A YOUNG JAINS OF AMERICA PUBLICATION YOUNGER MINDS

A SPARK OF INSPIRATION

DECEMBER 2020 VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 4 Letter from the Editor Read about the intent of this 01 issue from the Director of Education! Plus, details about the art contest winner! S Youth Feature |

T Paryushan in a Pandemic 02 Jasmine and Rikin Shah share

N their experiences celebrating Paryushan from home this year. E Stories | Roshni is T Enlightened! The dark can be scary - but Roshni

N 04 is prepared! Learn about and the Jain New Year in this section. O Life Lesson | Being C

Grateful for Gyan 06 How can we be respectful F towards knowledge and all of its aspects? O

Pathshala Spotlight | The Navkar Karona Challenge E 07 The Jain Jenes and ITOT classes

L from Columbus, OH were able to save and name a cow this summer! B Assorted

A Upcoming , along with details about a competition

T 09 for the next issue! TOC Note from the Co-Chairs & Acknowledgements 11 Words from the 2020-2021 Co-Chairs and gratitude for those who made this possible!

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

CONTEST WINNER

The past issue's competition winner is Hirak Shah. Hirak drew a picture of something he loves to learn about, which you can find on page 10 of this issue. Harshita Jain | Director of Education Congratulations Hirak! 2020-2021

Jai Jinendra! Featuring a Pathshala class that was able to save a cow (as seen on the cover), as well as siblings who creatively celebrated Paryushan from home in the midst of the pandemic, this issue of Younger Minds is meant to inspire. I hope you are as Hirak, age 10 motivated as I am to make the most of the Franklin, NJ year ahead. Happy reading, and stay safe!

If anything in this issue has offended you or If you have any feedback, gone against the teachings of Bhagwan comments, or questions, let us know by sending an email to Mahavir, I sincerely ask for your forgiveness. [email protected]! !

- Harshita Jain I'd love to hear from you! 1 Paryushan in a Pandemic Written by Jasmine and Rikin Shah

Siblings Jasmine, age 9, and Rikin, age 7, reflect on how they observed Paryushan 2020 in the midst of a pandemic. Paryushan was really different this year due to the pandemic. Instead of going to the Derasar, we had Jain Zoom lectures. The lectures were given by Tejal Aunty. We learned about Bhagwan Mahavir’s life along with various stories about all the Bhagwans and how they got through This year, Jasmine many of their hardships. We had a lot and Rikin observed of fun attending the Youth Lectures Paryushan from home. and can’t wait for next Paryushan.

YOUTH FEATURE

We did Tap for all 8 days, like we always do, and did all the celebrations at home. We would have loved to go to the Derasar, but we learned a lot virtually.

Jasmine (left) completed 1 Attham, 2 Upvas (for a total of 5 Upvas), and 3 Biyashanas. Rikin (right) did 4 Upvas and 4 Biyashanas. 2 We also did some arts & crafts at home. We made Trishala Mata's 14 dreams for Swapna Darshan using popsicle sticks and cardboard printouts. Just like Derasar Ghee Boli, we did a Ghee Boli of Navkar Mantra for the Swapna Darshan. For example, one of us “paid” 101 Navkars for the Laabh of the 2nd Supan. 14 Swapna (Dreams)

We also made a Parnu Jhula (a swing) for Bhagwan Mahavir using wooden sticks, glitter paper, and a glue gun. Though Paryushan was different, it felt great to create a spiritual atmosphere at home.

In the new year, we hope to continue celebrating Jain festivals more creatively from home. Parnu Jhula (Swing)

Rikin Shah, age 7 Rikin is a 2nd grader in Huntingdon Valley, PA. He enjoys jokes, books, playing board games with family, and watching the Eagles play.

Jasmine Shah, age 9 Jasmine is a 4th grader in Huntingdon Valley, PA. She has a strong passion for reading and classical dance. This past summer, she read approximately 10,000 pages from various books. 3 STORIES

Roshni is Enlightened! Written by Rishi Zaveri

This is Roshni! Roshni is really afraid of the dark, especially at bedtime.

At night, Roshni’s parents put a night light in her room! Now she’s no longer scared and can go to sleep peacefully. Something very similar happened on Diwali almost 2600 years ago! Mahavir Swami, our 24th Tirthankar, had been giving his sermon for two whole days. After finishing this sermon, he attained Nirvan, went to Moksh, and became a . Everyone in the city was sad and afraid - who would teach them how to live a happy life and about what was right or wrong?

To defeat the darkness of ignorance, people began to light diyas (oil lamps), which represented the light of Mahavir Swami’s knowledge. That is why Jains light diyas at home for Diwali each year. We should remember that even though Mahavir Swami is not here with us, his teachings are passed on to us by our parents, grandparents, and Pathshala teachers! 4 One day, Roshni went to her friend’s house for a sleepover. She was really excited. At nighttime, though, she realized her friend didn’t have a night light in her bedroom! She was scared, but then remembered what her parents had taught her. “When you’re scared, recite the Navkar Mantra and think of Mahavir Swami.” Roshni did what her parents had said and immediately felt brave!

Did you know that something really similar happened to Gautam Swami too? Gautam Swami was the first Gandhar (main disciple) of Mahavir Swami. He would always stay with Mahavir Swami. One day, Mahavir Swami sent him to a different village for some important work. When returning, he heard the news of Mahavir Swami’s Nirvan. Gautam Swami was so upset that he started to cry and said, “I’ve lost the light of my world!” Suddenly, he realized that he should not cry but remember Mahavir Swami’s teachings. As soon as he did, Gautam Swami attained Keval Gyan!

We celebrate Gautam Swami’s attainment of Keval Gyan on the day following Diwali. It also marks the start of the Jain New Year! 5 Life Lesson: Being Grateful for Gyan Written by Rishi Zaveri Your parents may tell you not to step on paper, supplies, and books. Why? You should always remember to be respectful towards knowledge, whether that be with your supplies, your peers, or your teachers. This quality of respect is known as Vinay.

On Gyan Panchami, Jains celebrate and pay respect to knowledge. We appreciate and reflect on our interactions with Gyan. How can you show Vinay towards Gyan in your daily life?

DO DON'T Be polite to your Throw books or teachers and mentors pens/pencils

Be organized Step on paper or books

Be prepared and on Eat or watch TV while time for all classes doing homework

Inner Spark Challenge

As they are sometimes lit for Diwali, fireworks... Kill insects & microorganisms Release chemicals into the air Scare small animals Leave behind litter and waste

This Diwali, over 30 youth (ages 5-13) took the YJA Inner Spark challenge, pledging to focus on their inner light instead of setting off fireworks - Khub Khub Anumodana! 6 The Navkar Karona Challenge Written by Neha Gada-Jain This past summer, the students of the Jain Jenes Pathshala class in Columbus, Ohio were so excited to complete a daily mala of 108 Navkar Mantra! Why? Well, the student that most consistently recited Navkar Mantra Mala would not only get to rescue a cow from the cruelty of the commercial dairy industry, but also would get to name her!

Pathshala Teachers Neha Aunty and Rakesh Uncle (back row, from left), along with students Heet Jain, Mahi Shah, Aashvee Shah and Diya Shah (front row, from left).

The two participating Pathshala classes: Jain Jenes (JJ) Class - Navkar Karona challenge I am That and Only That (ITOT) Class - Samayik Karona challenge In Hindi, Karona means to do or complete. In these challenges, students recited Navkar Mantra or performed Samayik! 7 Originally meant to span two months, this challenge was extended to four months total as there was a delay in rescuing the cow and bringing her to Gita Nagari, a certified slaughter- free dairy farm. Students did not give up, though! They went above and beyond, praying even more fervently.

First and only USDA certified slaughter-free, non-profit dairy farm in North America! Never sends their retired herd Herd on the Gita Nagari to slaughterhouses Dairy Farm (Port Royal, PA) V isit https://gnecofarm.org

PATHSHALA SPOTLIGHT

After taking a vote, the winner got to name this cow “Chetna” (which means “life force”). We are so happy for Chetna and for our students to be able to give a gift of pure love to these cows and bulls through the Navkar Mantra. Now the younger class wants to save and name another calf, so we hope that Gita Nagari can rescue a bull calf after this winter! Chetna, the saved cow! 8 Rakesh Jain and Neha Gada- Jain both have thoroughly enjoyed their 20 years as Pathshala teachers. They are based in Columbus, OH. Both hope to continue to learn and keep alive the works of Students Samiksha Prasanna, the great Maharaj Dhruv Kapadia, Akshat Shah, Sahebs who have worked so and Aditya Mehta (back row, hard to pass on Mahavir from left) with Neha Aunty. Bhagwan’s teachings to us.

Kudos to Neha Aunty and the students of both the Jain Jenes and ITOT Pathshala classes! Your compassionate actions are so inspiring!

ASSORTED

Competition: December Issue

With 2021 just around the corner, it's time to make some resolutions for the new year. What goals do you have? What would you like to accomplish? Draw a picture of your resolution and add a 1-2 sentence caption to describe it! Deadline: Feb 28, 2021 Email [email protected] with your entry! Be sure to Eligible Ages: include your name with the file (.jpeg or PDF 5-13 years submissions preferred). Contact us with any questions! 9 MSM Learn more about Maharaj Sahebs, their role, and their lifestyle in this video!

Jain Panchang Upcoming Dates

Dec 25 Maun Ekadashi

Jan 8 - 10 Posh Dashmi Have a question to ask? (Parshvanath Visit yja.org/msm. Bhagwan Janma & Diksha Kalyanaks)

Feb 9 September Art Competition Winner Meru Teras (Rushabhdev Bhagwan Nirvan Kalyanak)

Mar 27 Chaumasi Chaudas Hirak Shah, age 11, loves learning about To look ahead airplanes! He submitted the following to more major quote: "It is possible to fly without holidays, motors, but not without knowledge click here! and skill." - Wilbur Wright 10 NOTE FROM THE CO-CHAIRS

Jai Jinendra! We are excited to introduce ourselves as the Co- Chairs for the 2020-2021 YJA Executive Board. With a new year comes new possibilities, and Mishi Jain as we look forward to 2021, we’re inspired by how our community has been able to adapt and transform over the past year. We Pranay Patni hope you enjoyed this issue of Younger Minds and can’t wait to Mishi Jain & share more of what YJA has to Pranay Patni | offer. Stay tuned! Co-Chairs, 2020-2021 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Assorted Authors Neha Gada-Jain, Hirak Shah, Jasmine Shah, Rikin Shah, Rishi Zaveri Thank you to this group of dedicated individuals for sharing their stories and inspiriting youth through their contributions to this issue! Kudos to them, their dedication to , and all their hard work! Director of Project Development, 2020-2021 Satej Shah The Director of Project Development made sure deadlines were set and met, ensuring a timely release. He also extensively reviewed the issue. Co-Chairs, 2020-2021 Mishi Jain & Pranay Patni For all the time they put into the issue, and for their support, always! 11 EXTRA

Paryushan in a Pandemic: Picture (page 2) Jasmine and Rikin's Paryushan setup at home! On the left are the 14 various dreams, or Swapnas/Sapnas of Trishala Mata. On the right is the Parnu Jhula! REFLECTION

Think about the good and bad deeds you might have committed today. What steps can you take to continue with the positive deeds and avoid repeating the negatives ones?

TRY TO SELF-REFLECT EVERY DAY - IT WILL HELP YOU GROW SPIRITUALLY! FEEDBACK?

Let us know how we can make Younger Minds better for you! Please send any questions, comments, or feedback to [email protected]. Looking forward to hearing from you! Liked a particular article? Want to write for Younger Minds? Reach out to us at [email protected]! ADDENDUM Young Jains of America is an entity of the Federation of Jain Associations in North America, a non-profit tax-exempt organization (IRS Code Section 501 (c)(3))

THANK YOU!

YOUNGER MINDS

DECEMBER 2020 VOLUME 1 | ISSUE 4