28.07.2017 ►JAINA ►Newsletter

Jai Jinendra!

Since last year, JAINA has partnered with “World Forgiveness Alliance” based in California to promote concept of forgiveness worldwide. We are looking for Heroes of Forgiveness whom they would honor at their Annual Event. I would request the community members to send in nominations for Hero from our community.

The festival of Paryushan and Das Lakshana is in less than a month and I would like to invite members to send in their articles related to Paryushan and Das Lakshna so we can publish in our newsletters during the period of festival.

Warm Regards,
Gunvant Shah
JAINA President
07-28-2017

2. QUOTE

Birth is attended by death, youth by decay and fortune by misfortune. Thus everything in this world is momentary.

- Bhagwan Mahavir

3. GANDHAR

According to Shatkhandagama, the digambara scripture, Indra, pretending to be a mendicant, approached Indrabhuti. Indra asked him to explain the meaning of a verse:

पंचेव अत्थिकाया छज्जीव णिकाया महव्वया पंच|
अट्ठयपवयण-मादा सहेउओ बंध-मोक्खो य||

When he was unable to explain the verse, the Indra advised him to visit the Samavasarana of Lord Mahavira so that he can learn the meaning of the verse. As he was approaching the set of Lord Mahavira at his gandhakuti, he saw the lofty Manastambha (the column of pride). Seeing the Manastambha, his pride vanished and he was filled with humility. He became the chief disciple of Lord Mahavira at the age of 50. The day he took diksha is celebrated as Guru Purnima. His brothers Agnibhuti and Vayubhuti, both scholars of distinction, also became Ganadharas of Lord Mahavira.

According to the elaboration of Debate with the Ganadhara by Jinabhadra, the learned Brahmin Gautama summoned the gods to a great sacrifice but instead they flew off to hear Mahavira preaching at his second samavasarana nearby. In fury, Gautama confronted Mahavira in debate, as did ten other Brahmins in succession, with the ford maker converting them all by a demonstration, underpinned by his claim to omniscience.

4. THE WAVE IS COMING!

At 2 PM in India, then 2 PM in London, then 2 PM in the New York, the Wave of Forgiveness will move across the world.

In 2015, 16 million people joined. In 2016, 18 million people joined the Wave of Forgiveness as it moved around the world. You can help take it over the 20 million mark.

Join the Wave on August 2nd at 2 PM for 2 minutes by adding to the energy of forgiveness. Forgive someone or something or yourself and join the Wave of Forgiveness when it passes to your area and help heal the world. 2+2+2 = August 2nd at 2 PM for 2 minutes.

Add your pledge at the link below to join The Wave of Forgiveness created by MOMENT OF CALM and supported by The Worldwide Forgiveness Alliance, Unify, Project Forgive, Project Happiness, The Path of Forgiveness, The Forgiveness Movement, Love Peace and Harmony, Peace Within is World Peace, IDF, Infinite Love, Yogaville and joined in 2017 by JAINA



Watch the video at


Please share this message with your friends and family to help build the power of The Wave.

5. JAIN CENTER NEWS

JCNJ recently celebrated 5th annual Dhwaja Arohan event at its Franklin Twp. Jinalay with Sattarbedhi Pooja, Siddhachakra Poojan, and Adhar Abhishek Pooja. Shri Narendrabhai Shah led the celebration. The Center nearly completed its Ghee Boli for Murthi-Bharai for 24 Tirthankars in the Bhaav-Tirth project at its FT Jinalay; a Bhamati where each of the 24 Jin-Parmatma (Murti) will be replica of a Teerth in India; the Pratistha is contemplated in 2018.

JCNJ is also preparing for the upcoming celebration of 150th birth year of Shrimad Raj Chandra with guests expected from all over the US and overseas. The Center also raised funds for its newly constructed Sadharmik Bhavan - a multi-unit residence building for caretaker and visitors. Shree Kummar Chatterjee also provided an evening full of Bhakti and Bhavna.

6. 1008 JAINS FAST FOR WORLD PEACE FOR 8 DAYS

HYDERABAD: Incredible and impossible it may sound. But few determined individuals made it and they have fasted for 8 days, not for their own reasons but for World Peace. 1008 Jains who have been Fasting for World Peace for the past 8 Days concludes here in a grand gala function attended by 10,000 Jain Devotees and Rajasthani Samaj. The concluding function held at Ranigunj, Secunderabad. Jains from across India have taken part in the pasting which began on July 17th. Ever since they started fasting on 17th July they have been taking only boiled water that too before the sunset and after that they haven't touched anything. The program was undertaken under the guidance of Praveen Rishiji Upadhyaya, Jain Monk who leads the Peace Initiative.

7. SHATRUNJAY SERIES

Jainism postulates that time has no beginning or end. It cycles continuously, like a wheel. We are in an endless cycle of birth and rebirth, living many lives, until we escape this cycle by attaining enlightenment. Jain texts record the details of the Tirthankars’ previous lives before the final life in which they attained enlightenment. In Jain tradition, the Tirthankars were royals in their final lives, which meant that they had to renounce more worldly possessions than others would have to in order to follow the Jain path. Their clan and families are also among those recorded in very early or legendary Hindu history

According to Jain philosophy, there have been many time-cycle eras, each with a set of 24 Tirthankars. The stories that we have recounted so far are stories of the 24 Tirthankars from our current time-cycle era. Previous eras had different sets of 24 Tirthankars. Rushabh, Chandranan, Varisen and Vardhman These names are therefore eternal, or "Shashwat". The lotus leaf pattern in this intricately carved shrine represent the footprints of these names.

Rushabh, Chandranan, Varisen and Vardhman

These names are therefore eternal, or "Shashwat". The lotus leaf pattern in this intricately carved shrine represent the footprints of these names.

Read the story or listen to an amazing audio clip in or .

8. VEGAN RECIPE

Ingredients:

• 6 raw bananas
• 100 grams peas
• 1-cup grated coconut
• 1-tsp. green chili paste
• 1-cup coriander leaves
• 2-tsp. lemon juice
• 1/2-cup arrowroot (corn meal powder)
• 2-tsp. Sugar (optional)
• Salt to taste
• Olive oil

• Boil bananas and peas in a pressure cooker. Peel and mash the bananas and peas. Add salt and arrowroot and knead to make the dough. Divide into 20-22 equal balls.
• Mix grated coconut, green chili paste, lemon juice, coriander leaves, sugar and salt. Divide this mixture into equal parts to use for the filling.
• Flatten banana ball in the palm and press filling in the center. Round it up and then flatten to form a patty. In a pan, shallow fry all patties, applying oil, till it turns golden brown. Serve with the chutney or tomato sauce.
  (You can also deep fry the patties instead shallow fry)