Ahimsa Varsh 2600th Birth Anniversary of Mahavir Swami

SR No.: 006949
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Naresh Jain, P Jayaraman
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 64
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 11 MB

Page 60

Thanks
The Bhavan, USA gratefully acknowledges the generous support for this celebration of Ahimsa Varsh, of the following philanthropists.
Air India Bank of Baroda Bank of India State Bank of India New York Life Insurance Company Drs. Rashmi & Navin Mehta Trupti & Kenny Desai Rosmarie & H.R. Shah Albert Jasani Bhavna & Rashmi Kamdar Pandya Jain Family Foundation (Dr. Mahendra Pandya) Dr. Meeta & Devendra Peer Mr.Morgan Crug Jain Center of America, New York Jain Center of New Jersey Jain Sangh of New Jersey Jain Samaj of USA Samarpan Jain Sangh Young Jains of America (Mr.Nitin Talsania)
daily routine which starts with waking at 4 am and following a strict Jain vegetatian diet that includes total fasting between sunset and sunrise.
Alternatively, visitors and tourists may opt for the less stringent 15-day or 7-day course while residing in the three guest houses (with attached kitchens that prepare simple yet wholesome Jain vegetarian meals), that overlook a garden built around the samadhi of Acharya Tulsi who died in 1998 at the age of 86.
Acharya Tulsi was the spiritual head of the community for some 60 years and was instrumental in leading it into the modern era. He was the inspiration behind the establishment of the Jain Vishva Bharati Institute. In a radical break from conven- tion, he established in the early 1980s, the Saman order of sadhvis who, unlike traditional Jain munis and sadhvis for whom the only way of getting from one place to another was on foot, were allowed to use modern means of transportation to spread the message of peace across the world. Today, one Samani heads the computer department of the Jain Vishva Bharati Institute. More importantly, Acharya Tulsi initiated the on going process of reinterpreting the scriptures to make them more relevant to a generation driven by modern technolo
gy. Indeed, within the campus is an audio-visual center that records all the official discourses of the Acharya.
With the passing of Acharya Tulsi, the flame of spiritual enlightenment passed on to his disciple and successor Acharya Mahapragya.
At sunset, a peaceful calm settles over the Jain Vishva Bharati Institute complex. Jets of water from a musical fountain within the garden dance to the soothing . rhythm of melodic bhajans. But for a local family that has come to relax in this peaceful setting and take group photographs in front of the fountain, the place is deserted. The Samanis are in their quarters meditating and the other munis and sadhvis are out on the road following the footsteps of the spiritual leader as he trudges across the land.
Yes, modern technology may be creeping into the physical headquarters of Jainism at Ladnun, but tradition still rules supreme around the spiritual beacon that is Acharya Mahapragya and his following of munis and sadhvis as they walk across the land; never anchoring for too long in one spot but leaving behind a little divinity before moving on.
The Bhavan,USA offers its sincere thanks to them. The Bhavan also wishes to express its gratitude to all the members of the Celebration Organizing Committee who worked very hard to see to the success of this celebration. Our thanks are also due to Mrs.Shobna Patel and all staff members of Royal Albert's Palace for their immense help and meticulous care of every aspect of the arrangements for the celebration.
We offer our respects and thanks to all saints, sadhus,sadhvis, scholars, artists, participants and volunteers who have taken time to make this event a grand success.
Courtesy: 'Vardhaman'- A Times of India Publication
Jai Jinendra.
Jain Education Interation
For Personal 60 vate Use Only