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Preface
Memorial Samiti and other Digambara, Śvetāmbara, Sthānakavāsi Jaina associations from India, OswalJaina Associations and Institute of Jainology from U.K., J.A.I.N.A. from U.S.A. and Canada, International Mahāvīra Jaina Mission, New York, Jaina Viśva Bhārati and Aņuvibhā, Ladnun, 'Rajasthan'; Virāyatana, Rajgir (Bihar); Srimad Rājcandra Adhyātmika Sādhanā Kendra, Koba, Ahmedabad; Pārsvanātha Vidyāpitha, Varanasi and All India Digambara Jaina Mahāsabhā, Lucknow (India) joined hands to project the Jaina philosophy in a purposive, effective and scholarly manner under the banner of one name "The Jains" at this unique assembly of religious and spiritual leaders and thinkers.
The overall impact created was that Jaina religion was not a religion of a sect within the confines of its rituals or traditions, but a religion of humanity. It had a global relevance in the contemporary world with its comprehensive perspective and vision of spreading world-wide the culture and practice of non-violence integrated with the concept of non-attachment and non-absolutist view of events, situations and view points. Its uniqueness lay in the historical fact that no other religion had emphasised as much and in such a wide-ranging manner the need to pursue non-violence not merely as a religious practice at the level of an individual, but to transform collective behaviour and conduct of society at national and global level to it so that the human beings could forge a relationship of mutually supportive interdependence not only among themselves, but also in relation to all living beings as well as elements of nature.
Jaina scholars elaborated on the principles and practices of Jaina religion relating them to arousal of spiritual dimension on the global scale, to ecology and environmental upgradation, to scientific reasoning and logic, to moral and ethical transformation, to cultural orientation in art architecture, myths, rituals, ceremonies and festivals, to business and behavioural ethics and above all to self-transformation and world peace.
Spokespersons of Jaina religion at this historic Parliament were all distinguished persons from diverse backgrounds ranging from monks, swāmins, gurus and nuns to diplomats, jurists, Vice Chancellors, Professors, educationists, scholars, industrialists, engineers, doctors and social reformers. While the majority came from India, there was a very rich input provided from UK, USA, Canada and Africa as well. Digambaras
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