Jaina Focus
September/October 1998

Finally, after six months of preparation, an auspicious day had arrived. I flew from Buffalo to New York JFK airport to meet up with the other pilgrims arriving from different parts of the country including California Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. The same scene was taking place at the same time at O’Hare airport in Chicago where pilgrims from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Oklahoma had gathered. All these pilgrims, a total of 65 swarmed the Air India lobbies with eager faces, anxiously anticipating the once in a lifetime pilgrimage to Samet Sikharji and several other holy sites for Jains in the state of Bihar. There were also the representatives of Jain Sanghs of Chicago and New York to bid farewell and best wishes to all the pilgrims.

It was a historic day in JAINA’S short history. JAINA has become a financially strong, mature and morally upbeat organization and is spreading its wings in all direction to serve the Jain community of North America.

Weather it was helping to build new temples or hosting pathshala teacher’s convention, supporting the Young Jains of America national or regional convention, organizing essay contests for youths and adults or sending very useful educational material on CD-ROM on religion and life of Lord Mahavir, helping the needy living beings in any part of the world, JAINA has become a prestigious organization in North America as well as around the globe.

This pilgrimage, organized by JAINA and assisted by Veerayatan has provided an opportunity to so many Jains, young and old to see their heritage with their own eyes, instead of just reading or hearing about it. A delegation of 35 Jains from the U.K. and 30 from East Africa will join JAINA in New Delhi and will create an international Jain Sangh unparalleled in the history of Jainism.

This yatra has been timed to enable North American Jains to participate in the 25^th Anniversary celebration of Veerayatan. Under the guidance of Acharya Chandanaji, Veerayatan has become a shining example of service to the humanity – Compassion in Action.

Local Jain Sanghs will receive us at all the pilgrimage sites. The Governor of Bihar H. H Mr. Bhandari has invited us to the Raj Bhavan in Patna for lunch. The Chief Minister of Bihar and Prime Minister of India will meet the pilgrims. The Governor of West Bengal H.H. Mr Kidwai will also greet us in Calcutta.

Like many milestones in the short history of JAINA, this will be one of the greatest. In a few hours, we will be on the land where our faith took birth and grew in strength – a land that introduced a profound religious thinking based on Ahimsa, Anekantvad, Aprigrah and Anukampa, a land that may still show the way in the chaotic world of today.

-Dr. Dhiraj Shah – President, JAINA

September 30, JFK Airport

A meeting of the convention Board was held on September 12^th,1998 at the home of Shri Veljibhai and Champaben Bid in Livngston, NJ. The following persons were present:

Dr. Dhiraj Shah, President - JAINA; Dr. Mahendra Pandya, First Vice President-JAINA; Davendra Peer, Convenor; Tansukh Maru, Chairman-Souvenir Committee; Velji Bid, Chairman-Registration Committee; Vastupal Shah, Chairman- Fund Raising Committee; Shirish and Rama Mehta –Souvenir Committee; Kishore and Kundan Ghelani, Chairman – Food Committee, Hansa Shah, Co Chair – Souvineer Committee, Dr. Meeta D. Peer, Chairman- Medical Committee. The other guests present were R. M. Shah, London UK; Kirti Shah, Arvind Bhandari, Vinay & Vimla Vakani, Dinesh Chheda & Nirmal Dosi all of NJ.

Samarpan Jain Sangh of Philadelphia, PA is proud to host the next Biennial JAINA Convention during July 2^nd to July 5^th 1999. The convention will be held at the famous Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, which is a northern suburb of Philadelphia. Registration forms will be mailed to all the Sanghs in December 1998. We will be very grateful if you put the registration forms in your newsletter and distribute it widely so that all Jains are notified and are given chance for early registration. A concern was raised by one participant on the cost of registration and hotel charges for someone who can not afford it. The board agreed that any needy member may apply through their local Sangh and if the Sangh verify the need and forwards the application to the Board before May 1^st, 1999, The Convention Board will find a way to subsidize the needy applicant. They can be sure of equal chance of attending if they apply before the deadline of May 1^st. Do not let any Jain in your center not attend the convention because of financial difficulty.

The Theme of the convention would be Jainism in the New Millenium. We would welcome your comments, articles and suggestions for the names of speakers for the convention.

As usual, the convention will have cultural programs. We invite your center to present at least one item (Dance, drama, musical performance, Dandia Raas, comedy etc.) Please let us know your

Item, staging requirements and the length of time. An independent panel of judges will select your item based on merit before showing at the convention. The winning center will get a plaque and a prize. Please showcase your talent to win the hearts of Jain Brothers and sisters.

We are holding a "raffle" ticket sale as a fundraiser for this convention. Your center’s cooperation is requested for this event. The ticket price is $20. The drawing will be on 4^th of July 1999 at the convention. The buyer does not have to be present to win. The center that sells more than 300 tickets will qualify for a TV/VCR as a gift. The center that sells 150 tickets will also qualify for a smaller TV. Non Jains may buy tickets and participate at the convention.

Two winning tickets will be selected and awarded prizes yet to be determined by the board.Your cooperation is earnestly solicited in collecting monies from the sale of tickets. We would appreciate if you would please make sure you get the buyers name, address and phone number on the ticket. The $20 qualifies as a tax-deductible donation for the Federal Income Tax purposes.

We need your support for this worthy cause. 300 tickets will be mailed to each center. Please acknowledge receipt and return it to us duly filled. We trust you will name a person in charge of these ticket sales in your center that we may contact. Mrs. Hansa Shah (302 764-6577), our Vice President will be happy to answer your questions on this matter.

This Convention represents the entire Northeast Corridor of North America. It is for all the Jains. There will be something for everyone. And your effort will make it so. We are reaching out to you, our Jain Brothers and Sisters. Let us hear from you.

Devendra T. Peer

Sweety B. Shah (Age 15)
From Jain Center of Metropolitan Chicago
31 Upvas (Mas Kshman)

Jain Center of Northern California

Jain Sangh of Allentown

Aneri Doshi (Age: 6 yrs.)
From Jain Center of America – New York
8 Upvas (Atthai)

Jain Center of Greater Boston

Jain Society of Toronto

Jain Center of Southern California

Jain Center of New Jersey

Binghamton Jain Sangh

Jain Society of Greater Cleveland

Jain Society of Middle Tennessee

Jain Center of Metropolitan Chicago

JSMC reports 90 members observed fasting for 3 to 7 days. 28 of the 90 were Youth members.

Forty Nine youth members observed fasting for 1 or 2 days or Ekasnas 8 days.

Jain Center of Rochester

The Jain Sangh - Cherry Hill, N. J.

Jain Center of Central Ohio

Jain Study Group of Charlotte

Jain Center of British Columbia

Jain Association of Montreal

Jain Society of Cincinnati & Dayton

Jain Center of America – New York
Youth

Adults

Jain Society of Fort Myers

Jain Society of Central Florida

Jain Society of Greater Detroit

Jain Center of South Florida

Tulsa Jain Sangh Inc.

Jain Society of North Texas-Dallas

JAINA INVITED TO MEET

WITH THE PRIME MINISTER

JAINA has been invited to meet with the Prime Minister Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee. Indian Embassy has arranged the reception at Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York for Indian community leaders on Friday, September 25 during Prime Ministers visit to the General Assembly of the United Nations. Dr. Dhiraj Shah, President of JAINA will attend the reception.

JSMC RAISES FUNDS FOR CYCLONE RELIEF

Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago on September 19, under the banner of JSMC Heritage Fund, held a musical Evening and fun filled comedy to help the victims of Gujrat (Kandla) Cyclone. Approximately 700 community members attended the event and opened their hearts and wallets. Dr. Dhiraj Shah, President of JAINA was present specially for this event and was presented with a check of $11,111. JAINA has adopted two villages, Ragha and Shekadia a few miles from Kandala, for the rehabilitation. JAINA appreciates the effort of JSMC and the Heritage Fund to meet our goal of providing $50,000 for the relief work.

"PRATIKAMAN MEDITATION" REPUBLISHED

Dr. Surendra Singhvi of the Jain Center of Cincinnati & Dayton has reprinted a 24-page Pratikaman Meditation booklet. The booklet in English covers six essential steps in the meditation: Samayik, Chaturvimashati Stav, Guru Vandana, Pratikaman, Kayotsarg & Pachchkan. Important Sutras are presented with their meanings. An individual can do Pratikaman in less than one hour using this booklet. These booklets ($200 for 100 copies, $125 for 50 or $75 for 25 ) are available from Dr. Singhvi by calling (937) 885-7414 or writing him at 439 Ridge Line Court, Dayton, Ohio 45458. JAINA has bought 100 copies and will distribute one copy to each of the member centers.

JAIN TEMPLE DIRECTORY

35 Jain Centers have not yet responded to the survey of details of Jain Temples. The information being collected is: is there a Jain or Jain/Hindu temple in your center – What are the pratimaji Digambar, swetambar or both – how many families in your center and is there any new temple under construction. Please send the information to: Jasvant Mehta , 2136 104B St. Edmonton, Alberta Canada T6J5G8, E-mail mehtaj@admin.gmcc.ab.ca

September/October 1998

JAINA CHARITABLE TRUST RAISES FUNDS FOR HUMANITARIAN & EDUCATIONAL CAUSES

The Trustees and friends contributed a total sum of $33,500 for Gujarat Cyclone relief and Bhagyodaya Teerth – Jain Medical College in Sagar, MP. Dr. Mahendray K. Pandya, Chairman of the JAINA Charitable trust thanks all the donors for their generous support.

JAINA BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO MEET IN CHICAGO

Board of Directors of JAINA will meet in Chicago on Saturday, November 14 and the Executive Committee will meet on November 15. Details of the meeting and the agenda will be mailed out shortly. For more information contact one of the following persons.

Mr. Prabodh Vaidya (630) 985-9144; Dr. Dilip T. Shah (630) 655-1670; Dr. Bipin Parikh (708) 699-1294 or Mr. Samprati Shah (847) 524-0463.

AN APPEAL FOR JAINA PATRON PROGRAM

JAINA inaugurated a Patron Program last year and many of you have supported it enthusiastically. Your financial support has put JAINA on a strong financial footing and has produced solid results. We have been able to publish JAIN DIGEST and JAINA FOCUS regularly, support various activities like YJA, Pathshala Teacher’s Convention, more services to the members through Executive Director, Distribution of religious CD ROM to centers and many other worthwhile causes. All this would not have been possible without your financial support. We are grateful to you. Please send your 1998 – 1999 contributions of $251 to Anop R. Vora; JAINA Patron Program Coordinator, One Robin Drive Rochester NY 14618. In Canada; (make checks payable to S.S. Jain Foundation) To S. S. Jain Foundation 276 Carlaw Ave, Unit 200 Toronto, ONT M4M 3LT.

JAIN WORKSHOP (SHORT CORSE IN JAINISM)

The Jain Study Center of North Carolina and JAINA are proud to present the first Jain workshop for Pathshala Teachers and interested adults during the Thanksgiving holiday Nov 26 to Nov 29. The registration is now closed as 40 participants (Full capacity) have signed up.

NEW WEB SITE FOR JAINA

A new Web site JAINA.ORG will be inaugurated on October 1. Mr Prem Jain of California is donating the space on his server. Pravin Shah of North Carolina is the Web Master.

JAINA FOCUS
1902 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103