening in our community:
For your information........4
Jain centre of Southern
California..
Body and Soul..................7
Committee News...............8
Amalgamation of Science.10
Power of Gratitude..........11
Meaning of Upvaas.........13
Bhogopabhog Virman......15
Anarthadand Virman......17
1. I congratulate the Jain Center of Southern California as well Jain Center of New York
for embarking upon multi million dollar temple projects. These places of worship will spread Jainism, leave a lasting legacy for generations to come, and help get recognition in mainstream America. 2005 JAINA Convention preparations are proceeding very well. The registration trend is very positive. The volunteers from the Jain Center of Northern California are working very hard to make the convention a big hit. Please register quickly if you have not had a
chance to do so. 3. Tsunami Relief fund drive is going very well. Bachubhai Ajmera and Prakash Mehta and
Dr. Dhiraj Shah have identified a reliable NGO chaired by Shri Shantibhai Muttha to use our money for building schools in the Andaman islands. I am very pleased to note that many of our member centers have either committed to JAINA or are seriously thinking of doing so. Please go through JAINA to get the maximum leverage out of our
community funds. JAINA has decided not to charge 3% on these funds. 4. I was in India during Dec. 25, 2004 through Jan. 25, 2005 when I met with a number
of eminent Jain leaders in Bomaby, Ahemadabad, and Jaipur and discussed with them areas of common interest. I attended a Jain Doctors' Medical Conference in Bombay. I went to Ladnu to attend International Preksha Meditation Pro- . gram for 8 days and had several meetings with Acharya Mahapragyaji and his disciples. All in all, I came back with a lot of information useful for our community in North America. Please read the full description of my trip in this
issue. 5. JAINA has always stood for the Unity of all Jains and we plan to affirm our commit
ment at 2005 Convention. We will have many sessions to discuss this important topic and involve many important people with diverse view points. JAINA has been a role model of Jain Unity since its inception and we are determined to keep it this way for
years for the benefit of the entire Jain community. 6. The Jain Centers Resource Committee under the Chairmanship of Dr.Nitin Shah of
Los Angeles, has prepared an excellent check list to build a Jain temple in North America. Please read his report in this issue and call him at 562-902-0277 if you have any questions.
Identification of Dharma. 19
Regional News.................20
My visit to Pavapuri.........23
MIS Registration Form....25
Matrimonials..............27
Tsunami.. wave of hope...29
Jainnism & Enviornment.30
Convention update.........32
Moving. Receiving duplicate copies? Send your address corrections to:
JAIN DIGEST CIRCULATION Federation of JAINA P. O. Box 700 Getzville, NY 14068-0700
With Warmest Personal Regards,
angl. vores Anop R. Vora, President
JAIN DIGEST. Spring 2005/1 Jain Education Intemational
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