YJA Convention 2014 07 Washington DC

Author(s): Young Jains of America (YJA)
Publisher: Young Jains of America YJA USA

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SESSIONS AND DESCRIPTIONS
Why are there so few Jains? Why is Jainism such a hard religion to follow? The great Acharya Umasvati said "pramatta yogat prana vyaparopanam himsa", meaning deprival of life due to non-vigilance is violence. Maybe we're too distracted, too lazy, or even just ignorant of our potential. Fortunately, there are simple ways to change that. Come find out how to take your understanding of Jainism to the next level!
The Power of Awareness Priyal Canc
The Power of Intentional Movement and the Present Moment
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Anthony Paz
What does it mean to live your life with intention? How do yoga and meditation serve as anchors for us to access and tap into the present moment? As future leaders, channeling this source of intelligence is crucial in order to insight personal and collective harmony and change. In this session, Anthony Paz will be discussing how the role of intentional movement is a key factor in leadership and as a way of establishing a relationship with the present moment, guided by a short meditation.
The Purpose of Religion: The Truth behind Jainism's Existence
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Chintav Shah
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In the end, what is religion but a message with an impact on its believers' lives? Our religion propounded 2500 years ago by Mahavir Swami has a varied impact on each of us: your mother's influence from Jainism is vastly different from your own. How can you maximize the impact from this message, and what is inherently wrong with humanity that prevents us from seeing the depths within religion? I travelled alone to India for two weeks to answer these questions at the most auspicious place on Earth - Palitana. The answer I discovered will change everything you think you know.
The Relativity of Religion
Shikhar Shah
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Herclitus said the only constant in life is change. Why, then, do we never reassess the philosophy that guides and defines so many of our lives? Let's take a second to put Jainism in a historical perspective and question whether many of these "strict" guidelines we follow are, well, necessarily necessary. Boiled water, milk, varakh - these are just some of the interesting topics we'll mull over. Join us for this fun and interesting debate!
Understanding Modern-day Slavery
Aashika Damodar
This session is intended to introduce participants to modern-day forms of slavery and human trafficking in the United States, and to examine the human rights violations associated with these injustices. Participants will learn about both transnational and local forms of human trafficking, learn about coming misconceptions concerning trafficking, reflect on case studies illustrating instances of slavery and learn what can be done to address this egregious crime and violation of human rights. Please be aware that some of the activities in this session will contain sensitive language and and/or traumatic for some.
Tomorrow Phic material, which may be difficult
Unspoken Taboos: Breaking Down the Barriers
Amit Shah, Resha Shah, Ruchita Parikh
Unspoken Taboos: Taken to the Next Level
Amit Shah, Resha Shah. Ruchita Parikh
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Have you ever been in a relationship but had to hide it from your parents? Have you wanted to tell your loved ones something about yourself but weren't sure how to bring it up? Relationships, love, depression. All of these topics are often seen as taboo in our society, yet they affect each and every one of us to some degree. During this session, we'll break down the walls of each taboo, give examples of how you can address them with your family and friends, and answer any questions. You'll be sure to take away something valuable from this session!
YOUNG JAINS: TODAY'S LEARNERS, TOMORROW'S LEADERS
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Have you dated someone outside the community and had to hide it? Is gay marriage an issue you'd like to discuss? Have you ever wanted to tell your family something but weren't sure how to bring it up? Relationships, Love, Depression, & Suicide. These topics are considered taboo in our society, yet they affect each and every single one of us. They aren't mentioned by our parents, peers, or community, until now. During this session, we'll break down the walls of each taboo, give examples of how you can address each situation with your loved ones, discuss them, and answer questions.
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