31.03.2017 ►JAINA ►Newsletter

Jai Jinendra!

JAINA has taken an initiative to answer your queries through learned scholars and therefore we request you to ask your questions. Pertinent questions will be published in JAINA Newsletters.

Jain Milan has been a huge success in our community for Jain Youths to meet and get to know each other for matrimonial purpose. Next Jain Milan will be held at JAINA convention in New Jersey from June 30 - July 14, 2017. Please spread the word among your family and friends. Details are below.

Sincerely,

Ashok Domadia
JAINA President & Chairman

The ascetic who never thinks of telling a lie out of attachment,aversion or delusion is indeed the practiser of the second vrata of truthfulness.

- Mahavira (Niyamasara, 57)

First kind of Bahya Tap is Anshan, it means fasting for a day, or for some days or throughout one's life and renouncing food and water completely. The Tap called Upvas takes its place among those that constitute the beginning of Anshan. Anshan or fasting completely is in vogue in respect of one's last days or last movement of one's life to render death auspiciously. Anshan is of two types - Yaavajiva and Itwarik. Salekhan or Santhara is Yaavajiva type of Anshan. Itwarik is again of two types - Sarva and Desh. Any upvaas done without 4 types of Aahar is called Sarva and Nakarshi and Poursi is called Desh type. The aim of Itwarik Anshan is to purify both the body and mind.

During the period of Upavas (fasting) when the consumption of food has been stopped, the remaining part of the food gets burnt and assimilated. Hence, during Upavas (fasting period) the fats soon decreases; and like fats the strength of the liver, the spleen and muscles also gets reduced but the brain never grows weak and never sustains even the slightest loss; so we get sound sleep. The thoughts become wholesome and pure. The body experiences weakness by fasting and hunger but that weakness is not caused by the absence of food but because the impure stuff is cast off. After the body is purified strength returns to the body. It acquires freshness and agility.

There are many solutions as there are problems. The body gets sick, therefore sickness is a problem,so man developed a healing technique as a solution to the sickness. Similarly, negative emotions are a problem. Simplest way to purify emotions is through color meditation. This is highly significant technique. Meditating on smooth colors helps to purify emotions. Yellow, red and white are three colors that can purify emotions.

By focusing on the tip of nose along with white color, one can get rid of negative emotions/thoughts.

Colors are very important and dominate the entire emotional system. Colors can cure physical ailments and mental weakness and develop spiritual awareness.

To cure psychological problems, visualize the color of rising sun. Rising sun meditation activates the energy of tejo lesya. This energy helps heal mental weakness and problems.

When somebody has a negative emotions, eventually the emotions falls by the wayside, leaving behind the toxins of thought. These toxins bother and inflict pain in terms of physical or mental problems. Finally, the person becomes stressed and unbalanced. If we visualize the word arham in bright white color, it helps cure many physical ailments by cleansing the body of toxins.

When we focus on warm colors (red,yellow and white)and go into deep meditations, our emotions changes and it happens naturally. All our negative vibrations get transformed. The vibrations of warm colors prevent the vibrations of attachment from rising, making them powerless. At the same time,the power of detachment become active. Red and yellow make the body alert and each cell of the body gets energized.

Thus color meditation helps strengthen the body and mind. It improves memory and intelligence. It purifies the aura and emotions. Also one can heal body, mind and soul. If a person do so, the concept of lesya will become more of a healing therapy than a philosophy.

In the forests of Pratisthan, there lived a hermit who was well known for predicting the future events. People of the village gathered around him, although the hermit did not always like to satisfy their curiosity. The hermit kept moving deeper into the jungle until people stopped looking for him. Once two friends, Vipul and Vijan got lost in the jungle on their way to Pratisthan. They feared for their lives in the dark and looked for a shelter. Late in the night, they saw a trickle of light far away and they approached it with fear and uneasiness. They peeped into the hut and saw a hermit in the deep meditation. They easily guessed that he was the hermit known for his predictions. They waited till the hermit finished his meditation. They told him their story about getting lost in the forest.

The Jain Center of New Jersey (JCNJ) celebrated the Fagun Sud Teras Chha Gau Yatra of Shetrunjay tirth at both of its Jinalays with a grand program on the weekends of March 5th and 12th.

The celebration began auspiciously with Navvanu (99) Prakari Puja at our Caldwell Jinalay. This puja enlightens us about the various Jirnoddhars of Shtrunjay, visits of countless souls that attained liberation (siddhipad), and the history of this Shashvattirth that was visited by almost all Tirthankars of the current chovisi.

Shri Jayeshbhai Khona was the vidhikarak for Bhavyatra at Franklin on March 12th. His engaging style encouraged increased participation and clear understanding of this bhavyatra.

Teams of volunteers labored to create a replica of Sidhdhhgiri Taleti and Dada no Darbar with various stops like Hinglaj Mata no Hardo, Padmavatidevi mandir,Shantinath Bhagwan Jinalay,Paap Punyani Baari, Chandan Talavadi, Siddhvad, Bhadva Dungar, Samavasaran, and Jambudweep (Main attraction of the Day) to create the authentic feeling of actual tirthyatra. The jinalay was decorated and bhavyaaangi was done to magnify the beauty of the occasion. Numerous ceremonies like Dwaar Udghatan, Chaityvandan, Ashtaprakari puja, were celebrated with music, pomp, and chants of "Jai Jai Shri Adinath!"

JCNJ members donated generously with not only their money, but also with their time and bhav to create a festive spirit and a sense of Jain Shasan Jaivantuvarte. JCNJ thanks its volunteers, members, and sponsors for making this bhavyatra a memorable event.

The Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago (JSMC) saw continuation of social, community and religious activities in the past month. In Feb we had a very successful JSMC Bowling event where over 96 enthusiastic bowlers participated with friends and family. The entire Bowling Alley was reserved exclusively for JSMC. Along with unlimited bowling, participants enjoyed Hot Indian breakfast with Masala tea, Indian Music and Fresh Jain Pizza.

The fun event was followed by JSMC SEVA Day on Mar 4thwhere more than 100 volunteers, JSMC Staff and JSMC ECBOT gathered to help with Cleanup and Organization at JSMC. This community event was an exemplary showcase of team work and synergy. We organized JSMC office, Technology Center, Poojan Samagri Room, Prayer Halls, Green rooms, Main storage area, Kitchen facility, Food Storage area and many more. It was a very humbling experience to see the dedication and commitment of all JSMC Members who worked very diligently, wholeheartedly and gave their best efforts.



March continued with Fagan Sud Teras celebration from Fri Mar 10th to Sun Mar 12th. We had arranged for Pat Darshan so that members can do a 6 GauBhaavYatra of Shri Sidhdhagiri.

JAIN Milan Program (Ages 21 to 42) Jain Milan events begin on the first day with icebreakers and an opening session. All Jain Milan registrants will attend sessions together. The program will include traditional icebreakers, speed dating sessions and breakout sessions. The topics will range from career development to relationships to the application of Jainism in modern-day life. Jain Milan provides an opportunity for Jain youth throughout North America and around the world to meet in person, make friends, engage in networking, develop business contacts and possibly find a life partner. Jain Milan sessions facilitate these interactions in as many ways possible, through icebreakers, interactive sessions, mixers, meet and greet events, and relationship workshops.

You must register for Convention and also register for Jain Milan to be eligible to participate.

We have many questions in our mind when we read various scripture and religious books. We have lot of queries unanswered and thus sometimes it leads to false myths. Let us all together try to find answers to our queries.

JAINA would invite from readers questions on Jainism and practices in our religion. We would try our best to get answers to these questions from scholars and pertinent and important questions will be published in newsletters on regular basis.

Please email your questions with your name, address, Mobile number and center name to . Each mail should carry subject FAQ.

YJA Northeast is gearing up for their retreat in Salisbury, MA and it is very close to selling out! Sign up today at for a weekend of exploring Jainism while making new friends and memories!

The Southeast Retreat brought youth from across the region together for a weekend in the Smoky Mountains where they discussed how Jainism applies to our modern world and bonded during a service project and a hike to Laurel Falls!

Be sure to look out for YJA's upcoming regional events including YJA Explores Buddhism in Bensalem, PA on April 1st.

Read the story of King and The Gardener answer the below questions. (Mark you answers in the puzzle)

There was a King named Sher Singh of an old country. He was very famous for his justice. One day, he went out with his ministers. He saw an old gardener planting a walnut tree in the garden. The King entered his garden. He asked the gardener, "Are you a servant or owner of this garden?" The gardener said, "I am not a servant. My forefathers planted this garden". The King then said, "You are planting these walnut trees. Do you think that you will be alive to eat the fruits of these trees? The walnut trees give fruits after twenty years". The old gardener said, "I have eaten many fruits of trees planted by others. Therefore I should plant trees for others. It is selfish to plant trees for eating the fruits oneself". The King was very pleased to hear the gardener's answer. He gave him two gold coins as a gift.

Question:

1. The King was famous for his _______.
2. Which tree an old gardener was planting?
3. Whose forefather had planted the garden?
4. After how many years a walnut tree gives fruits?
5. What did the King gave to the gardener as a gift?

To get the answer please visit website