Federation Of Jain Associations in North America
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Jai Jinendra!
I am deeply saddened to know that Jain Community lost a divine soul - Amrendra Muniji on Friday April 13, 2018. It is rightly said that only body dies, not the person's contribution to the world. Amrendra Muniji blessed members of JAINA during his presence at JAINA BOD meetings in Siddhachalam and at many JAINA Conventions. On behalf of JAINA, I express my sincere condolences to his devotees and pray for his soul to rest in peace.
My personal experience with Amrendra Muniji -
I am fortunate to get his blessings during his visits to my place for delivering Vyakhyans to devotees.
The Parliament of the World’s Religions to host seven days Convention in Toronto. More details are given below.
Warm Regards,
Gunvant Shah
JAINA President
04-15-2018
External renunciation is meaningless if the soul remains fettered by internal shackles.
- Bhagwan Mahavir
Q 1: What is the name for the group of Jivas with five senses?
Q 2: Can you give examples of five-sensed Jivas?
THE PARLIMENT OF THE WORLDS'S RELIGIONS IN TORONTO FROM NOV 1-7,2018
The Parliament of the World’s Religions is the world’s largest and premier interfaith gathering and will be hosted this year from November 1-7, 2018 in Toronto. This seven-day event has in the past featured appearances from luminaries like the His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama, President Nelson Mandela, Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi, United Nations Messenger of Peace Dr. Jane Goodall, and President Jimmy Carter. The Parliament will feature more than 500 artistic, cultural, scholarly, and interactive sessions, presented by a diverse and international group of selected session leaders.
AMRENDER MUNIJI IS NO MORE (APRIL 12, 1949 - APRIL 13, 2018)
Param Pujya Amrender Muniji Maharaj Saheb left for devlok on Friday, April 13, 2018 evening after facing prolonged illness with exemplary fortitude and complete equanimity. Neither illness nor bodily pain disturbed his composure at any time. Until his last days, he acknowledged devotees’ obeisance with his usual warmth to the extent he could.
In his passing away, the heavens have been enriched but we are so much poorer. One of the most notable monks to have answered the call of Acharya Sushil Kumarji MS to travel outside India to spread the message of Bhagwan Mahavira, Muniji was a symbol of simplicity, love and peace. Peace within caused him to exude peace among all who came in contact with him.
PAYING LAST RESPECTS
Muniji’s body will lie in state at the Sthanak at Siddhachalam from 3:00 to 7:00 PM on Saturday, April 14.
A Shradhanjali, NJ Sabha will be held at the Ahimsa Hall at Siddhachalam, NJ at 3:00 PM on Sunday, April 15. Please join.
Address: Siddhachalam Jain Tirth, 111 Hope Road, Blairstown, NJ 07825, USA
Phone: (908) 362-9793 / (908) 362-5487
Email: [email protected]
MAHAVIR JANMA KALYANAK CELEBRATION AT JAIN CENTER
This year, Jain Society of Pittsburgh celebrated Mahavir Janma Kalyanak on April 1st. The Snatra puja was the main aspect of the program. The Puja was performed by Shri Dipen Shah, the priests of Hindu Jain Temple Shri Suresh Joshiji on Harmonium and Shri Jagdishji on Tabla. The Snatra puja was performed with melodious devotion which created a divine atmosphere. The Puja was followed by Sadhrmik Vatsalya. There were 150 people present for the program.
TRUE FRIEND
JAIN FESTIVALS
In last newsletter, we learned about five Jain Festivals. This time we will learn about Gyan Panchami, Ashadh Chaturdasi, Kartik Poornima, Maun Ekadashi, Paush dashami, Akshay Tritiya.
Gyan Panchami is the name given to the celebration that takes place on the 5th day of the fortnight of the waxing moon in Kartik (the 5th day after Diwali). This day has been fixed for the worship of pure knowledge; and on this day, by way of worshipping knowledge, fasting, taking Paushadh, devavandan.
JAIN STORY
In a certain city named Rohitak, there used to be an old woman named Rohini. As there was no means to earn a livelihood, so she began preparing food for the society. Once Rohini prepared a kind of gourd vegetable and added spices to make it all the more tastier. And in order to taste it, she put a small drop of it, into her mouth. She found the cooked gourd to be excessively bitter so in order to keep herself away from the slander of the society, she prepared another and a better dish of gourd for the second time.
The whole society had their fill and had left then a monk named Dhramaruchi who had done a fast of a month arrived there to accept some food in order to break his fast. Rohini served the monk some ground so that it shall not go to waste. Accepting this novel treat, the monk went to his spiritual instructor and told this incident to him.
QUIZ ANSWER
A 1: Panchendriya Jivas
A 2: Examples
- Naraki ‑ the jivas in hell
- Tiryanch ‑ those that live on earth ‑ animals, birds, fish, etc.
- Dev ‑ those that live in the heaven
- Manushya ‑ human beings