august 2015

Young Jains of America August 2015

Young Minds

August 2015

Jai Jinendra! Although the New Year officially starts in January, as a student, the summer marks a more

significant turn in my life: a change in age, grade, and even location. The middle of summer is also highlighted by my attendance at YJA or JAINA. As an annual event, I often think back and reflect on my previous convention experiences. If I even tried to put into words the impact these events have had on my life, you all would be reading for pages. Nonetheless, I will say that I have made bonds that will last a lifetime, and discoveries that will continue to make me a better person and a better Jain. To everyone who helped organize and run JAINA, thank you. Your time, effort, and dedication resulted in the joy of 3,500 attendees.

The theme of this issue is “Peering Back and Veering Forward.” A collection of retreat recaps

and JAINA reflections along with personal essays on issues many of us have dealt with in the past or will encounter in the near future. Take a moment and think of the ways your Sangh, YJA, JAI-NA, and your family and friends have shaped you, and how you hope to spread that knowledge to your fellow Jains.

I hope you enjoy reading the work of your peers and find insight into your own journey with Jainism.

Warm wishes, Saejal Chatter Director of Publications

[email protected]

Southeast Retreat Recap: p.6

Est. 1991 www.yja.org


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From Your YJA Co-Chairs:

Inside this Issue:

p. 4-5

p. 6-7

p. 8

p. 9

What JAB Means to Me

Southeast Retreat Recap

YJA Election Information

Paying It Forward

p. 10-11

p. 12

p. 13

p. 14-15

Northeast Retreat Recap

If a Tree Falls in a Forest...

Social Jainism vs. Inner

Jainism

West Retreat Recap

p. 16-17 No Jain, No Gain

p. 18-19 Mid-West Retreat Recap

p. 20 My Experience at JAINA

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Jai Jinendra YJA-ers,

We hope you all are enjoying your summers and are looking forward to whatever new adventures the Fall season will bring you. We want to take a moment to thank you all for reading this issue of Young Minds, and incor-porating Jainism into your every day lives.

This summer has been near the end of our time on the YJA Executive Board, but it has not been any less busy. Finishing up retreats, organizing Youth Activities at JAINA, electing a new board, and researching bids for the YJA Convention 2016 has each of us considering the im-pact of Jainism more and more in our daily life. We real-ize once again, how thankful we are to have a strong Jain community in our lives.

We hope that you enjoy this issue, that you learn something new, that you discover a new viewpoint, and that you appreciate Jainism all over again.

Thank You,

Prerak Adhuria and Sneha Parikh 2014-2015 YJA Executive Board Co-Chairs

p. 20 South and Mid-Atlantic Spring Event Recap

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Navakār Mantra

Ṇamō arihantāṇaṁ I bow to the arihants, destroyers of

their inner enemies.

Ṇamō siddhāṇaṁ I bow to the siddhas, the liberated

souls.

Ṇamō āyariyāṇaṁ I bow to the acharyas, the religious

leaders.

Ṇamō uvajjhāyāṇaṁ I bow to the upadhyays, the religious

teachers.

Ṇamō lōē savva sāhūṇaṁ I bow to all the sadhus and sadhvis,

those who have renounced the worldly life and follow a path of simplicity.

Ēsōpanchaṇamōkkārō, savvapāvappaṇāsaṇō

Maṅgalā ṇaṁ ca savvēsiṁ, paḍamama havaī maṅgalaṁ

This five-fold bow (mantra) destroys all sins and obstacles, and of all auspi-

cious mantras, is the first and fore-most one.

!

Contributors

A special shout out to all the brilliant, in-spirational writers!

Mahima Shah

Tina Lapsia

Akash Shah

Puja Savla

Neelam Savla

Aneri Shah

Siddharth Shah

Paras Savla

Milan Jain

Krupa Mahesh Shah

Shreyans Munot

A special thanks to:

The entire 2014-2015 YJA Executive Board. Your hard work this year, and particularly this summer at JAINA, truly embodies dedication and is an inspiration to every YJA member. Thank you for all you have done as a board

member, friend, and family member.


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What JAB Means to Me

There’s nothing quite like it. Your team is ahead by 20 points, the value of one measly question. The audi-ence is absolutely silent as the moderator begins to read the final question. You’re listening in full anticipa-tion, pencil in one hand and buzzer in the other, when all of a sudden in mid-sentence, a sound goes off. You see your green light and state the answer. Everyone holds their breath. Pin-drop silence ensues, and you nervously turn your attention to the crowd. Everybody is on the edge of their seat, waiting anxiously for the moderator’s response. You begin to tremble, your face growing warmer as your heart grows heavi-er. Finally the moderator says “That is correct.” You breathe a sigh of relief with the crowd as they jump to their feet, shouting and clapping. The match is over.

These are the types of situations we practiced months for. After the loss in the finals of Jain Academic Bowl in Detroit, my coach and I were determined to set the rec-ord straight this year. After two tryout tests, our team was formed in early February. We practiced after pathshala every Sunday for two hours, spending time on each chapter and working with the buzzer system. It was through these practices that we bonded and came closer together as a team. From lunch in the trailer buildings at our Mandir to sev-en hour practices at our coach’s, Hema aunty, house, every minute together was a chance to learn and a chance to build lasting friendships. We even slept over at our coach’s house and practiced until one in the

morning! All in all, with three-hour Saturday practices, seven-hour Sunday practices, and three video calls a week, preparing for JAB gave us a chance to explore our religion and build lasting relationships. I learned a lot about myself and my team over the course of JAB. From the meaning of the Namokar Mantra to the details of each Agam, our team spent countless hours a week practicing for the competition. Our team’s work ethic shined through as we plowed through the contents of the 400-page manual. This competition pushed us to our limits. Between school and extracurricular activities, our schedules were already packed. With the addition of JAB in the past five months, we realized just how much we could handle and accomplish when faced with such a heavy workload. Our hard work paid off, and no matter if it was Chicago, D.C., or New Jersey, we managed to keep our buzzers up and found a way to win. We learned a lot about Jainism through JAB, and the realization that we could handle so much in such little time was by far the most important aspect.

By: Siddharth Shah

Congratulations to all contenders and the Houston Senior Team!


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Through it all, we became a tight-knit group of friends who all shared a passion for studying and delving into the depths of Jainism. The experience was priceless, and I can’t imagine not competing and being a part of the action. For all of you out there reading this and considering JAB, I strongly encourage you to take a “jab” at it and see how it goes. You would be surprised to find how much there is to learn about our amazing religion. These last four years have been absolutely life-changing. The one memory I have taken from these experiences which I will never forget is the vastness of our religion and the camara-derie between players, teams, and coaches. Such is the value of the Jain Academic Bowl. The score was 350 – 370. We were playing Chicago in the semi-finals when Houston was up by one single question, when the audience was on the edge of their seat, when the moderator was about to read the last question, when pin-drop silence ensued, when a sound broke the moderator off in mid-sentence, when the other team answered incorrectly, and when the match was finally over, I knew that we had made our mark. The inspiration and support I received from my friends and family was unmatched, and the growth and maturation of my teammates was undeniable. This is why I participate in JAB; not just for the excitement and thrill of fast buzzing, but to meet others from around the country who share a passion for learning about Jainism. I love seeing kids anywhere from elementary school up to seniors in college enjoy talking about what they’ve learned. I participate in JAB to see myself and others grow with the teachings of Jainism. That’s what JAB is all about.

What JAB Means to Me (Continued)


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Southeast Retreat From March 27-29, 2015, the Southeast Region held its 5th annual retreat at the beautiful Magnolia Springs State Park in Millen, Georgia. We stayed in furnished cabins right up on the lake, creating a beautiful backdrop for the week-end. This retreat consisted of delicious food (es-pecially the guacamole), thought provoking ses-sions, activities, and bonding time for attendees. We had strong mix of past and new attendees at the retreat this year. Additionally it is notable to mention that we had attendees come from as far as New York and DC to attend retreat this year.

The retreat started with a delicious homemade pasta dinner and was followed by round robin style cabin ice breaker session. The following morning, we all took a walk together through one of the park’s trails and did some yo-ga and other exercises. After enjoying breakfast, Akash Shah led a thought provoking session on how we can use social media in a more Jain and ethical way. After eating veggie sandwiches for lunch, we all took participated in a scavenger hunt activity as well as an interactive session on Ghati Karma led by Prerak Adhuria and Dhara Shah. In the afternoon, we took some time to play capture the flag, ultimate frisbee, football, and other games outside. For dinner, we enjoyed an amazing Mexican fiesta complete with Jain salsa and guacamole. After dinner we returned to our southeast traditions by playing numerous rounds of Mafia, listening to scary stories, and making Jain cookies. The following morning we took a great group picture and wrapped up with a heartwarming appreciation activity.

Overall, the weekend was life-changing experience for everyone who attended. It was particularly heartwarming for previous attendees like myself, to see the younger group of attendees make the same type of friendships and connec-tions that have made the Southeast Retreat such an event in past years. The final activity we did before we left was called the Circle of Apprecia-tion, where attendees took turns acknowledging each other’s positive characteristics and attrib-utes. The activity really emotionally touched eve-ryone that participated. It is safe to say that eve-ryone left the Southeast Retreat with a full heart, a full stomach, clear eyes, and friendships to last a lifetime. -Akash Shah, Director of Events


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Southeast Retreat Continued


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YJA Blankets

Do you love YJA conventions, retreats, and regional events?

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Does YJA make you smile?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, APPLY FOR THE 2015-2016 YJA Executive Board!

Visit yja.org/elections to download applications and view election details.

Regional Coordinator and Director Application Deadline: August 8th, 2015

We cannot wait to expand the #yjafamily!

2015-2016 Exec. Board Application is Live!

Don’t forget to buy your YJA blankets!

They are $10 a piece in person and $10 plus shipping online.

Reach out to your Regional Coordinator or our Director of Fundraising for more infor-mation.

APPLY TODAY!


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When I walked into Nipun Mehta’s session, I had no idea what to expect. I read about his varying degree of suc-cesses, but I knew nothing about his journey, his ideas, or his thinking. I figured it might be another session teaching at-tendees of the power of staying the course or overcoming ob-stacles to achieve our goals. However, as soon as he began, I realized that this was no ordinary recitation of a speech; ra-ther, it was a heartfelt ode to becoming a better person.

The primary message embodied by each story and every venture he spoke of was to always pay it forward. Nipun told us about the pilgrimage he took with his wife through India, helping villagers while surviving off the gener-osity of others. He described his ventures with Karma Kitch-en, a pay-it-forward restaurant in which each guest voluntari-ly pays for the following guest’s meal. He even created a game involving random acts of kindness with his Smile Cards, in which a card is left behind after each selfless act instructing the receiver to continue paying it forward. Each of these ideas, and more, is based in the belief of showing unwavering and uninhibited kindness to all life.

What struck me most was the effectiveness of his experiments in giving. It baffles both economics and logic by continuing to work several years and thousands of people from onset. People continue giving simply based on initially being given something, even though our nature is to collect and stockpile re-sources. These experiments vividly demonstrate the power of selflessness, the power of giving. They also provide optimism that our actions can create so much positive energy in the world. They show us that ser-vice towards us can and will help everyone around us. Furthermore, Nipun showed us how to not only donate our time and money, but also to do without any expectations at all. This means no expectation of thanks or results; the only expectation we have of ourselves is to continue donating.

I end with a strong suggestion to Google Nipun Mehta to read about his philosophy and work, es-pecially if, like myself, you don’t know a great deal about him. Nipun’s words and projects go beyond bet-tering the society we live in. His words seamlessly tie into many Jain principles we incorporate into our lives: humility, non-possessiveness, and compassion, to name a few. His words help us not only become better individuals, but also help our true selves on the path to Moksha. And this is the true goal of every session JAINA, YJA, and YJP offers. We want to understand how and why Jainism fits into our daily lives; ultimately, we aim to incorporate our lives into our faith, not the other way around.

I walked away from this session with a resounding message in my head: give, give, give. Give until you can’t give any more, then give some more. By giving, I will grow as a person and a soul, and I believe that is what this life truly is about.

Paying It Forward By: Paras Savla


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Northeast Retreat RC Retreat Recap:

Until this year, the Northeast YJA members re-lied on the Mid-Atlantic Poconos Retreat as a way to reconnect with friends, spark intellectual debates around Jainism, and enjoy a weekend of fun. However, this year marked the first time we held a retreat in the Northeast area, specifically, in Sheffield, MA from May 15-17, and we hope it is the start of a new tradition for YJA. We had solid attendance and it was comforting that al-most everyone knew each other, as this made the retreat quite intimate and memorable.

We also had some pretty unique sessions. I had the pleasure of holding a session about finding the definition of “god” in the context of Jainism and in comparison to other major world religions. Saejal Chatter conducted a thought-provoking session about social media use and its connection to Jainism, including major Jain concepts such as ego, jealousy, aparigraha, and anekantvad. This session had something every-one could take away from, and we all even de-cided to not use our phones during dinner the same day.

Although there was a forecast of rain for the weekend, it fortunately cleared up in time for us to enjoy the Berkshires. On the first night, we had a fire pit and got to know each other through games like Psychiatrist. The next morn-ing, we took a long hike up to a beautiful water-fall, which was a pleasant surprise! With the sun shining down, some attendees were also able to play Frisbee and other sports in a field nearby.

It was a roller coaster of an experience launching this new retreat, but I am so fortunate and glad to have been part of the journey. I hope the attendees had as much fun as I did and will want to come back next year. #Northeast15 was fantastic and it could not have been possible without the rest of the YJA board and the at-tendees. Thank you and see you next year!

- Tina Lapsia, Northeast Regional Coordinator


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Northeast Retreat Photos


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If a Tree Falls in a Forest…

Disclaimer: The word God is used loosely in context of this article It’s time to say thank you.

I know, as well as anyone does, that Tirthankars do not reside in their humble place atop the Siddhashila waiting to answer our pleas. Our “prayers” while sometimes true and from the heart, are at other times mere appeals for “something"...a promotion, a good score on a test, a college acceptance, a wish for someone’s safety, the list goes on.

Having been taught the basic principles of Jainism years ago, I am fully aware that asking Tirthankars to help me achieve or asking for something is wholly and utterly useless. I, my actions, my experiences, my entire being, are nothing more than by-products of my karma with a tiny bit of free-will added in. Yet occasionally, I still cannot stop myself from doing what I’ve seen so many others do...ask God for something that is sure to bring happiness.

These past few months, I went through the college application process

and it was, to say the least, an ordeal. From applying early decision, to getting deferred, to then being placed on waitlist, I waited a good nine months for a

single yes or no answer. Nine months is a long time to be stuck in limbo. I had settled on one school, all the while holding out hope for a different school, never committing to taking placement exams or finding a roommate in the event that I ended up switching schools. And sure enough, at least once every few weeks, I would find myself asking the Tirthankars I knew so well for something to happen that would provide me with a concrete decision.

A few weeks ago, I finally got what I wanted. And within those weeks, I went around expressing my gratitude to everyone who had helped me. About a month later, I realized I had never said the most important thank you of all. I had left out the one for whom I had no reserves asking for something. In all my excitement, the Tirthankars simply became perfect souls again, untarnished beings which I should strive to become. When I needed something, I regarded God as a friend, and when I didn’t, he once again became an acquaintance. And now I look back on my actions and I repent. I apologize for not say-ing thank you to God as soon as or soon after I heard the news, and I apologize for not saying it more regularly because it is he who listens so deeply that often we don’t even know he’s there.

I know, in terms of Jainism, that this is all in my head. I know that God can’t hear me from above nor is he an actual being that can listen to my thank you’s, and I know those liberated souls don’t actual-ly pay any heed when I ask for something. But that won’t stop me from expressing my gratitude. Wheth-er they listened or not, I asked and someone or something answered. If it’s my karma, so be it, then it’s my karma and I thank my previous self for allowing me the happiness I have in this life.

Whatever it is, we live privileged lives but we don’t think about how lucky we are enough. Rarely do people stop and take the time to truly reflect upon the events that have shaped them. But if they did, they would be able to see the people who brought about the positive changes and also, whether you be-lieve or not, the unmistakable traces of God’s touch.

So now I urge you to look back and see just how much you’ve changed. Thank the people who have allowed you to grow into who’ve you’ve become. And if you’ve ever asked God for anything in the past, take the time to say thank you, for even if you’re heard by no one, it doesn’t change the depth of gratitude placed in those words.

If you pray and no one hears it, did it mean anything?

By: Mahima Shah


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Jainism is seen in various forms, whether it is through charity work, righteous decision-making, or sacri-ficing pleasures of the material world. One form we should be wary of is “social Jainism.” Surely you’ve seen it in action but haven’t given a second thought because it has been there for ages. I believe the goal is to transform social Jainism to inner Jainism.

Social Jainism, in other words, can be described as a shallow façade of Jainism. For example, when people do good deeds to have their achievements recognized versus doing the deed anonymously purely for the sake of doing the deed. There are many examples that vividly orchestrate this form of Jainism, and it is worri-some that we are losing touch from the core values of our religion, of our philosophy, and our inner Jainism.

I experienced this firsthand as a preteen and teenager. Around this time, all the children in my age group (12-13yr olds) were doing atthais. Their parents had made them believe that this was something they had to do to gain punya, moreover, if they did they would be awarded a gift. Some of my friends received monetary prizes and some received the latest gaming system or high-end accessories. At a very young age, I realized the rigor it took to do a fast like this, and I know that a materialistic prize was definitely not the right incentive for me to do it.

There were many social pressures for years that weren’t directly placed on me, but I knew were there. People in the community were boasting about the kids who had done the atthai and frowning upon those who hadn’t. My parents had asked me if I wanted to do it, and they supported my decision every time I declined. I was waiting for the right time, the right motivation, the right purpose. I wanted to do an atthai because it held true meaning and spiritual value. I ultimately be-lieved there was an intangible and immaterial goal that I was achieving in doing so.

I did my first atthai when I was 16. My purpose was to truly understand and experience what hunger feels like. There are millions of starving and mal-nourished people around the world, we offer pity and sympathize with them. Generally that is the extent of our acknowledgement of this issue. The next step means the most, when our inner Jainism is involved. For me, there is a differ-ence between sympathy and empathy. Doing this atthai allowed me to empathize with the people who deal with hunger for eight days, and, though it was just a small glimpse of the struggle, I realized this was something I wanted to bring more awareness to.

After my atthai, I began a month long awareness campaign at my school. I was able to get the student body, faculty, local residents, and local news involved. With the over-whelming support I gained from spreading awareness about hunger, I was able to raise $800 for the World Food Program. And the feeling I got from simply knowing that people in the world were going to go to bed with a full stomach was surreal. That feeling was irreplaceable.

No amount of money, clothes, gadgets, or material possessions could’ve replaced the joy I felt at that moment. I believe that uplifting feeling is only ob-tainable when spiritual happiness is obtained by the atma through positive ac-tions. One must perform good deeds with nothing but the purest and truest inten-tions of the heart, regardless of the size or amount of the deed. I realized finding happiness in helping others for the sake of helping, is a huge part of Jainism. It may be a simple concept that everyone knows and acknowledges for it entails being a good Jain and a good person. However, acknowledging this principle is just the first step. The most important step is to assimilate it into our daily prac-tice.

Social Jainism vs. Inner Jainism

By: Krupa Mahesh Shah


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West Retreat RC Retreat Recap:

This was the first year I ever at-tend a YJA Regional Retreat let alone had the chance to organize it, and I have to say it was an amazing experience. I got to spend a great weekend with some amazing old friends and make wonderful new friends.

Though the west retreats are tradi-tionally very small, we were extremely lucky to have sold out retreat this year with 18 attendees. After a couple months of searching we found a perfect location (thanks to Paras and Mrunal!) just out-side of Sequoia National Park, in Three Rivers California, in a secluded Moun-tain House on our own private little mountain. The location was a wonderful midpoint for our NorCal and SoCal at-tendees, and even one Nevadan (who am I kidding Shilpa, you went to Cal and now are a Californian) to spend a week-end amidst nature.

There were many memorable parts of the retreat including Priyanka's meditation and yoga session which was followed by an impromptu acro-yoga session where the attendees spelled out YJA, the competitive game of Settlers of Catan and the ever confusing game of Psychiatrist, and even the session about how we could take the steps to be not on-ly better Jains, but better human beings. However memorable other parts of the retreat were, the one part of the retreat I will never forget is the feeling of being with family, no not my four sib-ling/cousins that came to retreat, but my YJA family. Cause you know, there is nothing better than some #YJALove!

-Puja Savla, West Regional Coordinator


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Attendee Retreat Reflection:

Attending the YJA West Retreat for the first time was a great experience for me. Located in Three Rivers, CA, right out-side of the Sequoia National Park, the West Retreat was a per-fect opportunity to get away from the madness of our daily lives (there was no cell service) and get in touch with our inner Jain selves.

We bonded over the early morning yoga and meditation session, the Jain Scavenger Hunt, an extremely frustrating yet entertaining game of Psychia-trist, or simply the fact that it took about 20 minutes of driving up essentially a cliff to get to the cabin we were calling home for the weekend.

While some of us knew other attendees, most of us left the weekend having made new friends, whether California na-tives, or transplants who have found their home in the Golden State. I feel I can speak for all when I say that we greatly val-ued the experience of meeting new friends who we could con-nect with through our shared Jain background.

-Neelam Savla


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No Jain, No Gain By: Milan Jain

Growing up in America, I felt considerably privileged considering all the opportunities around me. At the same time though, I felt pretty underprivileged as well, seeing the kids around me binge on their Starburst or scarf down their Rice Krispies by the mouthful. The most colorful experience though would be around every November 28th, when kids all around school would bounce off the walls, not because of the upcom-ing Black Friday (like my sisters and I), but because they were just SO anxious to sink their teeth into a fac-tory-slaughtered bird. So many kids would approach me and say things like, “Hey man, you’re missing out on so much,” or “Just start eating meat dude,” to which I’d shake my head in dismay and walk away, not knowing how to answer. The truth was, at age 7, I knew I was doing something beneficial by not eating eggs/gelatin/meat, but I didn’t know how to respond to comments like this. Things took a U-turn when my family decided to go to our first JAINA convention in 2007, hosted by the Sangh of Edison, New Jer-sey. Being quite antisocial at age 7 myself, it didn’t really help my cause when registration uncle-ji said I’d be in the “Kids Korner.” Looking back now, I recall myself taking my dad’s iPhone 2 and play-ing Doodle Jump in the hotel room during the kid’s “daytime enrich-ment sessions.” On the third day though, I kind of got a bit reckless in the hotel room and somehow managed to drop my dad’s phone in the kettle full of the leftover chai they just HAD to brew up last night. I didn’t know what to do, so I left a nice brief note by the kettle saying, “You don’t have to get me a birthday present next year,” and slunk out of the room. Instantly, I got bombarded by the aunty squad, all looking fly in their saris. “Beta, you have such nice cheeks,” they’d say while squeezing my cheeks. I pretended to cry so they’d let me go. Then, with false tears streaming down my face, I sprinted through the hotel in an attempt to find my sisters, who were supposedly attending the ses-sions. About 3 minutes in, I saw a large conference room swelled up with brown children. “Seems about right,” my seven-year-old self thought as I lunged onto an open chair. Turns out though, I didn’t just walk into any old session; I walked into a PETA (People foe the ethical Treatment of Animals) session. The presenting aunty stared at my tear-stained face and gasped. Did I really look that bad? Then, she skeptically walked up to my chair and said, “Are you okay? I know the video was disturbing, but I didn’t know you felt so much passion in it.” Suddenly, people of all ages started to stand up and clap their hands in applause. I had the look of a deer in headlights at the moment, but it turns out that two seconds before I entered the room, the lady was showing everyone a video on the cruelty of factory farms, so when I walked in with my crying defense-mechanism, she thought I was crying in response to the video! To make a long story short, she thrusted a handful of PETA stickers and pamphlets at me, which contained things ranging from the truths of Australian wool farms all the way to successful animal rescue stories. At last, I finally obtained a method to answer all of those questions. Hence, the organization PETA combined with Jainism to fortify a strong foundation in my past to help me better understand my religion.

One of my more recent experiences involving Jainism would be, of course, in school yet again. One

of the primary principles of biology class require you ripping apart an organism raised for this bodily intru-sion with an array of industrially sharpened tools. In other terms, Honors Biology meant dissections. When we started our first dissection on an Earthworm, six weeks before school ended, I had a tremendous intern-


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-al conflict- do I join in and dissect a worm to better my understanding, or do I refrain from it because it’s morally incorrect?

In the end, I decided, for just this one time, to try a dissection. While splitting apart the worm ini-tially caused jolts in my body, after the first few cuts, I started to breathe normally again. That night at home, I wanted to make sure that dissecting wasn’t doing any harm or prematurely concluding an organ-ism’s life, and realized, I couldn’t be any more off. It turns out that, while some companies claim they on-ly supply their dead or aged animals for dissection purposes, a fair 72% of all animals bred for dissection are killed before or during their midlife. The next day, I approached my Bio teacher and told him I could no longer partake in dissections. When he asked me why, I supplied him with the research I conducted the previous night, to which he responded with a look of dismay. From that day on, he let me look off and work with a friend on all of our future dissections. He also gave me a link to a website which showed vir-tual dissections of about 25 different animals. That’s why to this day, I refuse to pay my Honors Biology Lab Fee, which the district has now finally understood as to why. I hope this demonstrates to all you readers the alternatives there are to fully supplement your knowledge base while still adhering to a Jain basis and promoting Ahimsa.

On a concluding note, I urge all of you to pursue with an open mind the fundamentals of Jainism. Being such a minority, it’s imperative that all of us recognize and respect ourselves as belonging to this religion. In a modern world, it may be hard at times to find food that doesn’t have any animal trace in it, but don’t let that stop you! There are many delicious vegetarian products available in common day-to-day stores. For exam-ple, if you’re looking for something in your next cookout, be sure to check out Boca Burgers, a ve-gan patty which boasts 15 grams of protein. Some great stores to check out for these and other great vegan/vegetarian alternatives are Whole Foods Market and Giant Eagle. The possibilities are end-

less; the only thing standing in your way is yourself. A great way to practice self control is during Paryushan, where you can only eat home-cooked food containing no onion, garlic, carrots, potatoes, or root vegetables. See how far this can take you. Determine if you can curb your appetite before sundown. Challenge yourself. That’s what Jainism is all about. If you ever need extra motivation, be sure to make a mini-vacation out of the biennial JAINA and YJA conventions. It’s a great way to meet people your age who follow the same customs as you, eat savory food in it’s Jain form, and learn about what this religion really means to you. Whenever someone offered me a Starburst or a Rice Krispies treat, I’d shake my head no. Then, I’d tug on my father’s hand and say, “Daddy, why can’t I eat that?” And every time, he’d always respond, “Beta, we as humans are just another animal. And the first code of animal nature is, treat others the way you’d like to be treated.”

No Jain, No Gain (Continued)


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Mid-West Retreat

The Mid-West Retreat this year was the perfect combination of exploring the ways in which Jainism re-lates to our lives as 21st century Americans while still enjoying the great city of Chicago. We kicked off the retreat with some great team-building ice breakers, and then headed to Millennium Park! It was a great opportunity for everyone to get to know each other, and by the time we arrived back at the hotel, everyone felt a sense of togetherness. As we settled down for the evening, we had an interactive Jain debate. My trusty Local Representatives compiled a list of debate topics that would help us discuss what being Jain means in the 21st century. Many of the attendees brought their own questions about Jainism to light, such as same-sex marriage and abortion. We not only discussed what Jain scriptures had to say about these is-sues, but we also contemplated the ways in which we could apply Jain principles to our lives and decisions as Americans. The evening took a comical twist when we played “Jain What Would or Wouldn’t You Do?” We came up with lighthearted fictional situations that took place at dance auditions, The Voice, and comedy shows. Each group created a skit in which they acted out the things they would and wouldn’t do in each situation. It was a fun way to conclude the sessions for the day, which, of course, were followed by movies, Antakshari, and card games. In the morning, we headed over to the Field Museum for a scaven-ger hunt! We created a list of tasks that each team had to accomplish, and each team took a quirky picture of each one. It was a fun way of exploring the origins of different cultures and animals on our planet. Be-fore we knew it, the retreat was over. All in all, we were able to search for new ways to look at our lives as modern Jains and visit some cool places in Chicago, while still making life-long friendships. I would like to thank my Local Representatives and all of YJA’s Executive Board for helping me make this retreat a success!

- Aneri Shah, Mid-West Regional Coordinator

RC Retreat Reflection


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The Federation of Jain Associations in North America, more commonly known as JAINA, holds a convention biennially and this year it was hosted in Atlanta. I had the fantastic opportunity to be able to attend this convention, and it was amazing. It surely was up there on the list of highlights of my summer. Not only did I get to reconnect with old friends, but I also made a ton of new friends. It was truly a sight to see: various Jains flocking from across the nation to Atlanta just for the sole pur-pose of one thing—to celebrate Jainism. The sheer magnitude of the event didn’t quite hit me right away, but as soon as I stepped into the dining hall, I realized just how big this event was. Speaking of dining hall, if anyone wants to enjoy the tastes of the western world and still follow a Jain diet, the JAINA convention is the right event for you. Every single day there was a different cuisine; ranging from Mexican to Italian and just about everything in between. The variety extended to many as-pects of the convention. There were people from all over the country, and even out of the country (Canada, eh?). It was very interesting to meet people from the South, especially for a Northerner like me. Their southern accents were awesome and I would just crack up be-cause I honestly had never heard a southern accent from an Indian-American before. Now one must not think that JAINA convention is only for food and friends, because there is indeed a whole lot more to it than just that. JAINA took care of everything: sermons from monks in India for the seniors, cultural events for the Adults, and sessions on how to apply to Jainism in the modern world for the youth. They even went as far as to have tea time for all those tea fanatics out there (my grandma is one). The sessions were really insightful and helpful for the youth. I attended a session which was headed by Rahul Kapoor, and let me tell you guys, I am not one for sitting through long lectures: I will get bored in the first five minutes. I really didn’t want to go at first, but my friends convinced me so I’m like whatever how bad can it be? I kid you not, start to finish, he had captured everyone’s attention. He spoke so intellectually, yet simply that it was hard to tear your eyes away from him. He brought in his own real life experiences, and really made you feel how he felt. Rahul Kapoor made everyone at the end of the lecture close their eyes and made us think about how much our parents loved us and how much they sacrificed for us. He then went on to tell us about how his father died in his arms due to cancer. A majority of the room left at the end of the session with goose bumps on their arms and tears in their eyes, me being one of the majority. Another session was headed by my close friend, Sunny Dharod. Although I didn’t get to personally attend due to me being on the JAB team, my friends told me it was really insightful as he spoke on how to live a Jain life in the modern world. He also spoke on how to apply Jainism in many ways in today’s world. In addition to the sessions, people at the JAINA convention got witness talent from all over the nation as many kids competed in the famous Jains Got Talent. Kids of all ages battled it out in the auditions and finals, but just like every competition, only one can come out on top- and only the best did. It was really cool to see all the different dances and singing performances who all had thing in common, they were all Jains. What’s JAINA without a little competition? It seems the YJA committee seemed to agree so they once again organized the Jain Academic Bowl (JAB), which pitted teams of 5 or less against each other in a buzzer-based Jain quiz game. It was just like Jeopardy except everything was related to Jainism. Obvi-ously JAINA convention couldn’t be all work and no play, and the amazing YJA committee saw to that. Every single night there was a different event: from Garba to a summer dance to the arguably the best night at JAINA, the formal, the organizers took care of it all. By looking at all these events, one can clear-ly tell that JAINA is the bridge that connects the modern world to the ancient teachings of Bhagwan Ma-havir and the other Tirthankars. It is an enriching experience which is made possible by a multitude of people. It is surely something I look forward to attending every other year, but I don’t need to wait that long to meet my friends- YJA 2016 anyone? -Shreyans Munot

Reflecting on My Experience at JAINA


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Spring Event Recaps: Mid-Atlantic and South

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Above: YJA and YJP joined together to host a ca-reer panel in Houston, TX this past May! Attendees received advice from Jain youth like themselves on topics such as college applications, picking a major, job search, and maintaining Jainism through each of these life events.

Below: The Jain Sangh of Metropolitan Washing-ton hosted an interfaith dialogue with the Vatican. Many speakers including JAINA President Prem Jain and Cardinal Jean Louis Tauran discussed the role of compassion and other parallels in both Jain-ism and Catholicism. Pictured are the volunteers for the event: former and current YJA board mem-bers along with JSMW youth who are all active YJA members!


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Please Make a Contribution to YJA Today to Pass Jain Principles &

Practices onto the Next Generation of Youth!

Jai Jinendra! The Executive Board for Young Jains of America (YJA) plans to be very active in bringing Jain principles to youth across the country. We would like to take this opportunity to briefly discuss our current pro-jects and how they will make a difference to the YJA community:

! Monthly Webinars – Educate and raise awareness about Jain principles and ideals and address youth problems, difficulties, and concerns.

! Website Maintenance – Continue to develop a professional website for Jain youth and create a forum to share Jain principles and values.

! Regional Retreats – Weekend retreats held in each region to instill a sense of religious and cultural pride among Jain youth.

! Community Volunteering – Organize volunteering events, such as Relay for Life and assistance at soup kitchens to allow youth to participate in charitable community activities.

! National Dinners – Encourage the development of friendships with Jain youth in their local cities, while conversing about real-life topics relating to Jainism over a delicious meal.

With the support of donors like you, YJA has grown to be the largest Jain youth organization in the world. For the YJA Executive Board, it is an honor to be a part of a group that motivates and inspires countless lives.

Please consider supporting our efforts with a personal contribution to YJA today. A contribution of any amount will provide tremendous support to instill a sense of among youth about their Jain heritage. The ultimate goal of the YJA Executive Board is to prepare today's Jain youth to become tomorrow's Jain leaders.

Not only do we appreciate your donations, but the fundraising team would like to hear from you! Please e-mail [email protected] with your comments or suggestions for improvement by YJA. If you have any questions regarding Young Minds, please e-mail [email protected].

We thank you for your wonderful contribution!

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Young Jains of America Contribution Form *You can make a contribution by credit or debit card at https://jaina.site-

ym.com/donations/donate.asp?id=3410*

Full Name: ___________________________________________________________

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Address: _______________________________ City: ____________ ST: ____ Zip: ___________

Daytime Phone: (______)______________ Evening Phone: (______)_____________________

Email Address: __________________________

Please make your check payable to JAINA, include ‘Young Jains of America’ in the memo line, and mail it to:!

Young Jains of America c/o Akash Shah

906 Torrance Blvd #11 Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Est. 1991

Young Jains of America July 2015

Stay Connected with YJA!

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[email protected]

Young Jains of America

august 2015

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