JAINA Vaiyavach committee is very happy to declare that an anonymous donor has generously pledged $230,000 for various vaiyavach projects. Thus, fulfilling our initial goal of raising one million Dollars for 2020 -2021. Seeing the continuing outpouring of community support for this noblest of causes, we are now increasing our fundraising goal to $1.5 million for 2021 so we can attend to the requests of other worthwhile Vaiyavach projects from the community. Among the requests we are considering projects from Bidada Sarvodaya Trust for Vaiyavach of Sadhu Sadhvis, a library with 40,000 books for the Academic center (Adhyan Kendra) for Sadhu Sadhvis near Sankheswara, a Vihardham between Antrikshji and Akola, and a Upashraya in Alok Nagar in Indore. The committee will study these proposals in detail and will attend to them as the funds are collected.

We are grateful to all the generous donors who did their part in Vaiyavach projects. The fundraising is still ongoing for all the projects related to the “Vaiyavach” of Sadhus & Sadhvi Bhagwant of all sects. We request you to come forward and donate a tiny share to this noble cause.

International School for Jain Studies (ISJS), in partnership with the Jain community in the USA, Canada, Europe, and India, brings the 2nd Bhagwan Mahavir Fellowship to Study Prākṛta in India.

The objective of this 9-month program is to promote and build a cadre of serious Jain scholars well versed in Jain Āgamic language Prākṛta, its education and Research in North America, Europe and India.

ISJS invites 3 young scholar/s with Philosophy or Languages or Religious studies from North America/Europe/India for one 2021-2022 academic year (two semesters) to apply for this program to learn Prākṛta so that they can read Jain canons, understand their meaning, and intent properly. In return, they will use the Prākṛta language in their research and also initiate its use in teaching in their university so that a cadre of such scholars develops.

Program dates: August 17, 2021– May 16, 2022
Last date of application: April 15, 2021

Click below for details on the course and application procedure.

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International School for Jain Studies (ISJS) offers an excellent proposal for overseas university students, faculty members, and researchers through its residential and online Summer Programs 2021 to learn about Jainism and Non-violence.

Summer programs on Jainism :

3-week Program

• Residential program (June 14 – July 04, 2021, at Pune & Ahmedabad): The program is designed to cater to the needs of undergraduate and graduate degree holders, Ph.D. candidates, professors, and faculty in religion, philosophy, South Asian studies, anthropology, and other related subjects who desire to learn about Jainism as a part of their higher education.
• Online program (July 15 to August 04, 2021): The program is designed for 3rd and 4th-year Undergraduate, Graduates, Ph.D. candidates, Faculty in Religion, Philosophy, South Asian Studies, Anthropology

5-week Program

• Residential program (June 14–July 18, 2021, at Pune, Ahmedabad & Delhi): The program is designed for sincere and self-motivated graduate and Ph.D. students, post-doctoral scholars, and full-time teaching-cum-research faculty involved in Religion, Philosophy, South Asian Studies, Languages, Anthropology, Theology, and allied subjects.

Summer Program on Non-violence is designed for teachers & educators who wish to integrate practical non-violence into their lives, classrooms, and school.

• Residential Program (July 5–25, 2021 at Pune, Jalgaon and Delhi)
• Online Program (July 15 to August 04, 2021)

Application and other program details are available on the link below.

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Have you ever been hit with the realisation that, though you were carrying on an activity like eating or walking, it was actually being done mechanically. Gurudevshri Rakeshbhai elucidates how the simple practice of awareness can bring about a revolution in our lives.

People do everything in a state of slumber. They transact business, perform daily chores, make friends, and even make enemies, all in a state of slumber! They live in this state all day long. They even practise religion in ignorance. They turn the beads of the rosary, they worship in temples, they practice vows, but mechanically. Every action is carried out in a state of stupor! But dharma cannot be practised in such a state of unawareness; only adharma can be practiced in unawareness. Thus in the name of dharma, it is adharma that prevails.

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The Definitive Plant-Based Nutrition Guide for Families

The Definitive Plant-Based Nutrition Guide for Families" which is co-authored by Dr. Reshma Shah and Brenda Davis. This article is based on an excerpt from the book breaking the myth that we need to eat dairy foods, with minor editing by Dr. Jina Shah, Chair of the Ahimsak Eco-Vegan Committee of JAINA to address the Jain community.

While explaining alternatives to cow’s milk, the authors explain: “Plant-based sources of dairy can not only provide necessary protein and calcium, but they have the added benefit of providing fiber and phytonutrients while being low in saturated fats, all of which promote metabolic health.”

To read this article, go to:
https://issuu.com/jaindigest/docs/jain_digest_february_2021/s/11653272.

To read the full February 2021 Jain Digest, go to:

Jain Digest February 2021

Interested in writing for the June 2021 Jain Digest on topics such as Compassion, Devotion, Jain Education, Inspiration, Transformation, or any other topics related to Jain principles?

Send us an email at jaindigestpublication@gmail.com or send a Text or WhatsApp message to 310-721-5947

You can also read all the past Jain Digest issues by clicking on the below button.

Jain Digest

As explained in the previous article, Jainism believes that the universe is made from a combination of the six universal substances. All of the six substances are indestructible, imperishable, immortal, eternal and continuously go through countless changes.

• Soul/Consciousness - Jiva (Living being)
• Matter - Pudgala (Nonliving being)
• Medium of motion - Dharma (Nonliving being)
• Medium of rest - Adharma (Nonliving being)
• Space - Akasa (Nonliving being)
• Time - Kal or Samay (Nonliving being)

Soul (Jiva) or Living Being

Soul's essential characteristic is consciousness. This is the only knowing substance. It possesses knowledge, vision, power, and bliss. It also possesses the property of contraction and expansion like that of light. They are of innumerable numbers. A living being can not be created or can not be destroyed. The total number of living beings remains same in the entire universe at all the time. All living beings are classified into two major categories.

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If you have not received JAINA 2021 Calendar and need one then please contact Jayana Shah, Calendar Committee Chair @ jayana.n.shah@gmail.com - (714) 856-4256

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JAINA Calendar 2021