Register Now! Southeast Regional Leadership Summit

Meghi on November 2007

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The next Leadership will be held on November 17th, 2007 at Emory University in Atlanta, GA.  The registration fee of $40 includes 3 meals, workshops, and conference materials.  To register, please go to http://www.jainleadership.org/register.htm

Over the past three years JAINA’s Long Range Planning Committee, together with other Jain leaders, have developed a vision for the future of Jainism in North America. Dr. Dipak Jain, the Dean of Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, invited Jain leaders from across USA and Canada to a historic first summit to discuss the future of Jainism in North America on April 15-17, 2005 at the Kellogg School of Management in Chicago. Led by Dipak Jain and Prem Jain, Former Senior Vice President of CISCO, the conferences introduced concepts of management and organization that can be applied to improving the performance of our leadership and result in greater involvement of our community in solving common challenges facing us.  

The cost will be minimal and includes conference materials, as well as breakfast, lunch, snacks, tea break, and dinner. As there is limited space, please confirm as soon as possible.

The highlights of this conference includes:

- Leadership Training
- Community Concerns and Challenges
- Personal Experiences from Successful Community Members

And workshops such as:

- Universalization of Practices at Jain Centers in USA
- Community Concerns and Challenges
- Youth Issues
- Jain Center Policies

For more information, please contact:

Manoj Jain, Jain Center of Memphis, TN - JAINA LRPC - 901-240-2602
mkjain@aol.com

2nd Annual Jain Center Camping Trip

Amit on September 2007

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Join us for this year’s JCA Camping Trip! After last year’s hugely successful event, we’re at it again. Come for the food, friends, and fun, stay for the discussions and dharma.

Register early and let your friends know! Our Trip is October 6, 7, 8, 2007. We will meet at Jain Center of America (NY), make a visit to Siddhachalam and then head to Harmony Ridge Campgrounds. Contact Chintan Shah at chintan.shah@yja.org for more information.

YJA 2008 Chicago

Dhrumil on July 2007

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Hey guys! This is the official group for the YJA 2008 Convention which will be held in the Chicago area at the Marriott Lincolnshire resort. Join this group and keep checking in to keep updated on the latest news and events as we plan to bring you the best convention yet next July.

We are currently looking for volunteers that can commit to joining planning committees. If you are interested, please email me: rshah@lindenllc.com

Young Jains of America (YJA) is a committee of Federation of Jain Associations in North America (JAINA) who puts emphasis on projects relating to Jain youth from ages 14-29.

Our mission is: “to be recognized as a national and international umbrella Jain youth organization for establishing a network to share Jain heritage and religion through young people.”

Rutul Shah

p.s. Stay tuned by entering in your contact information in the following form:

- Official YJA 2008 Facebook Group

Repost: Picnic Moved to June 3rd (1 week later)

Amit on May 2007

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Sorry for the confusion folks, Picnic is goin’ down the next weekend. Same Jain time, Same Jain channel but instead of SHELTER 2, its at SHELTER 4.

Make sure you get on the Jain Train and hang out with your friends and make some new ones while we enjoy the beautiful weather (fingers crossed) and play silly games and munch on some great food!

Sunday, May 27, 12:00pm
Mason Regional Park
18712 University Drive, Irvine, CA

Hello Everyone!

Please join us on Sunday, May 27 for a YJA Picnic bash. So come out, have fun, meet people and re-connect with old ones!!

We will be serving drinks, food and snacks all day. The cost will be $ 5.00 as a donation fee towads YJA
Also, feel free to bring games, footballs, Frisbees, etc. etc.

This is a recommended 21 + event

We can’t wait to see you there and we know you can’t wait to hang out with two of the coolest people ever. The excitement is building up. It will be lots of fun.

Just in case you need our numbers here they are:

- Shefali - (949) 292-6920
- Amit- (310) 901-0709

For any questions or further details regarding this event, please contact Shefali.shah@yja.org or Amit.jain@yja.org

Hope to see you all there!!

Lecture recap: Young Jain taking Diksha

Dhrumil on May 2007

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This past weekend YJA Board Member, Parag Parekh, attended Bhavesh Bhai Shah’s lecture in Queens. Bhavesh is a young jain who is taking Diksha very soon.

I asked Parag to share his thoughts on how the lecture went and what he took away from it:

Parag Parekh, Director of Events:
This past Sunday, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to hear Bhavesh Bhai, who is taking Diksha at the young age of 21, speak. Bhavesh Bhai’s discussion included topics such as the meaning of Jainism and being a Jain, the rationale for doing a saymik, and the rationale for the way we do puja, which I had no idea about before. In explaining the rationale behind how we do puja, he discussed, for example, we do puja to the toe as symbol of bowing for atonement. I was able to learn new ideas about Jainism, though that wasn’t the main reason why I went to his discussion. I wanted to know what could have made a 21 year old man want to give up everything and live the life of a monk.

Bhavesh Bhai was always a studious scholar of Jainism. When he informed his family of his intentions, his family was naturally surprised and took him out to see what he would miss out on if he followed through. Seeing what he may miss out on just strengthened his intent to take Diksha and this is what got to me. How can a 21 year old, who has his whole life ahead of him, just give up all worldly possessions and his life in order to live the life of a monk? It requires such a strong will and dedication that it makes fasting look like child’s play. Hearing him speak about taking Diksha put many things in perspective. Owning and trying to obtain the latest stuff isn’t much of a priority anymore, especially after you hear someone your age willing to give up everything for the sake of religion. The biggest piece of advice I took back was to stay strong in my beliefs, especially during times when it is rough, because ultimately faith and patience are rewarded.

Well said Parag and thank you for sharing.

Get your Picnic On, Jain Style!!

Amit on May 2007

1 Comment

If you’re gonna be in SoCal this Memorial Day weekend make sure you get on the Jain Train and hang out with your friends and make some new ones while we enjoy the beautiful weather (fingers crossed) and play silly games and munch on some great food!

Sunday, May 27, 12:00pm
Mason Regional Park
18712 University Drive, Irvine, CA

Hello Everyone!

Please join us on Sunday, May 27 for a YJA Picnic bash. So come out, have fun, meet people and re-connect with old ones!!

We will be serving drinks, food and snacks all day. The cost will be $ 5.00 as a donation fee towads YJA
Also, feel free to bring games, footballs, Frisbees, etc. etc.

This is a recommended 21 + event

We can’t wait to see you there and we know you can’t wait to hang out with two of the coolest people ever. The excitement is building up. It will be lots of fun.

Just in case you need our numbers here they are:

- Shefali - (949) 292-6920
- Amit- (310) 901-0709

For any questions or further details regarding this event, please contact Shefali.shah@yja.org or Amit.jain@yja.org

Hope to see you all there!!

Young Jain taking Diksha speaks on Sunday

Dhrumil on May 2007

1 Comment

This great opportunity to hear Bhavesh Bhai Shah speak in New York this weekend comes to us from former YJA Co-Chair, Chintan Shah.

Via JIVA NY Youth Committee:
This Sunday May 20, 2007, the Jain Center of America will be graced by the presence of Bhavesh Bhai Shah, a 21 year old lay person planning to take diksha within the next year! We invite you to attend and encourage you to join us at this wonderful rare event.

Bhavesh bhai is here from India for a few months visiting his brother and will be returning to India soon. Upon his return, Bhavesh has made the decision to renounce his life as a Shravak (householder) and take the vows of monkhood. This process is formally known as taking Diksha, where the individual relinquishes all ties to family and homely duties and devotes the entirety of their lives to spiritual pursuits. We are very honored and lucky to have Bhavesh bhai come to our temple and hold a discussion with all young Jains here in the New York area.

We will be touching upon many different topics such as the events which took place leading to his decision, how he will be preparing for his new life, and what he can expect during and after his ceremony. Most importantly, you will be able to ask questions of him that pertain to any topic. He is very excited to speak with a group of young Jains and answer questions that we all may have.

This is an extremely rare opportunity to learn and interact with, on such a personal level, a young and energetic person who will be taking diksha. Please make every possible effort to come this Sunday. We will also be having guest visitors from the Pathshala students at the Jain Center of Connecticut. You will have the opportunity to participate in a phenomenal discussion and meet new friends.

The discussion will take place at 10:30am at the Jain Center of America in Queens in the Youth Cellar/Art Gallery. Please arrive on time and feel free to bring questions that you may have! We look forward to a phenomenal once in a lifetime event this Sunday!

Please let us know if you have any questions. Thank you.

JIVA NY Youth Committee
Jain Center of America