Jainism in a Global Perspective - Collection of Jain papers of 1993 Parliament of World Religions, Chicago

SR No.: 014010
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Sagarmal Jain, Shreeprakash Pandey
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 1998
Total Pages: 402
Language: English
Classification: Seminar & Articles
File Size: 23 MB

Page 22

Preface
vii
living creatures. He stressed reverence for all life as a mirror for "right to live" for all living creatures - big and small. The practice of Kșamā (foregiveness) in terms of Jaina teachings also helps in enhancing universal feeling of love and fraternity.
Speaking on 'Jaina Meditation' which is designed to experience the most profound feeling of spiritual bliss and consciousness, he recommended twenty four minutes meditation every day to bring about a twenty four hours awareness.
Speaking on "The Religion of non-violence", H.H. Sadhvi Shilapiji dealt with the comprehensive philosophy of non-violence inherent in every religion and the need, therefore, to acclaim Ahimsā as a global religion and to propogate it through education".
In his thoughtful paper on "The practice of non-violence in multicultural perspective", David Brookman proposed that ahộisā (nonviolence), though based on metaphysical assumptions that are culturally and historically distinct from European ideologies, is the key to transforming the violence, materialism and obsessive consumption that mark Western industrialized societies. The values of differentiation, subjectivity and communion, which may be realized through the practice of ahimsā, enfold the potential to alter the relationship between humanity and other life forms on the planet. Five hundred years after the Columbian Encounter, it is the particular opportunity of the Jaina community in North America and of others who embrace ahiṁsā as a way of life to party the effects of violence with these alternative values.
Presenting "The Western perceptions of Jainism", Mr. Noel King observed that Jaina religion basically develops respect for others in every way and stands for elimination of injustice, discrimination, inequality and waste. Jaina teachings have been projected into a whole new and larger context by the pioneering efforts of Virchand Raghavji Gandhi, but there remains considerable scope for work of philologists and textual scholars for opening the religious and intellectual treasures to the wider world. The distinctive self-being, beauty and subtlety of the style and depth of Jaina thought and practice can find an increasingly universal appeal.
Dr. Sneh Rani Jain speaking on "Practice of compassion in modern