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PROF. MUNI MAHENDRA KUMAR
Every year the number of conferences on Science taking place in the world may be more than 100; similarly, the number of such conferences on spirituality/philosophy/religion may also be not less than 100. But the International Conference on Science and Jain Philosophy of this type is rare, perhaps unique one.
As a matter of fact, the number of such scientists who have interest in Jain Philosophy is also not a great one; on the other hand, the number of scholars who are interested in Jain Philosophy and also in Science, is also not a big one. Generally, both in the field of Science and Jain Philosophy, there is the belief that these two subjects are poles asunder. But, according to a few scholars who have thoroughly studied both, there is striking resemblances between them, and hence, if comparative studies in them are rare undertaken, some fruitful findings would come out, which would be very valuable for both.
The ICSJP is being organized by Bhagwan Mahavira International Research Centre, which is established in 2014 as a Research Institute in the Department of Jainology and Comparative Religion & Philosophy, which again is the part and parcel of the Jain Vishwa Bharti Institute (Deemed University) at Ladnun, Rajasthan, India. This University is the only Jain University in the world, dedicated to higher studies and research in the fields of Jainology, Meditation and Yoga, Non-Violence and Peace, Oriental Languages (like Prakrit, Sanskrit, Pali, etc.) and so on.
The main objective of establishing the Jain University is to blend the Ancient Wisdom with the Modern Knowledge obtained through Science, Technology, etc. The BMIRC has taken upon itself the task of bringing the Jain scholars and the scientists on the same platform in order to achieve this noble objective, and thus, serve humanity through innovative techniques based on both Science and Spirituality.
It is hoped that the sincere deliberations that will take place in this historical event would go a long way in finding out the clues to the baffling issues, and thus fulfill the noble mission, which the BMIRC is dedicated to.
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