The Art of Viewing Humans are the highest form of life in the universe.They have five sense organs: the eyes, the nose, the ears, the tongue, and the skin. In addition, they have a mind and intellect. All the sense organs are vital, but the eyes are the most important because they are used more than the others. It is said that for one who does not have eyes, the outer world becomes meaningless. Possessing the ability to see is one thing, using it is quite another. There is no reason to ponder the use and misuse of eyes for those who do not have them. But for those who do, ask, do they deserve the gift of sight? Those who visit monks, read high quality literature and religious books, choose to see spiritually-uplifting sights, and practice Animesh-Preksha - that is fixing the eyes on an object for a given duration of time - are making worthy use of their eyes. The Value of Vision Perspective plays an important role in every action. For example, a cat grabs a kitten as well as a mouse. The reasoning, however, for these acts is entirely different and so is the grip! The baby kitten is loved and protected whereas the mouse is hunted and eaten. The difference is in the intention. How a person acts upon an object is dictated by the intent with which the person views it. A surgeon cuts the stomach of a person with a knife, and a murderer might do the same. Though similar actions, the objectives behind them are different. The doctor's aim is to save a life and the murderer's is to end it. Change in intention changes the deed. Views of Acharya Mahashraman from "LIFE, Twelve Golden Principles for Holistic Living" | | | Agam Swadhyay An 8-Day Upasak Dasha Agam Swadhyay started at JVBNA on Nov 15. Agams are holy Jain scriptures that portray the message of Bhagwan Mahavir. In addition to weekly Agam Swadhyay that is conducted on Thursday evenings, JVBNA offers an annual Agam course, where, students, under the guidance of Samanijis take up and complete one Agam. This year’s Agam is Upasak Dasha. This is the 7th Agam and discusses the lives of ten of the most famed shravaks of Bhagwan Mahavir. These Shravaks led model lives and their stories inspire us to follow in their path. In 8 weekend morning sessions, attendees, under the guidance of Samani Bhavit Pragyaji and Samani Sangh Pragyaji, will complete this Agam. This course is intellectually stimulating, spiritually inspiring, and a great experience for more than 20 attendees. Link to Photo Gallery | | | Gyanshala
Under the guidance of Samanijis, the 2014-15 session of Gyanshala for children began on October 5 and will run until June 2015. About 50 students are enrolled in the current session with the classes meeting twice every month. The classes are taught by dedicated volunteer teachers. Our curriculum includes Jain prayers including Bhakatamar, Jain concepts and values, Hindi language, and Yoga. This year, Charitra group is focusing on the significance of Pratikraman, while Sanskar, Gyan, and Darshan groups are learning the fundamentals of Jainism at different levels. In every class, one child from each group showcases his/her talent through a presentation in the form of a brief song, poem, speech, or story, during Prayer Assembly. Earlier this year, our children got the opportunity to participate in the JVBNA Diwali Milan program and presented songs, dances, and skits that were very well received. Our future activities include Holiday Food Drive, publication of Gyanshala Magazine showcasing original articles by the students, participation in JVBNA Holi Function, and Gyanshala Annual Day, where students will get the opportunity to present their annual projects. Link to Photo Gallery | | | Upcoming Events -
Gyanshala Holiday Food Drive - To benefit the Community Food Bank of New Jersey (www.cfbnj.org) - Please drop off vegetarian, non perishable, canned, and packaged food to the JVBNA center (151 Middlesex Avenue, Iselin, NJ 08830) by Sunday, December 21. -
| | | Ongoing Activities Wednesdays - 6:30PM - 7:30PM - Yoga - JVBNA Center
Thursdays - 7:30PM - 8:30PM - Swadhyay - JVBNA Center
Saturdays - 10AM - 11:30AM - Prayer, Meditation, Swadhyay - JVBNA Center
Sundays (Twice a month) - 3:30PM - 6PM - Gyanshala - Franklin Temple
| | | | | |
