Location-
6100 Old Winter Garden Road Orlando, FL 32835
Jain
Society of Central Florida - History In 1963, Jain
individuals and families began to immigrate to the
United States. Most were engineers or doctors who
came to further their education and to gain employment.
As they prospered, the state-side residents sent
for their family and friends in India.
The Jain Society of Central Florida was started
in 1981 by a Daytona, Florida resident, Dr. Lal
Jain. Several Central Florida cities, namely Ocala,
Daytona, and Orlando, had Jain families who held
prayer meetings and ceremonies in their homes. Poojas
and other activities were held continuously in people's
homes since 1981. The Jain Society of Central Florida
became registered with the IRS as a non-profit,
tax exempt corporation in 1993.
In 1991, Bhavok Singh, a Sikh man living in the
southwest of Orlando, agreed to let the Jains of
Central Florida use his large spiritual center for
their various activities. He did so at no charge
to the Jains. Now all poojas and other activities
are held at the spiritual center in Orlando.
In November of 1995, Bhavek Singh made a request
to the samanijis from India to start a Preksha Center
in Florida. The Jain community of Central Florida
supported this proposition and agreed to help the
samanijis in any way. The center is now called Jain
Vishwa Bharati USA. Each year two samanis are sent
to the center to act as religious leaders, teachers,
lecturers, and advisors. They reside in Orlando,
but they travel all over the USA delivering lectures
to universities and colleges, acting as spiritual
advisors for Jain communities, and teaching Preksha
Meditation and Yoga.
The "Saman" order was started by Gurudev
Shri Tulsi in 1980, which began as a progressive
movement to help spread the teachings of Jainism,
Preksha Meditation and Yoga, and the Science of
Living. The samanis and saman that make up this
order are allowed to travel on planes, trains, cars,
and busses, and they are also allowed to eat food
that is especially prepared for them by Jain families.
Other exceptions are made for them so that they
can study and teach all over the world.
Center
Activities :- In addition to the monthly
poojas, pathsalas, swadhyaya, and weekly classes
on Jainism, the Jains hold a special once-a-year
celebration for the birthday of Lord Mahavira.
There are two main publications produced by the
Jain community and Jain Vishwa Bharati USA. A quarterly
newsletter (The Inner Light) of approximately 8
pages is sent to families all over the state of
Florida. Each issue focuses on special topics, such
as ecology, mantras, or Lord Mahavira's birthday.
The second publication is the yearly
"souvenir" booklet that is produced in conjunction
with the annual 3 day camp. It is filled with best
wishes from the community, articles relevant to
the camp, ads for various community businesses,
comments about the activities held at the center,
and recognition of those who help out at the center.
There are various other small publications produced
by the Jain Vishwa Bharati in Ladnun, India that
are shared with the Jains of Florida and the United
States.
Activities
and Schedule :- The Jain Society of Central
Florida, in association with Jain Vishwa Bharati
USA, holds spiritual and other special activities
at the spiritual center in southwest Orlando, Florida.
On the second weekend of every month a pooja, a
special prayer session and idol worship ceremony,
is held from 3pm - 6pm. Here they use eight different
types of materials for the ceremony. 1) Water. Water
symbolizes the ocean of birth, life, death, and
misery. It symbolizes an honest, truthful, and compassionate
life. 2) Sandlewood. Sandlewood symbolizes right
knowledge. 3) Flower. Flowers symbolize conduct
that is full of love and compassion. 4) Incense.
Incense symbolizes asetic life. 5) Candle. This
represents a Pure Consciousness or Soul without
any bondage, or a Liberated soul. 6) Rice. Rice
symbolizes the last birth. 7) Sweet. One should
attempt to not be tempted by rich, delicious food
because the ultimate aim is to live without food,
which is the life of a liberated Soul. 8) Fruit.
It symbolizes Moksha or Liberation. It is the ultimate
achievement of life.
Secondly, every other Saturday and Sunday there
is a school, or pathsala, that is especially for
children, teaching them Jain principles, mantra,
and Jain values. Third, for the adults, there is
the swadhyaya, an ongoing monthly meeting where
Jain principles are discussed.
And finally, every Wednesday a class on Jainism
is held. These activities are conducted under the
guidance of the Samanijis (Jain nuns) in residence
at the spiritual center in Orlando.
The Jain Vishwa Bharati USA is an
educational and spiritual institution sponsored
by the Jain community of Central Florida. It is
a satellite institution of Jain Vishwa Bharati in
Ladnun, India, which was started by Gurudev Shri
Tulsi and is now led by Acharya Mahapragya. Yoga
and meditation classes are held every Tuesday, Wednesday,
and Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Special programs
of various topics are regularly scheduled, the most
popular of which are the bi-monthly camps and the
annual 3 day camp.
Other
items of Interest :-
There are many interesting
qualities that make the Jains of Central Florida
engaging the least of which is how they face the
challenge of recreating their religious life in
America. Everything from interfaith and intercultural
marriages to the challenges facing Jain parents
to keep the rites and rituals of Jainism alive in
their families present formidable obstacles to be
faced everyday. As with any immigrant community,
the Jains have had to find ways to keep their traditions
and culture alive and operative in the lives of
succeeding generations, have had to teach their
children to be strong in the face of ridicule (for
example, for being vegetarians) and oppression,
and have had to organize for themselves the institutions
and organizations that uphold their religious and
cultural lives. They have had to have strong faith
to continue to sustain their belief in non-violence,
vegetarianism, and a strong moral commitment to
truth.
Of course, one of the main ways to ensure that the
future of Jainism in Central Florida is kept alive
is the education of the children both in the home
and at the spiritual center. In the home, mantras
are said, and the parents who are religious continue
to set good examples by performing religious activities
in the home. Also, the samanis from India bring
with them the cultural and religious traditions
which help reinforce both Jain and Indian values
and principles.
In addition to the reinforcement of Jain principles
in the home and at the center, there is a group
called the National Young Jain Association
for Jains ages 14 - 24 where young Jains can get
together to discuss the Jain way of life and how
they cope with the challenges they face. Approximately
10 youths from the Central Florida area participate
in the activities of this organization and attend
various conferences around the country.
Another interesting group is the 20 or so ladies
who support what is called gochari, that is, bringing
food to the samanijis. The samanijis do not cook
for themselves, so the ladies take turns bringing
lunch and dinner to them. Contact :-
Phone Number: (407) 295-8694
Fax Number: (407) 295-8694
Email Address: jainvishwa@hotmail.com
