Jain Digest 1999 11 Vol 15 No 04

SR No.: 527076
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA
Publication Year: 1999
Total Pages: 32
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, USA_Jain Digest, & USA
File Size: 5 MB

Page 17

JAINA PATRON PROGRAM
JAINA initiated the patron program in 1997 to finance Jain Digest and other activities. A patron is an individual or a couple who provides an annual support of $251. During 1997-98, there were a total of 222 patrons from North America. JAINA appreciates their financial and moral support.
A patron is entitled to (a) receive a bimonthly Jaina Focus newsletter, (b) receive at least one book on Jainism, (c) recognition in Jain Digest once a year, (d) priority enrollment for future pilgrimage to India, (e) priority hotel reservation and seating at the convention and (f) one free listing for MIS. The Patron Program in 1999-2000 will be chaired by Surendra Singhvi, who can be reached at 937-885-7414. . A request letter has been sent to all patrons by Dr. Mahendra Pandya requesting them to renew their support for 1999. All JAINA directors have been requested to become a patron this year. JAINA requests Jain families to become patrons in 1999 by sending the tax-deductible contribution of $251 to Surendra Singhvi, 439 Ridge Line Court, Dayton, OH 45458.
JAINA CHARITABLE TRUST
The Executive Council of JAINA Charitable Trust approved $5000 for JAINA Calenders and $5000 for JAINA administrative expenses at the request of JAINA president Dr. Mahendra Pandya. JAINA calender will be mailed to all the Jain families in North America. HEADQUARTERS NEWS (continued from page 5)
CLINTON CONGRATULATES JAINA ON OBSEVANCE OF AHIMSA DAY
President Bill Clinton has written congratulatory letter to Dr. Dhiraj Shah, Past president of JAINA for observing Ahimsa Day (First Sunday in October). His message said in part, " By promoting tolerance and understanding- Ahimsa Day ... You are helping to forge a more secure future for us all".
GLOBAL AHIMSA DAY 72 HOURS Dec. 31 to Jan 2, 2000
United Religious Initiative is a worldwide effort to publicize and promote Lord Mahavir's message of Peace and Non-Violence by soliciting the efforts of all religious organizations to focus Dec 31, Jan 1/2 as days of planting seeds of "True Peace". JAINA has joined this global effort and asks all Jain Centers to do any of the following: Meditation, Bhavana, fast/Aymbil and/or Ringing Peace Bells. For more information contact coordinator Ramesh Shah at (440) 442-4596) or Chairperson Surendra Singhavi at (937) 8857414
JAINA BOOK SOURCE:
BOOK REVIEW
By Dilip V. Shah, Philadelphia
Search for Eternal Truth Textbook on Jainism for the western world
JAINISM: An Indian religion of Salvation
By HELMUTH VON GLASENAPP An English Translation of DER JAINISMUS Eine Indische Erlosung religion. Translated By Shridhar B. Shrotri 549 pp. Delhi 595 Rs. Motilal Banarsidas Publishers
In an age where many Jains have accepted the faulty notion that Jainism was established by Lord Mahavir, the western world can benefit from this work from one of the early German scholar. Mr. Glasenapp had made his mission to make German people acquaint with Indian culture and philosophy. To that end, study of Jainism is essential and this book, first published in 1925 on the occasion of 75th birthday of Hermann Jacobi, does a masterful job of explaining some of the most complex concepts in Jainism to the uninitiated.
The book is Divided into seven sections, has bibliography running in to ten pages and numerous illustrations and photographs. The reader is taken patiently through the history of Jainism and moves on to a comprehensive discussion of the Canonic and Non Canonic literature of Svetambars and Digambars. Almost 200 pages are devoted to explaining the Jain Doctrine. He has from time to time played the role of a scientist in explaining Cosmology and Ethics but his respect for the fundamental principals of Jainism shines through.
He has painstakingly drawn distinction between Hinduism /
Buddhism and Jainism and rejected early scholar's conclusion that Jainism as nothing more than an offshoot of Hinduism. In explaining the concept of God in Jainism, he brings up different
belief systems of Hindus, Buddhists and even Christians and with admiration shows how logical the Jain thoughts are.
As one of the western pioneer of Jain studies and one of the few who visited India, we are struck by amount of research that must have been undertaken for this multifaceted study. He has acknowledged help of many Jain Acharyas, Munis and Scholars but he could not have produced this work without studying Prakrit and Sanskrit. He has meticulously detailed world history enumerated by Jainism. He has done a superb job of reciting lives of 24 Tirthankars of the present era and given glimpse of other eras.
This book is an excellent learning tool for readers whose first and sometimes only avenue is written work in English. In translating this book in readable English Shridhar Shrotri has does an excellent service to the students of Jainism.
JAIN DIGEST-WINTER 1999/15 www.jainelibrary.org