Dear members,
Jai Jinendra and Jai Shree Krishna
1. Members were reminded to collect their 2025 membership receipts from Registration desk from Ellaben.
2. We still have place for 4 members to attend the Lions Club Seniors Party at Harrow Leisure Centre on Sunday 16 February. If you are interested in attending please give your name to Purnima Mehta by end of today.
3. Our member Nitinbhai Patel Who is also a member of London Platinum Jubilee Lions Club has been awarded the highest honour by Lions International, the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, for his invaluable contribution to those people in need through London Platinum Jubilee Lions Club.
Many congratulations from NVK to Nitinbhai on this achievement.
4. Please note your diaries that we will not be meeting on Thursday 6 March as the hall has been hired out for the whole week for exams.
DONATIONS:
5. £101 from Nitinbhai and Kiranben Patel on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary, which was on 18 January. Also, in celebration of Nitinbhai’s birthday which is on 25 January.
Many thanks from the Kendra.
AFTERNOON PROGRAMME:
6. We had arranged a unique programme on the afternoon of 23rd January. The topic was Santharo. Santharo is vidhi (a kind of ritual) where someone voluntarily invites death. In Jain religion a person can take santharo in certain circumstances. Terminal illness, fragility due to very old age, immense pressure from other cruel people or total helplessness because of some difficulties are some of the reasons.. Santharo can be taken after receiving permission from a Guru or elders. However a person taking Santharo forgives all living beings and begs forgiveness from all. He/she gradually cuts off all ties with relatives and friends. A person taking santharo gives up food, medicine etc and after a certain period gives up water too. This way he/she dies in a state of bliss. The difference between suicide and santrharo is that usually suicide is committed due to worldly passions like extreme anger, greed, jealousy etc and person decides to die with such feelings. His/her state of mind is never peaceful whereas a person taking santharo dies in a blissful state.
One of our members Sunitaben Mehta has started the ritual of Santharo. 23rd January was her 16th day without all medications and food. She was taking very little water. Her state of mind can be described as pleasant. All those who were present this day prayed for her and wished for a blissful Santharo. Vinod kapashi explained the religious significance and answered members' questions.
7. Today's attendance- 192
8. Dishes used - 199
9. food ordered - 190
10. Proceeds from the sale of food - £51
CORRECTION CORRECTION CORRECTION
Announcement dated 16 January
Attendance - 187 not 182
Dishes used - 195 not 199
Proceeds from the sale of food - £30
Announcement dated 9 January
Proceeds from the sale of food - £49