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Regional News:
Paryushan Parva in Pittsburgh
The Jain Community of Greater Pittsburgh celebrated the most auspicious Paryushan Parva and Das Laxana from August 27 to September 14.
Pujya Pramodaben Chitrabhanu from Jain Meditation International Center, New York gave discourses from August 26 to September 3 and talked about five duties of Jains namely A-mari Pravartan (Ahimsa), Sadharmik Vatsalya. Kshamapana, Tapa and Chaitya Paripathi (Tirth Yatra). She also talked about Bhagvan Mahavir's teachings of Ahimsa,
Compassion for all forms of life, Anekantvad (multiplicity of views), Karmavad, and Aparigrah (Nonpossesiveness). Discourse on Bhagwan Mahavir's teachings was also attended by about 15 American friends of Pramodaben and Gurudev Chitrabhanu. We saw a video of cruel treatment of cows in India taken by PETA. Pramodaben wanted to convey the message that we should try to give up milk and other dairy products and become vegan.
Shwetamber Jains celebrated Paryushan from August 27 to September 3. In addition to daily group Puja, Swadhyaya and Pratikraman, Swapna Darshan and Bhagwan Mahavir's Janma Vanchan was performed on 5th day and the Samvatsari Pratikram on the last day of Paryushan. After Samvatsari Pratikraman, everyone asked for and granted each other forgiveness by saying "Michchhami Dukkadam", which means
please forgive me and I also forgive you if we have hurt each other by our thoughts, speech or action. Swapna Darshan and Mahavir's Janma Vanchan was attended by approximately 200 people and was followed by Sadharmik Vatsalya. Digamber Jains celebrated Das Laxana from September 4 to 14 by observing ten virtues of soul namely Kshama, Mardav (humility), Aarjava (straight forwardness), Shauch (contentment), Satya, Sanyam, Tapa, Tyag, Brahmacharya, and Akinchanya (Aparigraha). In addition to Das Laxan and Anant Chaudas group pujas, Kshamavaani puja was preformed on September 20. After the Puja they asked for and granted each other forgiveness. It was a very joyous and enlightening experience during the entire Paryushan and Das Laxana Parva. Our Sangh also did Panch Tirth Yatra from May 02 to May 04, 2008 by visiting Detroit, and East Lansing, MI and Toledo, Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio temples. Sangh was well received by Jain community of all five cities. The Panch Tirth Yatra was a great success and Detroit and Columbus Sangh are planning a visit to Pittsburgh Temple in the near future. Jain Society of Pittsburgh elected the following new committee in June 2008 for a period of 2 years.
President - Anil Parikh, Vice President - Harshad Mehta, Secretary Ketan Shah, Treasurer Mahendra Gajarawala, Members Dipen Shah, Chandrakant Shah and Mira shah, Immediate Past President Bhupendra kamdar.
12 / JAIN DIGEST. Fall 2008
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