Veerayatan UK Highlights: | | SOUTH LONDON
Talk on Jainism and Science
Shri Chandana Vidyapeeth teacher, Shrutiben Malde, as part of the Jain Education Team, presented a thought-provoking and interactive lecture on ‘Jainism and Science’ on 7 July 2017 in South London. Shrutiben discussed how Jain philosophy is similar to science in that it gives us logical answers to existential questions like: what is the meaning of life, death, re-birth; the purpose of life; issues of health and well-being; creation and universe, etc. With advances in science and technology, we are faced with new challenges such as what is the Jain perspective on switching off life support machines, making organ donations, issuing a lasting power of attorney regarding health (LPA), living wills, etc. There was a healthy discussion and the audience definitely felt that as a community, we should be discussing these issues more openly. It also inspired the audience to understand the Jain philosophy better in order to address these issues appropriately. Some of the comments from the attendees were: ‘I am glad that such a difficult subject is being aired’. Very interesting points raised and we should keep the subject going’. ‘People should know and understand this important subject’. | | NORTH LONDON
Paryushan 2017 | | Shri Chandana Vidyapeeth (SCVP) teachers were invited to conduct pratikraman in English for all 8 days by the Navnat and Oshwal communities and for one day by the Jain Samaj in Manchester. We have had so many positive messages, the most important achievement being that people are able for the first time to understand the whole pratikraman ritual and hence are able to positively participate. We sincerely hope that this beautiful ritual of pratikraman stays alive for generations to come through conducting it in English.
The teachers of SCVP led by Sonalben Udani also participated and taught children in an event organised by Oshwal NW entitled ‘Paryushan4kids’. The children were taught values in a fun way and explored what it means to be a ‘Jain’. They learnt to greet everyone with ‘Jai jinendra’ and learnt prayers such as the ‘Navkar Mantra’ or ‘Khammemi Savva Jive’. The objectives of the learning were as follows: - To understand you are a Jain
- The importance of certain greetings and festivals
- To understand the importance of Paryushan
- To appreciate the qualities of Mahavir Bhagwan though discussion
All this has only been possible with the blessings of Acharya Shri Chandanaji Maharaj. | |  | SCVP’s Annual Samayik event took place on Friday 23 June 2017 with all children and adults doing Samayik together. The library setting at Kingsbury High school was transported to ‘Palitana’. It was a beautiful and uplifting evening with calmness and positive energy from all who were seated on the cool marble floor, in the temple at the top of Shatrunjaya hill, facing the amazing murti of Rishabhdev Bhagwan in a back drop of a beautifully ordained ‘gabharo’ with lights and chains of colourful beads. To read more… | |
Nature Walks
Connecting to nature uplifts the soul. Our summer Forest Walks concluded the second season and once again we were blessed with lovely weather on all four walks. This year we started at Stanmore Country Park before venturing further out to Ivinghoe Beacon (Hertfordshire) with a longer hillier walk and the final walk at Fir Wood, Potters Bar. It was a delight to see so many new faces and varied ages (and a peak of 75 walkers), and many new friendships made. Overall feedback has been wonderful and next season's planning will start in earnest soon! Well done to the whole team for organizing the walks!
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Upcoming Events: - Shri Chandana Vidyapeeth, Jain School - New term begins!
- Fundraising for Tirthankar Mahavir Vidya Mandir, Palitana - Motivated by this Veerayatan initiative, Ilaben Shah has organised a mehfil night with dinner on 26 November in London. For more information please contact
For more details for activities of Veerayatan UK, please contact:
Nileshbhai Kothari:
Pramitbhai Shah: | | VEERAYATAN KENYA
Highlights: | |  | A football fun day was organized by the Shri Chandana Vidyapeeth team on 11 June 2017. On the day SCVP children and the children of Dada’s Community Centre (a charitable childrens’ home) played football matches in mixed teams. Children were served with a snack and prizes such as best player and best team were also awarded. The Dada’s Community Centre children all eagerly looked forward to the event, all smartly dressed in the tracksuits and sports shoes that were gifted to them. A well-wisher also donated t-shirts to the children. The amazing weather made the event an enjoyable fun day for all the children and certainly brought smiles to the children of Dada Community Centre. | |
Treasure Hunt, Bake Sale and a workshop:
Jain class activity in a unique way, quite a change from the normal learning at the Saturday morning classes: a team of teachers organized a treasure hunt on the Environment relating it to the six Kayas - earth, air, water, fire, plants and animals. The children were divided in six teams, and all the teams presented their findings and related it to the six Kayas. It was a fun learning activity for all and much enjoyed by all.
In addition to the treasure hunt, the children of Madhyama 2 class organised a bake sale. The children prepared a food item from home which they then sold to all the children on Saturday morning. There were a wide variety of food items such as cakes, fruits, popcorn, sev-mamra, biscuits, milkshakes and fresh juices. The funds collected from the bake sales where donated to pay for eye operations for the less fortunate children.
An educational workshop on the topic of ‘Love’ was organised for all the teachers and adult class students on 15 June 2017. All enjoyed the discussions and found them to be relevant and meaningful to their lives.
| |  | As the need to reach out to more children with cerebral palsy in Kenya increases, the project to help such children has seen increased numbers in the last three months. This growth has meant that the size of the facility has had to be increased. Renovations are currently underway to the classes as part of the plan to create a world-class Cerebral Palsy unit. Refurbishment of the main School kitchen has also recently been completed to make it more efficient, clean and also fit for preparing porridge - which will be served to over 1000 children daily!
Music therapy has been introduced and is conducted every Wednesday. Live Music is performed by professional musicians bringing joy, smiles and a strong sense of bonding between all the 118 children and staff members at the Cerebral Palsy unit.
The ambition is to expand our present facilities to accommodate up to 150 children and to achieve this we are planning to build new classrooms, have a separate class for vocational training for the older children and an activities area.
| | Upcoming Events:
Start of New Term at SCVP and Diwali Programme Teaching at SCVP school has started with Children’s classes commencing on 9 September and adult classes on 7 September 2017. The annual Diwali and Chopda Poojan Programme will be held on 15 October 2017 - this is an annual event which everyone looks forward to as a way of commemorating Mahavir Bhagwan’s life and teachings. | | For more detail on any of the above, please contact:
Leenaben Shah:
Ritaben Sanghrajka: | | Diksha Anniversary of Sadhvi Shri Sanghamitraji
A programme was held in Milpitas, USA to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Diksha of Sadhvi Shri Sanghamitraji. The programme, held over 3 days, comprised of musical bhavana and bhakti including Bhaktamar recitation lead by Sadhvi Shri Sanghamitraji, discourses by Acharya Shri and a fond symbolic recollection of the actual diksha ceremony which took place here 5 years back. On average 500 people attend the various events each day.
For further information about activities in USA, please contact Mrs. Punita Shah at | | |
