02.05.2015 ►JAINA ►"Live & Help Live", Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund, & more...

Federation Of Jain Associations in North America

Jai Jinendra,

As we continue to honor Mahavir Janma Kalyanak, we would like to share with you with an article below as well as an invitation to participate in our "21 Day 'Live and Help Live' Challenge" from May 5 - 26 to deepen your practice of kindness.  One way to contribute to JAINA's "Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund" who's efforts are led by the World Community Services Committee.  We have a number of academic and financial aid opportunities for our Jain high school, undergraduate, and graduate students.  Lastly, you will be heartened to read about our new initiatives to support our community and strengthen our ties abroad. 

1. FEATURES

Jainism illustrates not only "Live and Let Live", empathy, but "Live and Help Others Live”, compassion, as the core value. Bhagwan Mahavir said, "If you kill someone, itis yourself you kill. If you overpower someone, it is yourself you overpower. If you torment someone, it is yourself you torment. If you harm someone, it is yourself you harm." Let’s understand these aspects deeper with the below examples:

To live and let other’s live is an exercise in tolerance. It means that we let people live and act regardless of whether or not we agree. For instance, while we may believe that having a certain lifestyle is important, we may be tolerant of someone who has a different lifestyle. To take this a step further, we may see the painful experience of another (perhaps on TV) and empathize with their pain momentarily. The moment soon passes and we are onto the next scene.

To Live and Help Live, however, is the practice of expressing the experience of empathy into action due to a deeper experience of inter-connectedness of life. If someone lost their job and couldn’t pay rent, you may invite them into your home until they got back on their feet again. If you were driving and saw someone with a flat tire on the side of the road, you may pull over and provide support (be it change the tire, call for support, wait with them until help arrives, any other ways to help relieve their suffering). You would help!

On the occasion of Mahavir Janma Kalyanak 2015, JAINA team introduces a symbolic day called “Live and Help Live” to embark the Bhagwan Mahavirswami’s vani and propagate his messages throughout our community and especially to the youth and the next generations, we encourage you all to come forward ignite your soul and help others. Read More

COMPASSION IS A MUSCLE, LET’S BUILD IT TOGETHER! 

 As a way to practice as a community, we invite you to participate in our: 21 Day 'Live and Help Live' Challenge Facebook Group to share your experiences and inspired by each others' posts.

(click on the image above to join)

II. SUPPORT JAINA's NEPAL EARTHQUAKE RELIEF FUND

The under-privileged nation of Nepal was faced with destruction and devastation, earlier this week. On April 25th, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck an area between Kathmandu, and the city of Pokhara in Nepal. More than 2,300 people were killed in that what is being considered the worst earthquake in 80 years. JAINA World Community Service (WCS) is launching a fund for the victims of this unfathomable tragedy and ask the Jains of North America to contribute. The funds will be used for a humanitarian project that will be selected & executed against once the relief operations ends and rehabilitation work begins. Previously, with your support, we have raised over $50,000 for Haiti Earthquake $200,000 for the Tsunami victims, and $750,000 for the Gujarat earthquake. Jains in North America have always shown our generosity all over the world, as steadfast believers of “Jiv Daya” and “Ahimsa. Read More III. GREAT SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS! SUMMER INTERNSHIP DEADLINE EXTENDED TO SUN MAY 3, 2015 JAINA SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS ARE DUE MAY 31, 2015  IV. JAINA CONVENTION 2015 UPDATES  RATE INCREASE ANNOUNCEMENT CALL FOR PANELISTS! Over 2,900 people have already registered.  JAINA Education Committee has placed a "Call for Panelists" for the JAINA Convention 2015 for those meeting the following criteria: Prices go up after May 15, 2015 Adult: $199 Child: $169 For Registration, Sponsorship and Advertising details: www.convention.jaina.org Facebook.com/JainaConvention2015 Confirmed to attend JAINA Convention 2015 Between the age range of 30 - 40 years old Raised in the US (approximately from age 12+) Some familiarity with JAINA/YJP/YJA or local Jain Center/Jain community Questions? Contact Pravinbhai Shah at or (919) 859-4994.   We look forward to seeing you at JAINA Convention 2015!

2. GET INVOLVED
I. Volunteer with JAINA by joining the JAINA Volunteer Corps (JVC)
	Are you passionate about making a difference for the Jain community?  Would you like to learn and develop new skills while doing so?  Are you a leader who enjoys collaborating with other leaders?  Then join the JAINA Volunteer Corps (JVC) today!  We have just launched this new program for those who would like to contribute to the greater good of the Jain community and beyond.  NOTE: This opportunity is currently only available to those in North America. Go to www.jaina.org/volunteer to fill out our form or email to learn more.
3. YJP UPDATES
I. YJP celebrates Mahavir Janma Kalyanak at various Jain Centers.
	Young Jain Professionals (YJP) celebrated Mahavir Janma Kalyanak (also known as Mahavir Jayanti) with Jain Centers all across the country this past month! In Southern California, YJP volunteered to serve over 1,000+ attendees at the Jain Center of Southern California's Mahavir Janam Kalnayak celebrations. In New York, YJP was represented at a YJP booth with the Jain Center of America which attended by Jains families from around the Tri-State area attend to celebrate the religious festivities and cultural programs. In Raleigh, YJP performed a Jain Stavan and volunteered to host the Jain Study Center of North Carolina's largest annual event. Additionally, 1000+ people globally viewed Young Jain Professional's social media updates sharing the meaning and history of the reason Jain's celebrate Mahavir Janma Kalyanak each year.
II. SoCal Hiking and Networking Lunch THIS SATURDAY, May 2 at 9 a.m. - 1:30p
	Interested in going on a hike and lunch while networking with other young Jain professionals in the SoCal region?  Join YJP SoCal THIS SATURDAY, May 2 at 9 a.m. to do just that! It will entail hiking the Los Liones Trail in Pacific Palisades! We hope you can join us for this hike of breathtaking views and shade-filled paths.  Trailhead: 580 Los Liones Drive, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 We'll be brunching afterward at Real Food Daily from 12pm - 1:30pm. (516 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA)  Click here for more details.
4. YJA UPDATES
I. Upcoming YJA Gatherings + YJA Blankets for Sale $10!
May 2nd, 2015 SoCal Dinner and Fun at the Beach May 15th, 2015 Northeast Retreat June 6th, 2015 Philadelphia VegFest FEATURED ITEM! YJA Blankets $10! Where: Huntington Beach, CA When:  May 2nd, 2015 Why: Spring is here and the weather is nice and warm, and you know what that means for Californians (we only have one season, who am I kidding...)... Where: 894 S. Undermountain Rd, Sheffield, MA When:  May 15th-17th, 2015 Why: The Northeast Retreat is here! Get ready for some yoga, hiking, s'mores, and learning more about Jainism... Where: Philadelphia, PA When: June 6th, 2015 Why: Come out to Philadelphia's Second Annual VegFest to hang out with YJA! Learn more about leading a healthy vegan and...
5. UPCOMING INITIATIVES & OFFERINGS
I. JAINA International Youth Exchange Program JAINA is proud to announce our Jain International Youth Exchange Program! JAINA has partnered with the Jain International Trade Organization (JITO) to send 10 Jain students from India (ages 18 - 25) to the US this summer from mid June to mid July. They will be also attending the JAINA Convention and engage in a program which provides exposure to the ways Jainism is practiced in the North America, as well as exchange perspectives with North American youth & young adults. JAINA plans to send 10 youth this winter in exchange.  More details to come!  II. JAINA Education Loan Program JAINA is also in the process of putting together the "JAINA Education Loan Program" (JELP), which aims to provide interest free loans to students to assist in defraying their cost of education. For 2015, the JELP team anticipates providing loans for up to 5 recipients at an amount of $3,000 per recipient. More details to come!  III. FIU launches Online Lecture Series on Jain Texts by Jain Scholars starting May 9! The Jain Studies Program at Florida International University (FIU) welcomes you to the inauguration of the Online Lecture Series on Jain Texts. This program is launched to enrich textual studies in Jainism and nurture the study of ancient languages like Sanskrit, Prakrit, Apabramsa, and other Indic languages. This will promote, rejuvenate and invigorate scholarship and research on primary sources. Scholars will present their research on a chosen Jain text through interactive video conferencing.
6. SUPPORT JAINA TODAY!
	As you can see there are a variety of events, initiatives, and projects that JAINA takes leadership in creating in order to bring value to you and the Jain Community.  The creation of new projects and the sustainability of current ones are ONLY POSSIBLE by the generous donations of the members like you. Please visit jaina.org to learn more about our or feel free to email or call our office at (510) 730 0204 and speak with a staff member to see how YOU CAN GET INVOLVED.