Jain Study Center NC Raleigh 1999 08 Twenty Years

Author(s): Jain Study Center NC Raleigh
Publisher: USA Jain Study Center NC Raleigh

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Introduction
The Jain Study Center of North Carolina is a non-profit religious organization created in the month September of 1979. The main purpose of the organization is to study and understand Jain religion, philosophy, rituals, and literature and to educate the children. It is a tax-exempt religious organization in the USA. In 1979, the Center started with 12 members in the organization. At present, the Center consists of 77 members of which 60 are life members.
Monthly Meetings
Twenty Years... Our Jain Study Center.... As Time Flies
Since the formation of the Center, both the youths and adults meet regularly once a month to study and discuss Jainism. The meeting schedule and the host family names are published in January of each year. The monthly meeting starts on Sunday at 10:30 AM. The following format is followed during the meeting:
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Prayers and Singing of Stavans
Children's Presentations of Religious Subjects
Adult Discussion of Religious Topics
Administrative Items and Announcements
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• Potluck Lunch
Children prepare the religious topics at home from the Children's Jain Folder (Blue or Red colored) that was compiled in 1982 (version-1) and 1984 (version-2). The book consists of more than 200 pages and it is divided into five sections: stories, samayik sutras, mantras, basic philosophy, and prayers. Children present the topics in the meeting. An award system has been developed to reward the children for their presentations. Many children have completed their study of the entire folder. This Children's Folder was distributed to other Jain centers of North America and many centers use it in their pathashala classes.
Adult discussions have covered the various topics of Jain philosophy, ethics, conducts, rituals, literature, and comparative religions. The discussion is very interactive and lively. We also invite guest speakers to address our monthly meeting.
Weekly Jain Puja at Hindu Temple
The Jain Study Center of North Carolina is affiliated with the Hindu Center of North Carolina through a long-standing, symbiotic relationship. As a result, the Hindu Temple in Morrisville has a statue of Lord Mahavir and is the venue for major Jain events and celebrations. Since the opening of the Hindu Temple (1986) every Saturday morning, Lord Mahavir's Puja and Prayer is performed by our Center's members. The president of the Hindu Center appreciates this activity very much and desires that every religion group within the Hindu Center perform similar activities for their deities.
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