03.06.2017 ►JAINA ►Newsletter

Jai Jinendra!

In our small endeavour to make us familiar with great virtues of our religious leaders, we present a brief profile of Shri Maniprabh Sagarji, a divine soul from Jain Khatargach Sangh. An author of many books and conferred with title of Upadhyay, its is our punya that we come to know of such great souls in our lifetime.

A beautiful Jain Digest is on its way to you. Thanks to Maheshbhai Wadher for leading Jain Digest and Calendar Committees.

JAINA Convention team under strong leadership of Gunvantbhai Shah has been preparing for last one year to bring you an amazing JAINA Convention. Please register at

Sincerely,

Ashok Domadia
JAINA President & Chairman
San Francisco

A truthful person is treated as reliable as the mother, as venerable as the guru (preceptor) and as beloved as the one who commands knowledge.

- Mahavir Swami

On 12th March,1960, Shri Paras Malji Lunkad and Rohini Devi were blessed with a son.The new - born son was named Meethalal. Meethalal was an innocent toddler of only 4 years, when he lost his father. Orphaned by the untimely and sudden death of his father, Meethalal used to remain immersed in his own thoughts oblivious of his surroundings. But overcoming her grief and taking control of their lives, his mother Rohini Devi sent him to school for education.

His intelligence, inquisitiveness and humble nature were revelation to his teachers and school- mates alike. By 13th Year, he had passed 9th standard and everyone in the family was looking forward and were confident about his higher studies and successful initiation in business. In November 1972, his mother had gone to Nakodaji to participate in the Updhaan Tap held under the guidance of renowned Jain saint, Acharya Shri Jin Kanti Sagar Suri ji. Meethalal and his sister Vimla Kumari went to Nakodaji to meet their mother during Deepawali vacation and for the first time saw Acharya Shri Jin Kanti Sagar Suri ji there. The first glimpse of Acharya Shri Jin Kanti Sagar Suri ji had electrifying effect on brother sister duo. During his interaction with him, he raised many queries and very satisfactory replies thereto made Meethalal determined to renounce this world and pursue the religio-philosophical questions for their answers and dedicated life for propagating the gospel teachings of Jain Teerthankars. He sought his mother’s permission for initiation as Sadhu. But his mother and younger sister had already decided to renounce the world. All three of them - mother Rohini Devi, Meethalal and sister Vimla Kumari were initiated as Sadhu and Sadhvis by Acharya Shri Jin Kanti Sagar Suriji at Palitana Teertha on 23rd. June, 1973 (Asadh Krishna Saptami, S.V. 2030) and named as 'Sadhvi Ratnamala Sreeji, Sadhu Maniprabh Sagarji and Sadhvi Vidyut Prabha Sreeji respectively.

Adinath, the first Jain tirthankar, had two wives. He had 99 sons by his first wife, of whom Bharat was the eldest, and 1 daughter named Brahmi. By the second wife, he had one son named Bahubali and one daughter named Sundari. Bharat turned out to be a great warrior and a politician. Bahubali was tall, well built, and strong. In Sanskrit, Bahu means arm and Bali means mighty. Because he had very strong arm, he is known as Bahubali.

As King, Adinath controlled a large geographical area. When he renounced worldly possessions to follow the Jain way of life, he handed over what is today known as Ayodhya to Bharat, and Takshshila to Bahubali. To the remaining 98 sons from his first wife, he gave different parts of his vast kingdom. Bharat quickly established a hold over his kingdom. He was an ambitious ruler and intended to become emperor of India. He organized a strong army and embarked upon his journey of conquest. He easily conquered the surrounding regions. Then he turned attention towards his brothers and asked them to acknowledge his superiority. His 98 brothers saw the futility of fighting with their elder brother and surrendered their territories to him. They then became disciples of their father, Adinath.

Click to read the story & listen to an amazing audio clip in or

A Quiet Moment: Meaning of Yoga according to Jain Philosophy?

According to Patanjali Rishi, one needs to stop thoughts and move inwards. However, one has to also recognize that the cessation of the activities of mind, speech and body does not in itself lead to immediate inner peace and tranquility as our mental state remains disturbed due to the effect of the kashayas (passions of anger, greed, ego, deceit) which are within us. Just as we cannot control the wind, in the same way we cannot control our thoughts which remain free and take us here and there and everywhere in the shortest of moments. Click on below button to read the story.

Karmas obstruct these eight attributes of a pure soul:

1) Kevaljnana (Perfect Knowledge) - State in which the soul knows Everything, past, present, and future that is happening in the world, All at the same time. Jnanavarniya Karma obscures this attribute.
2) Kevaldarshan (Perfect Perception) - State in which the soul can see, hear, and perceive everything from the past, present, and future all at the same time. Darshanavarniya Karma obscures this attribute.

3) Anant Virya (Infinite Power) - State in which the soul has infinite power. Antarya Karma obstructs this attribute.
4) Vitraga(Victory over Inner Enemies) - State in which the pure soul has no attachment or hatred for anyone. Mohniya Karma obscures this attribute. Aforementioned four attributes of the soul are experienced by Lord Arihants. The following four attributes are experienced only when the soul is liberated, when Lord Arihants become Lord Siddhas upon their death.

5) Infinite Bliss (No Joy or Sorrow) - State in which there is no pain, suffering, or happiness; the soul has ultimate peace. Vedniya Karma obscures this attribute.
6) Ajaramar (End of the Cycle of Birth and Death) - Point at which the soul is never again born. Ayushya Karma obscures this attribute.

7) Arupi (No form) - State in which the pure soul no longer occupies a body and is formless. Nam Karma obscures this attribute.
8) Agurulaghu (End of Status) - fact that all liberated souls are equal; none is higher or lower in status than any other. Gotra Karma obscures this attribute.

On May 14, Jain Center of Greater Detroit organized Mother’s Day Garba specially dedicated to all Mothers. At the end of Garba they announced BestDressed and Best Dancer winners. Kids, youths, adults and seniors every one participated in Garba and made the event successful. Event was followed by snacks and refreshments.

SWADHYAY IS FOURTH ABHYANTAR TAP

Swadhyay means to study scriptures or can also mean to understand the self. Through study we try to answer the questions; who am I? Who should I be?. Through swadhyay one realizes that a soul is a pure thing. This will lead us to contemplate on the question; what am I doing in this body? Thus, study will lead us to be a pure soul. This study is divided into five levels;

1) VANCHANA - Means reading the scriptures.
2) PRUCHNA - When we read the scriptures, doubt may arise, to resolve the doubt, one ask question is called pruchna.
3) PARIYATTANA - Revising the scriptures again and again, memorise them is called pariyattana.
4) ANUPREKSHA - After understanding what is right and contemplating on it is called anupreksha.
5) DHARMAKATHA - when we read scriptures, we come across different stories, telling that a religious story to others is called dharmakatha.

All five types of swadhyay are external, but they will lead us to do internal swadhyay about the self. Thus, one will aquire right perception and right knowledge which will lead to right conduct and will open up the path to ultimate liberation.

May YJA Pathshala - Jain Cosmology

The May content of YJA Pathshala is now available at ! This time we're taking a look at Jain cosmology. This month’s material strives to expand your point of view on Jainism, from a narrow focus on individual actions to an awareness of the infinite cosmos itself, by discussing the 6 fundamental substances that make up the universe, the Jain Universe, and the Jain Time Cycle. Whether you just want to refresh these theories, or they are completely new to you, we hope reviewing this month’s content will help you gain a deeper understanding of Jainism!

College Chapters

YJA would like to congratulate all graduates! If you have a student who is heading to college this fall, let us know where they'll be studying and we will provide them with information on a College Chapter or other Jain youth in the area! to give us more information on their college plans.

• 4 cups Tomatoes, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon Turmeric powder (Haldi)
• 1/2 teaspoon Red chilli powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Asafoetida (hing)
• 1 Green Chilli, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon Mustard seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon Cumin seeds
• 1 tablespoon Jaggery/Sugar
• 3-4 Curry leaves, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon Coriander leaves, chopped
• 1 cup Thick Sev
• 2 teaspoon Cooking oil
• Salt to taste

Directions:

To prepare SevTamatar Ki Sabzi Recipe / SevTamta Nu Shaak, heat oil in a sauce pan on medium heat; add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds and allow them to crackle.Add the curry leaves, asafoetida, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, tomatoes and salt. Sauté until all the ingredients are well combined.

Add ¼ cup of water and jiggery/sugar and stir until it is dissolved.

Cover the pan, turn the heat to low and allow the tomatoes to simmer until they are soft and tender and leaves enough juice. Now add thick sev and let the sabzi to simmer for about minute.

When you are ready to serve, garnish each serving of the Tameta Nu Shaak with coriander.

Serve hot sabzi along with freshly made roti, thepla or paratha.