Jain Sangh of New England JSNE Pathshala Overview

Jain Sangh of New England (JSNE) Pathshala Overview – www. jsne. org 223 Middlesex Turnpike Burlington, MA 01803 Presentation at JAINA, Detroit, USA–July 2013 By: – Haresh Mehta – Level 4 teacher Nirav Shah – Rookies teacher 1

JSNE Pathshala Overview • Celebrated 10 years anniversary in Spring 2013 • Number of students as of June 2013 – 105 students from states of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine • Pathshala frequency – Once a month – 2 nd Sunday of the month with additional sessions for special projects and Lab sessions • Pathshala time/duration – 1: 30 -4: 00 pm • Pathshala Year – September – June (school year) 2

JSNE Pathshala Registration – One form per family every year No registration fee but we have optional Class AND Food sponsorship programs Minimum age for registration – Pre-K Parents who wish are allowed to sit in Rookies class 3

JSNE Pathshala Day structure – ØGroup prayers at 1: 30 - recitation by all present in Rang Mandap ØArti performed by birthday students ØDivo performed by families of class and Food sponsors of the month ØAssembly announcements including recognizing sponsors, introducing new pathshala families and upcoming pathshala events and news ØClasses from 2: 00 – 4: 00 pm for Philosophy, Sutra, Stuti and mini vidhi sessions ØSnack at 4: 00 pm 4

Pathshala Class Structure and Teachers Level School Grade Number of Students Teachers Rookies Pre-K and KG 18 Nirav Shah Arpita Gosalia Level 1 1 and 2 20 Nimisha Asthagiri Jignesh Shah Level 2 3 and 4 21 Dhruti Ashara Mitul Dalal Level 3 5 and 6 14 Ajay Vora Level 4 7 and 8 14 Haresh Mehta Level 5 9, 10, 11 and 12 18 Hemant Shah Swathya y Adults 20 Pulkit Shah Sutra teachers All Amit Shah Himanshu Palkhiwala 5

Pathshla Overview � Curriculum - The suggested curriculum is by each level and based on JAINA books but teachers may introduce/teach other Jainism related subject matter from other sources based on class interest and need. Plan to revisit curriculum in summer 2013. � Monthly report and HW - Lesson plan and HW details are sent via email to all students/parents and also available at www. jsne. org website under pathshala section. � Lab Sessions -Hands-on learning of what/why and how covering key important rituals- Going to Jinalaya, Astha Prakari Pooja, Chaityavandan, Guruvandan, Samayik, etc. Now that we have Pathshala in the Derasar building more short sessions carried out in small groups. 6

JSNE Pathshala � Selection criteria for pathshala teachers Faith and knowledge of Jain religion, values, , selfmotivation, dedication and commitment to learn and teach � Class Attendance – Ø Rookies to Level 4 – 90% Ø Level 5 – 75% Ø Parents/students are always encouraged to call/email and also to have a one-on-one meeting with teachers for make up class. � Pathshala Staff Communication - Most of the communications is thru email and phone calls but do meet periodically as and when needed. 7

JSNE Pathshala � Special techniques for Sutra learning – We have dedicated Sutra teachers who help out regular class teachers for Sutra memorization, and meaning. Ø Teacher generally spends appx 45 minutes of a class for Sutra/stuti learning for level 1, 2 and 3 Ø Level 4 class performs Samayik every month and during the Samayik they learn/recite Sutra and Jain Philosophy. Ø Level 5 students - learn/recite sutra and perform Samayik occasionally during the class. Ø 8

Teaching Techniques Show and Tell for teaching basic Jain concepts to Rookies Class • Games, Puzzles, Unscrambling words : Charades, Don’t Say it, Pictionary, Your Choice, etc � Memory tools - creating multiple connections, stimulating multiple sensory points � Songs and Poems - 24 Tirthankars Names and Symbols, Dreams of Queen Trishla, Shravak what do you see? ( To describe the spiritual elevation of a Jain Shravak from the moment he sees a Jain Derasar, what he sees in Derasar). � Number Games (Math) – Memorize various Jain concepts by thinking of their quantities. • 9

Teaching Techniques � Interactive teaching methods used in the class rooms to teach and engage students in learning subject materials. � Power Point Presentations - Learn, discuss and review various Jain concepts and philosophy in the pathshala class thru slides � What, Why and How of Lab sessions – Ø Lab sessions are in addition to the regular pathshala sessions Ø Emphasize is on practical aspects of Jainism Ø Students learn Do's & Don'ts at the temple, what to do and how to do right way, the common rituals. Ø All the mudras/vidhis are demonstrated and practiced in a small group in each session along with the presentation (which will explain the importance/why/how of the activity 10

JSNE Pathshala Award/recognize Ø Ø Ø students in many ways – Award to each participant student for all the religious activities student does during Paryushana Parva (Paryushana Parva Activity Point Sheet) Award to each student for the performance during the pathshala year. This points system is based on Attendance, HW assignments and annual Test score. During the monthly prayer assembly, we recognize all the families who sponsor food, pathshala class (cash donation) and donate or do prabhavna (e. g. Samayik Upkaran, pathshala bags, etc). Year-end Outing at the end of last pathshala class Graduating students (seniors) from pathshala are honored with ‘Certificate’ in the last month – June. 11

Special Projects • • • Astha Prakari and Snatra Pooja by Pathshala students during Paryushan Parva Jain Art/painting session - Jain Paintings (Swapnas, Symbols, Asthamangalam, etc) Essay competition for the Pratishatha Mahotsav Souvenir Level 2 research on various Jain Food items in fast food eating places and grocery stores Level 5 students - visits ‘Wheaton College’ in Norton, MA for the Presentation on 'Jainism' in the religion class. Pathshala cultural program during annual Diwali program, last year Pratishtha Mahotsav and celebration of ten years of pathshala 12

Community and Voluntary Activates Community and Voluntary Activities – • During Pratishata Mahotsav, pathshala students were encouraged to raise the fund for the temple - following up with their family, friends, relatives, etc. Students were recognized for the donations collected. • Students are encouraged to help in temple and during all program/ceremony preparation. Future Projects planning � Community Service project – to practice “Charity” as a group within our Community. � Recycling Center project – to practice “Ahimsa” and “Ecology” as a group within our Derasar. � Derasar Beautification - Cleanup days � Cook and serve a vegetarian meal for those in need at homeless center 13

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JSNE Pathshala Sutra Curriculum by level Item # Sutra Rookies Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 1 Navkar Mantra x 2 Khamasamana x 3 Panchindiay x 4 Ichhakara x 5 Iriyavahiya x 6 Tass Uttari x 7 Annattha x 8 Logassa x(I) x 9 Karemi-Bhante x(I) x 10 Samaiya-Vaya Jutto 11 Abhuttio 12 Uvasagga Haram 13 Samayik Procedure Level 5 x x(I) x I = Intro 16

JSNE Pathshala Stuti Curriculum by level Item # Prayer Rookies Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 1 Navkar Mantra x 2 Chattari Mangalam x 3 Darshanam x 4 Mangalam x 5 Upasargh x 6 Sarva Mangala x 7 Arahanto 8 Shivmastu x 9 Avyo Sharane x 10 Khamemi Savvajive x 11 Arati x(I) x 12 Mangal Divo x(I) x Level 4 Level 5 x I = Intro 17

JSNE Pathshala Ritual Curriculum by level Item # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 a 8 b 8 c 8 d 9 9 a 9 b 9 c 9 d 9 e 9 f 10 11 Item Name Going to the Temple What to do in the Temple Astha-Prakari Pooja Samayika Understanding Pachakhan Different Pachakhan Guruvandana Daily Practice Navkar - Morning/Evening Bow-down Jai-Jinendra Aarti-Mangal Divo Jian Festivals Paryushana Parva Diwali Mahavir-Janama Kalyanak Gnan-Pacham Maun-Ekadashi Ayembil-Holi Parva Point-Sheet Yoga Rookies x x Level 1 x x x(I) Level 2 x x x(I-M) Show & Tell Level 4 x x(M) x x Level 5 x(I) Level 3 x x(I) x(I-M) x x x x x x x x x x(I) x(I) x x x(M) x x x x x x x 18

JSNE Pathshala Philosophy Curriculum by level Item # 1 1 a 2 3 4 Item Name Jain Glossary Jain Alphabets Five Senses Five Great Vows Five Auspcious Events in Bhagwan's Life 5 6 7 8 Karma Theory Beginning high level Moderate level Detail level Six Substances (Dravyas) Three Jewels Four Types of Passions (Kashyas) 9 10 Meaning of God Four Fold Orders (Chaturvig Sangh) 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 Eighteen Papstankas Nine Punyas Jain Scriptures External Tapas Internal Tapas Five Samitis and Three Guptis Twelve Vows of Layman Twelve Bhavnas Six Essentials (Avashyaks) Thirty Five Virtues of Shravaks Nine Tatvas Fourteen Gunasthankas Sanlekhana Anekantvad Syadvad Yoga/Meditation Jain Universe Virtues of Panch-Paremesthi Intro to Tatvarth Sutra Into to Utradhayan Sutra What is Dharma (Religion) Four Gatis Leshyas Jain Sects Yaksha & Yakshnis Three Chovisi Das Dharma Jain History Rookies Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 x (I) x(M) x(I) x x x(M) x x Level 5 x(I) x(M) Show & Tell x(I) x(M) x(I-M) x(I) x x(I) x x x(I) x(M) x(I) x(I) x x x x(I) x x x x x x 19

JSNE Pathshala Jain Practices Curriculum by level Item # 1 2 3 4 4 a 4 b 4 c 5 5 a 5 b 5 c 5 d 5 e 6 7 7 a 7 b 7 c 7 d 7 e 7 f Item Names of Tirthankaras Lanchans Mother Trishala's Dreams Tirthankara's Parents Names Mahavir Rushabhdev Parshavnath Life Story of Tirthanakaras Mahavir Rushabhdev Parshavnath Neminath Shantinath Stories (TBD) Jain Symbols Dhaja Swastika Divo Universal Jain Symbol Oham-Hrim-Arhanam Astha Mangalam Rookies 6 6 Show & Tell 8 Jain Temples/Pilgrimage places Show & Tell 8 a 8 b 8 c 8 d 8 e 8 f 8 g Palitana Girnar Sametsikhar Rankpur Delwara Pavapuri Champapuri Level 1 12 12 14 (I) Level 2 18 18 14(M) x x x Level 3 24 24 14 x x x x(I) x(I-M) x(I) x x x x 20

Level 2 project – Starbucks Jain food choices 21

Level 2 project – CHIPOTLE Jain food choices 22

Level 2 project – TACO BELL Jain food choices 23

Level 2 project – Dunkin Donuts Jain food choices 24