Ahimsa Crisis You Decide

Author(s): Sulekh C Jain
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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presented a paper "Jainism; a Dynamic and Living Religion" and also represented Jainism at The Inter-Religious Federation for World Peace Conference held in Washington, D.C. In July 1998, Dr. Jain organized a World Conference on Jainism and Ecology at Harvard University, which was attended by many top Jain Scholars from USA, Canada, India and U.K including late Dr. L. M. Singhvi and late Dr. Nathmal Tatia. Prior to that, he had participated at two conferences at Harvard University on Multi Culturalism and Pluralism and at an International Seminar on Vedanta and Jainism held at Miami University, Ohio where he made presentations also. In 1999, he participated in the International Seminar on Swami Umaswati and His Works held in New Delhi, India. In addition, he has also participated at several meeting on Animal Rights including the June 1996 March for Animals in Washington, D.C.
He is passionate for introducing the study, teaching and research in Jainism at many universities and colleges in North America, Europe and other countries. Dr. Jain has taught credit hour courses in Jainism at the University of Dayton Ohio. Since 2004, he has been active in International School for Jain Studies (ISJS), an accelerated program on Jain philosophy, history and way of life for the North American University professors and students, which is integrated into academia. In ISJS program, India is the classroom. This is an experience-based program and along with the study of Jainism, the students also experience cultural immersion through home visitations, participations in festivals, rituals, and trips to historic sites in India. Many University students and professors have described the International Jain Summer School program as a unique and life-changing experience. In 2012, the program was expanded to include teachers from Schools in USA who too go to India to study Jainism and ahimsa. So far, nearly 500 teachers, students and professors from more than 25 universities of 15 countries have benefitted from these programs and as a result more than 10 scholars have already completed their PhDs in Jainism and many more are now studying to complete their PhDs. (see www.isjs.in)
An Ahimsa Crisis: You Decide
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