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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So, how has the Jain Center of NC affected me? It laid the foundation for my belief system. All too often, individuals follow religious beliefs "just because." They believe blindly. From my learning, I know why I believe what I believe.
Satyen Mehta is a medical resident, currently living in Gainesville, Florida.
The Jain Group: My Family by Smita Varia
The Jain Study Center of North Carolina has been a part of me for my entire life. The religion, the philosophy, the places, and most importantly, the people have helped me develop into who I am today. My family was one of the first families to join the group when I was only 2 years old. 20 years later, it warms my heart to think about how much our group has grown, how much we have done, how much Jainism we have learned, how much fun we have had, and how much love we hold for one another.
One of the memories that always pops into my head when I think back on the twenty years of the Jain Study Center is the "Jain Folder" all of the youths had. This folder has prayers, stories, poems, instructions on how to perform certain rituals, and so much more information about Jainism and other religions. Every month when we gathered for our Jain Meeting, my sisters and I had to study something from the folder and then recite it in front of the group. After we had recited 10 entries from the Jain folder, the center would reward us. Then while the parents were discussing Jainism, all of us children would go upstairs and play games all afternoon. We made up games, we played cards, and we just would talk about anything and everything. The other children became my brothers and sisters. We have grown up together and have shared so much. I remember that my other friends wanted to be honorary Jains, because they wanted to be included in the closeness we had with each other.
As time went by, when we started going to college, some families moved away, and in other cases the youth missed some meetings. However, the parents in our community always made sure they knew what was going on in our lives. They would be so proud of our accomplishments in school, or other activities that we were involved in. They were always there for our sixteenth birthday parties, our high school graduation parties, and also the sad events in our lives. When my grandfather died four years ago, the Jain group came forward and arranged the funeral for the next day, notifying my other relatives, picking them up at the airport, making food, and just being there to support my family. All of the people in our Jain group combine to make a strong, loving and fun community and strive to learn and practice Jain principles. I know I am extremely lucky to have them all in my life, and I have been honored to be a part of it.
The Jain Study Center of North Carolina has been a tremendous influence on my life. They have all have been my teachers, my friends and most importantly, my family.
Smita Varia is a graduate of North Carolina State University, currently working in Chapel Hill.
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