Shree Jain Svetamber Derawasi Sangh Mombasa
e-Newsletter
June 2015
Jai Jinendra Welcome to the first e-Newsletter from the Sangh. The aim of e-Newsletter is to pass information of the regular activities of the Sangh, special events / functions, write ups from Sangh members and discussions on Jain philosophy. We request Sangh members to send articles on Jainism, suggestions for the NAME of this e-Newsletter, and questions you would like to be answered by Jain scholars. Please send your name and contact if you want to join the editorial team. Pathshala questionnaire - all members will have received a questionnaire prepared by the Pathshala Committee aimed at finding out what classes the members are/were attending, reasons why they have stopped attending, and what changes they would like to see.
Members are urged to fill it in and drop it off at the Derasar office or hand it in to Shilpiben Dipan Shah (0733 728916) in Nyali. The more responses we get the better we can tailor our classes and activities to your needs and conveniences. All replies to Sangh office or email to jaintemplemsa@yahoo.com or mombasajains@gmail.com
Index Pathshala Classes
Page 2
In Pictures
Page 7
June Events
Page 3
M M Shah & M V Shah Academy
Pages 8 , 9
Paryushan Festival
Page 4
July Calendar
Page 10
Questions & Answers
Pages 5 , 6
All breathing, existing, living, sentient creatures should not be slain, nor treated with violence, nor abused, nor tormented, nor driven away.�
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Regular Pathshala Classes Day
Time
Age
Subject
Sunday
9.30am - 11.00am
Children
Stutis, Stavan, various games and competitions. Samayika, Chaityavandan, Pooja, Pratikaman etc.
Monday
8.00pm - 9.30pm
Adults
Shri Rushabhdev Bhagwan's life history.
Tuesday
9.30am - 11.00am
Adults
Sutras with Meanings and other various topics such as Deraser Vidhi, Jain festivals and celebration.
3.00pm - 4.00pm
Adults
Samayika, Navsmaran Jaap, Swadhyay
8.00pm - 9.30pm
Adults
Sutras with meanings and general Jain knowledge
Wednesday
9.30am - 11.00am
Adults Sutras and meanings, Deraser vidhi, Pooja, Samayika, (Beginners) Chaityavandan. Reached Jai Viyaraya Sutra
2.30pm - 4.00pm
Adults
Sangeet class - Bhaktigeet, Sajjai, Stavan
8.00pm - 9.30pm
Adults
Sangeet class - Bhaktigeet, Sajjai, Stavan
Thursday
9.30am -11.00am
Adults (Advance)
Saturday
10.15am to 11.30am
Children
Study of Dandak Held at Oshwal Academy - see below for details
For more information on any of the Pathshala classes please contact the Pathshala convener, Ajul Shah, or Kanchanbhai.
Pathshala Classes at Oshwal Academy on Saturday are divided into 3 classes and are taught in English and simple Gujarati :
Little Stars - under 6 years old : Prayers, stutis, Tirthankar names, learn about Darshan, things found in the Deraser, stories, games, colouring, learning how to make a sathiyo.
Shining Stars - intermediate class : Learn the Sutras, Jain alphabet, Jain stories, and activities such as word search, Jain Pictionary, Jain Hangman, and Jain Outburst.
Sparkling Stars : Learn the life history of Mahavirswami (including the 5 Kalyanaks) through which a lot of life lessons are learnt. Activities similar to intermediate class. In addition to classroom learning, trips such as tree planting, visiting nature trail to look at different life forms and their interdependence, Deraser visits to learn Darshan and Pooja practically, visits to orphan homes and sharing time with the disadvantaged in society, are carried out. Learning through skits, debates, and elocution is encouraged. Performances at Deraser functions are arranged. 2 SJSDS Newsletter June 2015
June 2015 Events Bhandar Counting Thursday, 18 June 2015. 7.00PM
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Shuddhi Karan Sunday, 28th June 2015. 9.00AM 1.
As a preparation for Paryushan, devotees do a “spring clean” of the Derasar itself. It is our duty to ensure it is in spic and span state for our biggest festival, Paryushan. This spring cleaning exercise is called Shuddhi Karan.
2.
Cleaning implements will be provided, and those who would like to clean inside the Ghabaro should come in puja clothes.
3.
Lunch will be provided to all those who participate.
4.
Members who are interested in participating in this exercise are required to register their names at the Derasar office so that adequate provisions can be made for lunch.
Paryushan programmes 10th – 17th September 2015 All those Members who are interested in taking part in singing, dance, acting (plays) and fancy dress type events or have experience in the production of such events are requested to get in touch with any of the following people: Illaben Ravi Khimasia – 0733 755803
Ajulbhai Shah
Kirtibhai Shah
Binduben Niteen Shah – 0735 437713
– 0720 400866
– 0722 207834
Falguniben Sanjay Shah – 0734 999200
Kajalben Dipak Sheth – 0773 739513
Meetaben Atul Gudka – 0720 851194
Shilpiben Dipan Shah – 0733 728916
Rekhaben Shavadia
– 0731 065871
Useful Links Please see below blog for slides and notes from the Basic Jainism course conducted by Mrs Bina Shah.
Www.mombasajains.blogspot.com
Don't accumulate if you do not need. The excess of wealth in your hands is for the society, and you are the trustee for the same.
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Questions asked to Dr Harshadbhai Sanghrajka and his replies : How does the soul determine which state to be in, based on the action of the body and mind because the mind and body may do something that they consider is correct but which in fact is wrong? Does the soul have understanding and knowledge of all possible actions? The understanding and knowledge of the soul is controlled by the level of purity it has achieved. The purer the state, the better its decision making. If the soul has the right FAITH, then it will make an effort to do the right things and will control the mind, senses and body. If the soul is controlled by the mind and the sense desires, then it is in reverse mode binding inauspicious karma and suffering the fruits thereof. Potentially, the soul is total knowledge incarnate and that is why human beings can become omniscient and emancipated. The starting point is to have total faith in the teachings of the omniscient and make a positive effort [purushartha], even against the desires of the mind and senses. This together with the austerities: external and internal, will raise the level of purity of the soul and lead to making the right decisions/ actions towards self-realisation.
Question is that if someone is forced by Karma to commit a sin when does that person ever break the cycle? It will carry on ad infinitum. There are two forces working at any given time: 1.
The fruit of past karma.
2.
The effort made.
The fruit of the past karma has its limitation in terms of time, quantity and intensity. The success of our efforts is dependent upon the level of these factors. The more powerful/intense the karma, the less likely are our efforts to succeed. Nonetheless, one can only make right effort and even if it does not succeed, it has the effect of reducing the karma burden, or at least binding auspicious new karma. This if carried on will give the soul the purity it needs to reach self-realisation and then the soul moves with speed to annihilate old karma. If we were totally controlled by Karma, as you suggest, then nobody will ever get liberated. This is therefore not the case.
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If karma particles are physical how do they choose between good and bad karma to attach to someone? Are the karma particles intelligent? Or alive? How do the karma particles know what is good and what is bad and decide what type of karma to attach to the person ? All physical substances have qualities. Karma particles are not intelligent, or alive, and do not know anything, as you say, yet they do have inherent qualities. Take poison for example: it cannot kill anyone whilst sitting on a shelf for a thousand years. It has no knowledge of its quality to kill. YET, if a living being consumes it, the quality will be activated and the consumer will die. When the stone of a mango is planted, it automatically grows into a mango tree because of its inherent quality. The fruits that grow on the mango tree are mangoes with the taste of mango inherent. It does not do anything to select this taste. This happens naturally due to the inherent qualities of substances. When the soul attracts karma particles to itself, the emotional state of the soul becomes the cause of inherent qualities in the karma particles: type of karma, quantity, time factor and intensity. These were covered in the presentation. When the karma particle is due to deliver its fruit according to the bound quality, it gets the energy of the soul to become active and hence its inherent quality converts into the type of fruit which is to be delivered. It is not capable of doing anything in the absence of the soul. The dead body cannot experience pleasure or pain.
Regarding the goat herder and Bhagwan Mahavir example : If the goat herder's past karma drives him to commit sins ie. driving wooden sticks into Bhagwan Mahavir's ears, how and when can the goat herder's karma ever finish if each new karma drives him to commit a new sin? Normally, this is the cycle of karma. However, if this was always the case, no one would ever get liberated. When the soul acquires a certain level of purity through austerities and equanimity, there is AWARENESS and the soul has the opportunity to fight the urge which is presented by the past karma.
This MINDFULNESS allows us to break the cycle of karma and get rid of the old without binding a new karma. This is our opportunity to THINK each time we act and decide if it is worth binding new karma.
QUESTION TIME Why can Jains eat dried GINGER although it is grown underground ? First 10 correct replies will win a Prize ! Watch out for answer and winners in the next newsletter.
All replies by 30th June 2015 to Sangh office or email to jaintemplemsa@yahoo.com or mombasajains@gmail.com 6 SJSDS Newsletter June 2015
In pictures
Children at Aybelshala to serve tapasivs during Ayembil.
Pathshala class at Oshwal Academy on Saturday.
Children doing Chaityavandan in Deraser.
Dr Harshad Sanghrakja talks at OAM “ Compassion in Communication”.
“Do not injure, abuse, oppress, enslave, insult, torment, torture, or kill any creature or living being.”
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M M Shah & M V Shah Academy On Sunday 31st May the back boundary wall at the school collapsed due to landslide caused by heavy rains.
Yoga demonstration to students by Divyesh Parmar as part of International Yoga day. Session arranged by Piyush Shah
Students taking part in tournament at Oshwal Academy. Bhavya Jyotishi won a Gold medal after emerging position one in under 13 boys category. Sarah Krause won a silver medal.
Above : At Oshwal Academy, Under 12yrs soccer Junior tournament. The Girls have lifted the winners trophy by emerging position one. The boys reached the finals - 2nd position out of 8.
Left : 60 students participated in Mater Heart run and collected over Kshs 166,000/= 8 SJSDS Newsletter June 2015
New nursery floor housing 3 classrooms, a library and a computer room. Runners up trophy for Inter Nursery Schools Athletics Championships.
M M Shah & M V Shah Academy has 275 students in Nursery and 625 students in Primary section. The tuition and activity fees are 17,000/= in Nursery, 18,000/= from Std 1 to 3 and 19,000/= from Std 4 to 8. 21 students from children's homes are studying on full scholarship. Sports fields are under construction.
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Calendar courtesy of : Mr Kishor Bhimji Shah of UK
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