Jain Society of Greater Detroit
The Jain Society of Greater Detroit in USA organized a nine-day educational program conducted by the Samanijis (disciples of Acharyashree Mahashraman) of Jain Vishwa Bharati (JVB) at the Detroit Jain Temple. The series of highly informative daily enrichment programs were provided by Samani Charitra Pragya ji and Samani Prasanna Pragya ji. During their nine-day visit on August 20 - 29, 2010, they held audiences captive and kept them deeply engaged everyone with their eloquent, informative and rousing lectures, meditation training, and a two-day Shivir. These events benefitted over 300 members in the Detroit Jain Center’s Adult Swadhyay group and 85 children in the Sunday Pathshala class. The Society has nearly 480 families.
Samanijis conducting Sunday Pathshala Class with Detroit Jain Center youth
The Samanijis resided or visited many Jain families located in a 100-mile radius of the Detroit Jain Temple, including far away places such as Ann Arbor (home of the University of Michigan) Saginaw and Troy providing counsel and darshan to many Jains and non-Jains across the State of Michigan while in these communities.
The following are highlights of the Samanijis’ programs benefitting nearly 400 Detroit area Jain Society members and their children:
- Special lecture/discussion session in English on August 22 with over 40 youth and teenage children enrolled in the Detroit Temple’s Sunday Pathshala Class. The talks covered the application of Jain principles to contemporary issues and Tips for a better life affecting youth.
- Daily hour-long lectures in Hindi and Gujarati on August 23 - 27 by the Samani Prasanna Pragya ji covered the topic of “Six Avashyakas,” which benefited many retirees and senior citizens. The evening program consisted of two-hour long lectures in Hindi and English by Samani Charitra Prajnaji on the meaning of the Bhaktamar Stotra. Each evening lecture concluded with training on Preksha Meditation and relaxation techniques provided by Samani Prasanna Pragyaji.
- An intensive two-day Shivir was organized by the Detroit Center on August 28-29, and attended by over 125 adults and 30 youth aged 8-20 years. Attendees benefitted from the Samanijis’ detailed multi-media lectures on Jain Philosophy and Way of Life, sprinkled with timeless stories, and entertaining anecdotes, while practicing Preksha meditation and self-realization exercises.
- The adult Shivir program consisted of lectures and discussions by Samanijis on:
- How to Know Your Self
- How to Increase Your Intuition Power
- Know Your Past Life
- Art of Positive thinking
- Who is Your Creator?
- How to Live in the Present?
- The Youth Shivir program had following 6 topics alternated by the Samanijis:
- Increase Your Memory Power
- Art of Eating
- Anger Management
- Secret of Success
- Culture & Religion
- Jain Way of Life
- The Samanijis also described the unique collaboration between Jain Community at large and Florida International University (FIU, a large 39,000- student public university in Miami, Florida) which has resulted in establishment of the first Bhagwan Mahavir Professorship in Jain Studies, awarded to Dr. Nathan Katz in April 2010. The Detroit Jain leaders and families expressed their support for this milestone event in promoting Jain education and awareness in the Diaspora. It is an perpetual professorship on jain studies o offer online, certificate and regular courses on Jainism, vegetarianism, nonviolence, meditation comprehensively. Such a milestone will disseminate Jain Culture, Philosophy and its universal principles across the world.
The following photographs illustrate highlights of the Samanijis’ memorable visit to Detroit.
Samani Prasanna Pragyaji and Samani Charitra Prajnaji admiring ancient Jain exhibits at the University of Michigan Museum of Art in Ann Arbor with JAINA Midwest Regional Vice-President Manish Mehta and Mrs. Varsha Mehta.
PHOTOS FROM SHIVIR HELD AT DETROIT, August 28-29, 2010
Samanijis with youth and adult attendees of Shivir held at Jain Society of Greater Detroit on August 28-29.
Shri Rajiv Shah, President of Jain Society of Greater Detroit, delivers the Vote of Thanks to Samanis Charitra Prajnaji and Prasanna Pragyaji at the conclusion of the Shivir on August 29.
