Murccha yadi hoti nahi, to 'main-mera' bhava Chetna ke chaitanya ka, banta nahi svabhava
When the soul is covered with trance, the feeling of arrogance and 'my' and 'mine' arises. When this veil is lifted, such feeling of trance, does not become the nature of consciousness.
Regular Sessions
Preksha Meditation:
Tuesdays - 7:30PM - 8:30PM - JVB Iselin Center
Swadhyay:
Thursdays - 7:30PM - 8:30PM - JVB Iselin Center
Youth Forum:
3rd Friday of every month - 7PM - 9PM - JVB Iselin Center Upcoming - Feb 19
Gyanshala:
Two Sundays every month - 3:30PM - 6PM - Franklin Temple Classrooms
Pakshik Pratikraman:
Every Pakkhi - 7:30 PM - JVB Iselin Center - Upcoming - Feb 7, 22
Anekanta is a well-known principle of life. This principle begins with a change of vision. When our vision is not holistic, our thoughts are not distilled through the gross and subtle worlds. As long as our knowledge is not a synthesis of the expressed and the unexpressed modes, we are not able to save ourselves from problems. The nature of matter is a very big truth. We should not make light of it. We should try to understand it. No man, who has flouted the norms that govern matter, has been able to live happily. Only he, who accepts the real facts and the laws that govern matter, will be able to lead a life of peace and happiness, not the one who with his deliberate arguments tries to avoid facing the truth.In general, man does not want to change but in an attempt to make his goals accessible, he brings them down a peg or two. No man wants to reach the level of God and yet he wants to bring God down to earth, to his level. This is perversion. This perspective is wrong. If you are able to change this perspective and if we accept truth as undivided and eternal then there will be no place for sorrow. The greatest rule of truth is that nothing on earth is forever the same or forever different.
Nobody is forever an enemy nor anybody forever friend. On the basis of this rule, we can proceed with our exploration. We then access the royal highway of life; the highway that also shows the way to meditational practices.
Excerpts from "ANEKANTA THE THIRD EYE" by Acharya Mahaprajna
JVBNA Upcoming Programs 2016
Maryada Mahotsav - Feb 12 (7:30-8:30 pm), 13 (10am-12noon) and 14 (10am-12noon) - JVBNA Iselin Center
Weekend Gyata Dharma Katha Agam Swadhyay - Feb 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28 - 10am-12noon - JVBNA Iselin Center - No Registration Required
Holi Milan - Mar 19 - 12noon-7pm - JVBNA New Center
Akshay Tritiya / Path of Ahimsa - May 7
Gyanshala Annual Day - Jun 5
Family Camp - Jun 10, 11 and 12
Paryushan - Aug 28 to Sep 4
Kshamapana Diwas and Bhikshu Jaap - Sep 18
Diwali Jaap - Oct 29
Gujarati New year - Oct 30
Gyanshala Holiday Drive - Nov/Dec
Diwali Milan - Nov 5
8 Day Weekend Agam Workshop - Nov 19, 20, Dec 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 and 18
New Year Jaap, AGM and EC Oath - Jan 1, 2017
JVB Orlando Annual Spiritual Camp
A 21 member JVB New Jersey delegation attended the 20th Annual Spiritual Camp organized by JVB Orlando over the MLK weekend, Jan 15-18. The theme of the camp was "Nanassa Saarmayaro" or “Conduct - the essence of Knowledge.” The camp was organized under the auspicious guidance of Samanijis from all over the US - Samani Madhur Pragyaji & Samani Vikas Pragyaji from JVB Orlando, Samani Satya Pragyaji & Samani Rohini Pragyaji from JVB New Jersey, Samani Parimal Pragyaji & Samani Maryada Pragyaji from JVB Houston, and Samani Shukla Pragyaji & Samani Rohit Pragyaji from FIU, Miami. The beautifully conceived spiritual programming supported by flawless execution by JVB Orlando Team, was inspirational, educational, and enjoyable for all. It was a very well attended camp with upwards of 325 attendees and 4 parallel sessions catered towards 4 different age groups. The camp was a grand experience and attendees returned home filled with positive energy to carry their spiritual journey forward.
Youth Forum on Preksha Dhyan: Why & How and Inner Peace
By Manu Nahata
In our latest Youth Forum session, our topics were Preksha Dhyan: Why and How and Inner Peace. The session began with a prayer segment. Under Samani Satya Pragyaji and Samani Rohini Pragyaji's guidance, we got a glimpse into the vast subject of Preksha Dhyan. Acharya Tulsi had the goal of establishing a basic guideline on the Jain Art of Spiritual Practice which included Preksha Dhyan. Furthermore, Acharya Mahapragya did extensive research on this topic under Acharya Tulsi's instruction.
Samaniji explained that our 5 senses choose what to accomplish depending on their capabilities. The mind is more developed and has a greater depth. Hence, the mind can choose different tasks and attempt to complete all of them if it has patience and knowledge. Although the mind is thoroughly developed, it becomes fickle since it has 32-35 thoughts per second. Evidently, this leads to chaos. But as humans, we are constantly looking for solutions to our problems. In the search for inner peace, we have found Preksha Dhyan, the goal of which is to discover super sensory perception. Since these overflowing emotions have led us to problems, Preksha meditation allows us to perceive without emotions.
Sampikhaye Appaga Mappayenam
See yourself through yourself without the color of emotions!
We gain knowledge and form relationships with our senses. Without our senses, we would be unable to acquire any new information. As mentioned before, the senses lead to different emotions. As a part of Hans Raj Uncle's session, we split into two groups. One group was given a picture of a smiling pumpkin, while the other was given a picture of a frowning pumpkin. We were told to discuss and explain the emotions that we felt simply from seeing these pumpkins. The first group explained that they thought of happiness and cheer, while the second group felt melancholy.
In Samaniji’s lecture, it was also mentioned that there are three states of mind. The ones we are primarily in are the conscious and unconscious minds. In the conscious mind, thoughts are quite prominent. In the unconscious mind, emotions, behaviors, habits, and memories are prominent. We should aspire to be in higher consciousness because it is only at that state in which we can obtain absolute knowledge.
Preksha Dhyan has many benefits. It guides us to discipline our mind and enhance concentration. In Uncle's lecture, he mentioned how practicing Preksha meditation can help us become more creative and productive. In terms of our social lives, we can become trustworthy individuals by attaining inner peace, as Dalai Lama once said, “Inner peace is the key: if you have inner peace, the external problems do not affect your deep sense of peace and tranquility. In that state of mind you can deal with situations with calmness and reason, while keeping your inner happiness.” The session ended with practice of Preksha Meditation.
Jain Sutra - Arth
::- Vandan-Path -::
Our first duty is to do namaskar to our Guru. Sects have their own technique of doing vandana. The technique in the Terapanth sect is as below. This is called “Panchang Vandana.”
Three times Till right Circumambulating Do I adore Make obeisance Revere And respect you The auspicious, The absolute good. The embodiment of religion And the truly learned. I pray to you, Honour you with head Bowed down
Technique
While doing the vandana, fold both the hands and revolve them three times from right to left side, then kneel down and say the vandami... While saying matthhaen vandami, bow your head down and touch the ground with it. In this way, say the vandana three times and standing up say vande Guruwaram / Munivaram / Sativaram! “Hath jodkar arj kanrun apke tanuratn men sukhsata hain.’
Sources
JVBNA New Jersey
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Jaina Sanghas
Shvetambar
Terapanth
Institutions
JVB New Jersey, USA
Jain Vishva Bharati [JVB]
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