JAINA Short Summary Of All Pathshala Books

Here's a comprehensive summary of the "JAINA Short Summary of All Pathshala Books":

This document, produced by the JAINA Education Committee, serves as an overview and catalog of the educational books published by JAINA for learning about Jainism in English. The initiative aims to make Jainism accessible to all ages, with a focus on the Jain community in North America but also serving a broader audience.

Key Aspects of the JAINA Education Book Series:

• Target Audience: The books are categorized into four age levels:

  • Elementary (L-1): Ages 5-9 years
  • Middle School (L-2): Ages 10-12 years
  • High School (L-3): Ages 13-15 years
  • College (L-4): Ages 16 years and above
  • Special Category: For specific programs like the Jain Academic Bowl (JAB).
  • Additionally, there are Reference Books for the wider Jain community.

• Content and Approach:

  • The books are designed to be non-sectarian, drawing references from various Jain traditions including Shwetambar, Digambar, Sthanakvasi, Terapanthi, Shrimad Rajchandra, and Kanjiswami.
  • The curriculum aims to introduce core Jain principles, values, history, philosophy, and practices in an engaging and age-appropriate manner.
  • Emphasis is placed on non-violence (Ahimsa), vegetarianism, and universal virtues like kindness, honesty, and compassion.
  • The approach often incorporates stories, skits, poems, practical applications, and interactive elements like journals and games to facilitate learning.
  • Some books are also available in Gujarati and Hindi.

• Availability:

  • Soft copies (PDF files) of all Jain education books are freely available for download from the provided website links.
  • Hard copies can be purchased through specific links for the USA, India, and other countries.

• Book Descriptions (by Level):

  • Level-1 (Ages 5-9):

    • JES101 - Jain Activity Book: Introduces Jainism with colorful pictures, puzzles, and explanations of rituals like Puja and Arati.
    • JES102 - Jainism I - Basics of Jainism: Focuses on non-violence, vegetarianism, and virtues through 28 lessons with over 150 color photos.
    • JES103 - Jain Alphabet Book: Teaches Jain vocabulary and principles through an ABC format, associating letters with Jain terms and concepts (e.g., A for Ahimsa, M for Mahavir).
    • JES104 - The Jain Moral Skits Book: Imparts life lessons like honesty, truthfulness, and sharing through simple, performable skits for children.
    • JES105 - Being a Jain 24/7 - Journey towards a Happy and Peaceful Life: Aims to instill core Jain values like Ahimsa, Anekantavad, and Aparigraha for a happy and peaceful life, using relatable explanations and pictures.
    • JES106 - My Jain Values Journal: A companion to JES105, encouraging children to internalize and practice Jain values through daily reflection and journaling.
    • JES851 - Tirthankar Game: A game designed to engage young minds with information about Tirthankars.

  • Level-2 (Ages 10-12):

    • JES202 - Jain Story Book: Features inspiring life stories of Tirthankars, Ganadhars, and Shravaks with beautiful illustrations, highlighting key messages.
    • JES202G - Jain Story Book (Gujarati): The Gujarati translation of the English Jain Story Book.
    • JES203 - First Step to Jainism: A comprehensive book connecting Jain principles to everyday life with scriptures, parables, poems, and practical aspects like nutrition and the environment. It also includes a section on yoga and a glossary.
    • JES203Q - Work Book - First Step to Jainism: A companion workbook for teachers and students of Level 2, providing homework assignments for each chapter of JES203.

  • Level-3 (Ages 13-15):

    • JES302 - Jain Philosophy and Practice I: An introductory text covering Jain theism, Karma theory, vows, Jain history, and the application of non-violence, encouraging further study.

  • Level-4 (Ages 15 up):

    • JES401 - Jain Philosophy and Practice II: A comprehensive exploration of Jainism, delving into the path to liberation, codes of conduct, meditation, spiritual development, viewpoints, fundamental truths, history, and Āgam literature.

  • Special Category:

    • JES904 - Jain Academic Bowl (JAB) Manual: A compendium of Jainism compiled from all Pathashala textbooks and reference books, used for the JAB competition. The authors are acknowledged as teachers, and users are encouraged to provide feedback.
    • JES906 - JAB Past Q and A: A PDF file containing past questions and answers for the Jain Academic Bowl.

  • Reference Books:

    • JES901 - Jainism and Spiritual Awakening: A basic introduction to Jain philosophy, ethics, scriptures, holidays, and Lord Mahavir, suitable for beginners and often given to visitors at Jain temples.
    • JES902G: A Gujarati translation of a book offering a simple understanding of Jain philosophy and conduct, expanding on the original English work.
    • JES911 - Essence of World Religions: A concise summary of 12 major spiritual paths, comparing Indian and Western religions.
    • JES921 - The Book of Compassion (English/Gujarati/Hindi): Focuses on compassion and ethical living, addressing topics like animal cruelty, environmental impact, and alternative products.
    • JES931 - English Pratikraman: Explains the Pratikraman ritual with traditional sutras, their meanings in simple English, and covers six essentials from Shvetambar traditions.
    • JES933 - Jain Puja Book - Ashta Prakari Puja and Shanti Kalash: Details three Shvetambar temple rituals: Ashta Prakari Puja, Mother Trishala's dreams, and the Shanti Kalash ritual.
    • JES941 - Jain Sutra Book with English Meaning: Provides Jain sutras for rituals like Samayik, Chaitya Vandan, and Pratikraman, with original texts, transliteration, and simple English meanings.
    • JES981 - Ashtapad Tirth Booklet: Covers the brief history of the lost Ashtapad Tirth, believed to be located in the Himalayas.
    • JES982 - Being Jain in College - An Experiential Guide: Offers advice and personal experiences for Jain students balancing college life with their faith.
    • Posters: Various posters of important Jain Tirths are also listed.

In essence, the JAINA Education Committee provides a comprehensive and structured curriculum to foster a deep understanding and practice of Jainism among individuals of all ages, making these resources accessible and adaptable to modern learning needs.