|
|
|
Jai Jinendra!
JAINA delegates along with me are visiting India. At present we are attending Veerayatan
Global Convention at Kutch, Gujarat.
JAINA delegates also inaugurated Eye and Dental camp at Bidada, Kutch Gujarat.
We will publish more details of JAINA Delegation's visit to India soon.
Sincerely,
Ashok Domadia
JAINA President
Chairman - JAINA BOD
|
|
|
|
|
|
Greed even for a piece of straw, not to speak of precious things, produces sin.
A greedless person, even if he wears a crown, cannot commit sin.
|
|
- Bhagwan Mahavir
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Arnath Bhagwan is the 18th Tirthankar of the Avsarpani kaal. He was born to King
Sudarshan and Queen Maha Devi in the city of Hastinapur. He attained nirvana at
Samet Shikhar and had 33 Gandhars. He took 3 bhavs after Samyak Darshan to attain
moksh. The topic of his first sermon was to get rid of Rag and Dwesh.
4 Kashayas –Krodh,Maan, Maya, Lobh ( Anger, Pride, Deceit, Greed) can be grouped
into 2 categories – Raag ( Attachment) and Dwesh ( Hatred). Raag is formed from
Maya and Lobh and Dwesh is formed from Krodh and Maan. Spiritually our goal should
be to get rid of wordly life and become liberated, but when we live in attachment
and hatred we hinder the spiritual progress of the soul. We, human beings are opportunistic
and when we are deprived of what we want than we react with anger and in same way
if we do not get the fame we think we deserve, our ego gets hurt and we react irrationally.
Therfore in reality even the anger and ego are caused by the liking and it is nothing
but one form of attachment (raag). In other words attachment is the single route
of all our Kshaya. So those who have conquered attachment are called vitragi means
one who has no attachment. Therefore instead of reacting with more kashaya, we should
stay calm in order to break the cycle of life and death.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long ago in the city of Srichandra, King Tarapida had a minister named Sumitra.
He was a devoted shravak, and he regularly practiced samayik, pratikraman, and other
religious rites. One day, the king asked Sumitra why he had overloaded himself with
all these worthless activities. He wanted to know what he achieved out of them,
and suggested that he should give up these things so he may have a pleasant life.
Sumitra told the king, "Instead of discouraging me, you should help me in carrying
out these activities. You or anyone should know that good deeds help in one’s well-being."
One day, the minister finished his duties at the court and went home. This was the
fourteenth lunar day, known as chaturdasi. He was fasting that day. He was late
to perform pausadha at the temple. So he vowed not to leave his house during the
night until sunrise and sat down in pratikraman.
During the night, a messenger came and told Sumitra that the king wanted to see
him. The minister told him he could not see the king at that time. The king sent another
message to tell him that if he did not go to the king at once, he should resign
his office and hand over his royal seal.
Sumitra decided to continue his vow. He told the messenger to peak up the royal
seal and tell the king that he would not be able to come.On the way back the messenger was killed by a group of armed men.
When the king heard of the messenger’s death, he grabbed an open sword, and left
to go to the temple. He felt certain that Sumitra had a hand in this murder. On
the way, he found his messenger who was lying dead with some armed men around him.
He asked the men, "Why did they kill this man ?"
They said, "We are armed men of King Surasen from Dharavar and came here to kill
the minister Sumitra.
The king told them who he was. The man got scared and surrendered to him. He thought,
"It is good that Sumitra did not come. His vow saved him."
The king’s anger cooled down. He reached Sumitra’s house. He told Sumitra, "If you
had not been performing your vow today, you would have been killed. This would have
been a terrible tragedy for the kingdom. I reinstate you to your office. I am sorry
for what I did to you." This event turned the king to be a very religious person.
The king met with Acharya Purnachandra, and accepted the vows of a shravak. The
court was turned into a spiritual assembly. Sumitra now became even more special
to the king, and the king did many good things for his people and his kingdom.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recently, Jain Society of Houston celebrated India's republic day on January 22,
2017. Kids sang Nanha Munna Rahi, performed patriotic dance and shadow play on Bharat Humko Jaan Se Pyara Hai. Event was followed by lunch.
Jain Center of America had Gautam Swami Pujan on January 22, 2017. Here are some
Pujan photographs:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Registration
for the YJA Mid-Atlantic, Mid-West and South Regional Retreats is now open at yja.org!
Phase 1 of registration for Mid-Atlantic and Mid-West retreats ends 1/29 so secure
your spot today. These events are open to youth between the ages of 14 and 29. #YJARetreats2017
|
|
|
|
|
|
JAINA is hosting Story Writing Competition based on 'Usefulness of Religious
Knowledge in our Daily Life'. The best story will get published in
our newsletter and at www.jaina.org. Please send your entries to competition@jaina.org
by 18th February, 2017.
Competition Rules:
1. Age: No bar
2. Articles should be in English language and maximum 300 words long in a word file.
3. Writing style must be clear and easy to understand.
4.Please write your name, address and phone number along with the story.
5. Story is welcomed from anywhere in the world.
|
|
|
|
|
Jain Meditation Word Search
|
|
Out of 4 types of Dhyans, Mantra-based Dharma Dhyan (righteous meditation) is contemplation about
the five supreme benevolent personalities and about the nature of soul with the
help of mantras. The meditator visualizes a mantra written at a predetermined spot
such as the front of the nose or in between the eyebrows and concentrates on it.
In this meditation, the contemplation about the pure souls is done with an aspiration
to purify one's soul by eliminating
karma. One easy and practical way to conduct this meditation is to visualize
a lotus having eight petals near the heart. Written on five of the petals are the
five lines of Namokar Mantra.
1.We revere the supreme human beings
(Arahantas).
2.We revere the perfect souls
(Siddhas).
3.We revere the master teachers
(Acharyas).
4.We revere the scholarly sages
(Upadhyayas).
5.We revere all the ascetics
(Sadhus).
Search above highlighted words in puzzle below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Print Page
