________________
“EXTENDING Jain HERITAGE IN WESTERN
ENVIORNMENT – MY EXPERIENCE”
70Setubal
By: Misty Shah ith the blessings of Sadhviji peace and clarity. In the storming waters of the Shubhamji, I began my spiritual jour- ocean, we cannot see a clear reflection. But in the ney, with baby steps, when I was eight calm, peaceful water of the pond, we can see a clear
years old. Sadhviji Shubhamji's gen- reflection. This potential for absolute peace and Misty Shah, a 14 years old, uine love and kindness had a way of captivating darity is within all of us, just as every little seed has
has released two albums me. At that tender age, and even at present, I am the potential to blossom. But for a seed to bloson devotional songs. She is
naive when it comes to many religious rituals. The som, it needs water, sunlight, and nurturance. For
moment is still vivid when I ran into her arms and our soul to blossom with limitless love and bliss, working on "Bhaktamar
ar sat on her lap, feeling the vibrant energy that was we need the guidance and nurturance of a spirituStotra", which will be naturally apart of her. Ever since, she has become al leader. In the disarray of pain, anger and fear, released soon. All the pro- apart of my life and has inspired me to take the when it is easy to lose sight of the peace and clariceeds of CDs will go to path towards becoming a practicing Jain. Every ty, we need a spiritual leader to guide us and someVeeravatan. For more year when she visits the US, I have been blessed times even carry us along the path. A torch guides
with the opportunity to spend time with her. For us through a dark cave, as a spiritual leader guides details, please visit
hours, I would sit by her, listening to her voice, us through life. Spiritual leaders are our guiding www.mistymelodies.com mesmerized by her words and her wisdom. These light for the future. They connect us with our
moments have always been very precious and they past, and bestow us with a glimpse of hope for the have grown into memories that I will cherish for present. the rest of my life. There are many moral stories that she has shared with me. When hearing about
The leaders of our Jain community have the theme for this year Convention, it urged me to brought about the awareness that it is absolutely share Sadhviji Shubhamji's story about the "Seed" essential to sustain Jainism in the Western World. with the Jain Community and the Jain Youth in As a fourteen year old, having been born and raised particular.
in the United States, I believe that along with the
awareness, we need to emphasize the importance We are like a seed. A seed is small, and of having a spiritual leader in our life. Since can easily be blown away, but it has a great poten- Sadhviji Shubhamji came into my life, I feel that I tial to blossom. Our soul has a great potential to have been able to connect with my Jain heritage. It blossom as well. It is filled with infinite energy and is something very precious that will remain apart genuine bliss, but it is masked and suppressed by of me for more than just this lifetime. Sadhviji the "vikaar bhaavs" like pain, anger and fear. Shubamji has nurtured the little spiritual seed in Alone, we try to work our way through this disar- me, and I am sure there are many more all over the ray, but quite often we get lost. We ask ourselves, globe, especially young children like me, who can what are we truly searching for? What is our pur- benefit from the nurturance, guidance and inspirapose in this life? The answers are at our spiritual tion of a spiritual leader. roots within the purity of our soul, when there is
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New Jersey to participate in survive on it and Achievement Certificates were Gurupurnima celebrations attended by In June 2005 Panditji awarded to the children.
over 600 Jains from all over North Abhaykumar Jain, a student of Panditji Pujya Gurudev (Dr. Rakeshbhai America, UK, Belgium, India and Dr. Hukamchand Bharill and an authoraJhaveri) visited Toronto and gave three Singapore.
tive Digambar scholar gave a series of lecSatsangs at Sanatan Mandir and per
Acharya Shree Roopchandji tures at Sri Jain Mandir and at Jain formed five Pratistas in private homes of Maharaj gave four lectures on Meditation Centre in Toronto. The topics of his dismembers of Jain Society of Toronto. at the Jain Centre. The talks were well cussions cannot be included here because More than 400 people attended the attended. The internationally famous of space but suffice it to say that he made Satsangs and requested Pujya Gurudev to Shree Hira Ratan Manck revisited the most esoteric scriptural subjects interrevisit Toronto in 2006. Sixty members of Toronto and gave a talk on his favorite esting and easy to understand for the Jain Society of Toronto took a bus trip to subject on Solar energy and how one can mixed audience of young and old.
20. JAIN DIGEST SUMMER 2005
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