01.03.2018 ►JCSC ►Weekly News

Jain Center of Southern California

In this Issue:

• Life Member at JCSC
• Samyak Darshan Shibir - 3/4 - 6
• Varshitap Prarambh & Shri ADK - 3/9 - 10
• "Dosh Dahan" Holi Program at JCSC - 3/17
• Medical Camp at JCSC - 3/18
• Aayambil Oli & Chaitri Poonam - 3/23 - 31
• Shri MJK - Actual 3/29 & Observed 4/8
• Tapasya Anumodana & Recognition - 4/8
• Amazon Smile Program
• Registration For YJA Convention
• Wellness Challenge
• Ongoing Programs
• Lifetime Tithis
• Upcoming Events
• Dignitary Visits & Shibirs
• Other News

Become a Life Member Of JCSC

Samyak Darshan Shibir - Mar 4 - 6, 2018

Swadhyaykar Atmarpit Rajuji from Dharampur will conduct a four-session seminar on Samyak Darshan from Sunday, March 4th to Tuesday, March 6th, 2018 in the Jain Center.

He also will conduct a session on "Keys to Happiness" on Saturday, March 10th. The timings are provided below. To RSVP, please fill out the form below.

Schedule of sessions: No. Day/Date Time Session 1: Sunday, March 4 10:00 am-12:00pm (Lunch 12pm to 1pm) Session 2: Sunday, March 4 02:00pm-04:00pm Session 3-4: Mon-Tue, March 5-6 8:30pm-10:30pm

The shibir has been designed under the guidance of Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshbhai. It consists of 4 two hours sessions and will cover the following:

· What is Samyakdarshan?

· What is Vyavhar (Relative) and Nischay (Absolute) Samyakdarshan?

· How one can attain Samyakdarshan?

· How one can make the right effort?

· What are the Simple keys to attain it?

This is an extraordinary opportunity for all of us. The shibir will help us to learn and understand the fundamentals of Samyakdarshan,

to apply the techniques of attainment, to start our inner journey and to experience the transformation.

Varshitap Prarambh & Shri Adinath Janm & Diksha Kalyanak - Mar 9 - 10, 2018

Jain Center will celebrate Shree Adinath Janam and Diksha Kalyanak on Saturday, March 10, 2018.

Actual Kalyanak day and Varshitap Prarambh day is March 9, 2018.

We hope that this auspicious day inspires our community and Sangh to start their Varshitap.

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Snatrapuja with Nakro - $101

10:00 AM - 12:30 PM: Panch Kalyanak Puja with Nakro - $51 for each puja Followed by: Aarti, Mangal Divo, Shanti Kalash per Gheeboli

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM: Ekasana for sponsorship of $ 501 (whole, partial or multiple sponsorship are accepted)

Contact:

• Chetna Sawala (For Puja Matters) at 1(310)406-7403 or email [email protected]
• Geeta Khona (For Sponsorship) at 714-872-7283

"Dosh Dahan" - Holi Program at JCSC - Mar 17, 2018

• Where: JCSC Swadhyay Hall
• When: Saturday, 17th March 2018
• Time: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Followed by snacks)

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact:

• Premal Doshi - (213)210-3711
• Hiren Shah - (949)375-7063
• Reena Raj Shah - (818)859-8183

Medical Camp 2018 At JCSC - Mar 18, 2018

The JCSC and the Anekant Community are organizing a free Health Fair on Sunday, March 18, 2018.

The Health Fair will be from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Jain Center, Buena Park.

Please CLICK HERE for the flyer.

Please note we need Volunteer help for this Medical Camp!!!!

1) Set up on Saturday, March 17th, 2018 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
2) On Sunday, March 18th, 2018 from 6:30 AM to 3:30 PM.

Please note that all the volunteers will be given a Community Service Certificate!!

Please make use of this opportunity at our Jain Center.

Navpad Aradhna, Aayambil Oli & Chaitri Poonam - Mar 23 - 31, 2018

Navapada Aradhana is associated with the Shripal-Mayanasundari legend. Navapada Aradhana is performed by meditating on Navapada and doing an Ayambil.

In an Ayambil, only one meal is eaten each day of boiled plain food without any spices, sugar, salt, oil, butter, milk, vegetables or fruits.

It is performed for nine days, twice a year. It is called Ayambil Oli. It falls in the months of Chaitra (March/April) and Ashwin (September/October).

This is one of the most auspicious religious festivals and is soon approaching from Fri-Sat, March 23-31.

Sponsorship opportunities are as follows:

• $101 for Snatrapuja • $51 for Puja (Total of 9 available)
• Asthprakari Puja, Aarti, Mangal Divo, Shanti Kalash - Ghee Boli

Grocery purchases, cooking, serving and cleaning for the entire Oli days will be done by volunteers.

We encourage all members to come forward and sponsor this auspicious occasion.

As per our policy, we shall try and accommodate as many sponsors as possible.

Partial Sponsorship of any amount, irrespective of the day, is most welcome, to sum up, the total sponsorship for Ayambil Oli.

Please sign up on the signboard to let us know which day you are coming to do Ayambil.

For further information please contact: Chetana Sawla (For Puja matters) on 310-406-7403 or at [email protected]

Chaitri Punam is the auspicious day, when many scholars, Chakravarti, two sons of Shri Rushabhdev-Nami & Vinami,

First Gandhar of Shri Rushbhavev Shri Pundarikswami along with 5 crore sadhus, attained moksha at Shri Shatrunjay Tirth.

While doing Chaitri Punam Tap many other souls, of Shri Krishna's sons Shamb, Pradhumna, Dashrath's son Bharat,

Muniraj Shuk, Shailkaji, Panthakji, Ramchandra, Dravid king,9 Narada, Five Pandavas, all have achieved moksha at Shidhachalji.

Chaitri Punam Dev Vandana is observed on the last day of Shasvati Chaitri Ayambil Oli.

JCSC will observe Dev Vandana Vidhi on Chaitra Sudi 15, Saturday, March 31, from 7 am to 4 pm.

Shri Mahavir Janm Kalyanak - Actual Mar 29, 2018 Observed April 08, 2018

Shri Mahavir Janm Kalyanak Celebration:March 29 (Actual) April 8 (Observed)

According to the lunar calendar, Bhagavan Mahavir was born on Chaitra Sud 13 which is on March 29th, 2018.

Shree Mahavir Janma Kalyanak will be celebrated at the Jain Center with its usual festivity and fervor on Sunday, April 8, 2018.

The program will be as follows:

10:00 AM - 12:30 PM: Shree Mahavirswami Panch Kalyanka Puja (Total of 5 Pujas. Each Puja with nakro of $51.)

Gheeboli will be conducted for Asthprakari Puja, Aarti, Mangal Divo and Shanti Kalas

12:00pm - 2:00pm: Ekasana

02:00 pm - 5:30 pm: Children's Cultural Program and General Body Meeting

05:30 pm - 6:30 pm Swamivatsalya Dinner

Please note that dinner will be served till 6:30 pm so that everyone can finish dinner before sunset and avoid Ratri Bhojan.

Please RSVP ahead of time so we can make necessary arrangements. A separate email will be sent to RSVP.

For full or partial sponsorship of Ekasanas or Swamivatsalya Dinner, all are welcome.

Sponsorships are: Ekasana $701, Swamivatsalya Dinner $3,101

Please contact:

• Chetana Sawla (For Puja matters) on 310-406-7403 or at [email protected]
• Geetaben Khona (For Sponsorship) on 714-872-7283 or [email protected]

Tapasya Anumodana and Recognition - Apr 8, 2018

JCSC is pleased to announce Tapasya Anumodna and Tapsvi recognition on 8th April 2018, during
Mahavir Janm Kalyanak celebration. All members are cordially invited.

The criteria for Tap and other details are as follows.

Tap - Updhan Tap-either 45 days,35 days,28 days or 18 days.
- 99 yatra of Satunjay, Palitana/Girnarji

Duration - during your stay in California under JCSC umbrella.

• Date: April 8th, Sunday, during a cultural program on MJK day.
• Time: About 3:30 pm Venue: Cultural Hall.

Information to be submitted:

1. Name:
2. Age:
3. Type of Tap:
4. When:
5. Address, phone no, e-mail address:
6. Will attend: Yes () No ()
7. Remarks:

Please contact Dr. Mahendrabhai Shah on [email protected] or on 714-757-9490 for any questions or further information

Amazon Smile Program

A lot of our members purchase at amazon.com. Amazon donates 0.5% of your purchase amount to a charity of your choice. Start shopping at http://smile.amazon.com and it will show you available Charities. Enter "Jain Center" and click on Search button. It will show you all Jain Centers. Select "Jain Center of Southern California, Buena Park, CA" from the list. Only pick the one which is Buena Park, CA. Once selected, Amazon shopping pages will always show "Supporting: Jain Center of Southern California" on the top left of all your shopping pages and will save it for all future shopping.

From now on, if you start your shopping at http://smile.amazon.com, Amazon will donate 0.5% of that purchase to Jain Center of Southern California, Buena Park.

Remember to start shopping at http://smile.amazon.com (no other link) and help Jain Center receive 0.5% of your purchase as a donation from amazon.com.

Registration For YJA Convention Is Now Open - Phase 1

During this Convention, attendees will find themselves looking into the depths of not only Jainism, but also their own identities as we Reconnect with Our Roots. Join us as we embark on a journey to discover what makes up our past and how we can positively influence both ourselves and the communities around us.
Convention Details

Who: You and your friends (ages 14-29) interested in Jainism
When: July 5th - 8th
Where: Westin O'Hare in Chicago, Illinois

Wellness Challenge - Do A Set Of Balance Exercises

For the upcoming weekly challenge, we are challenging the participants to “Do 15 Minutes of Meditation Every Day." Meditation is relaxation. It is not about concentration, it’s actually about de-concentration. It’s not about focusing one’s thoughts on one thing, but instead becoming thoughtless. Some benefits of meditation include a calm mind, good concentration, better clarity, improved communication, relaxation, and rejuvenation of the mind and body. If you are interested in learning more and participating, click here.

Ongoing Programs - Mar, 2018

• Shri Girishbhai's weekly evening Swadhyay's on Monday and Thursday are temporarily suspended until further notice.

Lifetime Tithis

• 03/02 - Shah, Vidyaben Jayantilal- Birthday of Shah, Vidyaben
• 03/06 - Desai, Suraj, and Hetal (Shah, Navnit & Niru Shah) Punyatithi of son/brother Kamal Shah
• 03/07 - Shah, Jayantilal Chunilal- Birthday of Shah, Jayantilal Chunilal
• 03/24 - Shah, Dilip, and Pragna- Punyatithi of Manekben Shah
• 03/31 - Salvi, Kirit and Rekha Punyatithi of Savitaben Ambalal

Send a photograph of your loved one to Kinal Modi at .
Please contact Ketan Parekh at for information, questions or any pledges.

Upcoming Events

• Samyak Darshan Shibir - Mar 4 - 6, 2018
• Varshitap Prarambh & Shri Adinath Janam & Diksha Kalyanak - Mar 9 - 10, 2018
• Medical Camp 2018 At JCSC - Mar 18, 2018
• Navpad Aradhna, Aayambil Oli & Chaitri Poonam - Mar 23 - 31, 2018
• Shri Mahavir Janm Kalyanak - (Actual) Mar 29, 2018, (Observed) April 8, 2018

Dignitary Visits & Shibirs

• Swadhyayakar Atmarpit Rajuji-"Samyak Darshan" Shibir-3/4 - 6

Other News

International Summer School for Jain Studies (ISSJS) is currently accepting applications for three, four and six week study programs in India.

Jain Dharma/Religion originate d in India several thousand years ago. An elder cousin of Buddhism, Jain dharma teaches a lifestyle rooted in the practice of unconditional nonviolence.

Its teachings inspired and influenced Mahatma Gandhi. Students and scholars will learn about Jain traditions from learned lay scholars as well as practicing monks and nuns in India.

The Program is designed for undergraduate and graduate students, Post-Doctoral Fellows, full-time faculty and High School Teachers with an interest in the Jain Studies and ahimsa (nonviolence). The three, four and six weeks long, stand-alone and separate intensive courses in International Summer School for Jain Studies (ISSJS) 2018 will entail morning lectures, afternoon field trips, visits to some schools, time in a few ancient cities and meetings with Jain professionals, monks and nuns.

For the last 13 years, every summer, ISSJS have been offered regularly in India. The number of participants has seen a steady increase every year. Nearly 800 students and scholars from many universities and High Schools have participated in ISSJS programs so far.

We are excited to be offering ISSJS - 2018 in its 14th annual year.

ISSJS is unique in that it is an experiential and India based program and makes India a classroom for the study of ahimsa /nonviolence, Jain, history, art, culture, and philosophy.

This program is highly subsidized by the Jain community. For Program Details & Application, Visit our website www.isjs.in

Please contact Dr. Sulekh C. Jain, Houston, Texas, USA for further information.
Home: 281-494-7656 Cell: 832-594-8005
His blog is https://sulekhcjain.wordpress.com