Jain Study Center NC Raleigh 1999 08 Twenty Years

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

Page 69

Jain Study Center: Illuminating the Path to Knowledge
by Mahesh Varia
The Jain Study Center of North Carolina to me has far exceeded its mission of a center for studying Jainism. The Center with its dedicated members and talented leaders has been instrumental in illuminating the path of knowledge of Jainism. This has transformed and advanced my understanding of the concepts of Jainism. The Jain Study Center has been a center of excellence in providing the basic fundamental aspects of Jainism for youths and adults, for those with general familiarity and for those with deeper knowledge, and facilitating this understanding in a very successful manner for each individual. The Center's success goes beyond the study of Jainism by evolving into a caring community that provides the social support for its members. Its members, in return, actively volunteer in the local community, take leadership roles, and contribute to activities nationally.
As we celebrate 20 years of our Jain Study Center, I would like to reflect both on the Center's accomplishments and their impact on me. I'd also like to reminisce about my involvement and participation in the two decades of the Center's vibrant growth and activities. This involvement has been a family affair where Indu, Rachna, Nisha, and Smita have been active participants with their own contributions.
In the Beginning
In 1976, when we moved to Chapel Hill from Philadelphia, we knew that the Indian community here would be relatively small. This was the case in 1970's in most places in the United States even in the larger cities. We did not expect that there would be a Jain society in the Research Triangle Park area. At that time, the Triangle Gujarati Association had not been established formally. The Hindu Society was also in its formative years. So it was with great joy that we attended the first monthly meetings of the Jain Study Center in Durham and Raleigh, cities that we felt were far away before I-40. Some still think that Chapel Hill is a far away place from Raleigh!
The Growing Years
Most remarkably, through the first 10 years of the Jain Study Center, several different aspects of growth were happening simultaneously in several different ways. As our children Rachna, Nisha, and Smita were growing, the Center was also growing in creating educational activities for children of different ages and later for the youth. The "Folder", that the children and the parents have come to know was one the Center's first lamp in illuminating the path of Jainism. It has been instrumental in inculcating the basic knowledge of Jainism. It has also provided moral guidance as all the children enthusiastically prepared their presentations usually at the last minute! We also learned from helping the children prepare their items. All of us owe thanks to the team of Rameshbhai Fofaria and others for creating this folder. Over the years, the Center has provided leadership in making everyone to participate fully and successfully. Children and adults participated in a variety of activities, whether it was the Boston Jain Essay competition, the cultural programs for Mahavir Jayanti Celebrations, or the Jain Camps at Umstead Park.
Jain Education Intemational