JAINA Convention 1999 07 Philadelphia

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 21

SAMARPAN
JAIN
Ι
SANGH
Founder
His Holiness Pujya Shree Chitrabhanuji
JMIC
Jain Meditation International Center
401 East 86 Street #20A. New York New York 10028. 212-362-6483 TAX EXEMPT # M-75-ED-1739 NON-PROFIT EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION
Directors
Jivan Proctor Pramoda Chitrabhanu Barry Wolfe Devendra Peer
IN
ACTION.
RELATIVITY
THINKING
PHILADELPHIA, PA
10th Biennial JAINA Convention
in war. Nor will you find any vegetarian soldier who has gone out to kill human beings. That is why even Mahatma Gandhi, though he was not a Jain by birth, realized the true Ahimsa of Mahavira and embraced it and practiced it in his life. He raised Ahimsa to the level of statesmanship and politics to liberate India without bloodshed. This Ahimsa is a solace to mankind. Not only Gandhi; not only Martin Luther King; and not only the Japanese monk Venerable Nichidatsu Fuji, but the whole world is now looking up to this principle of Ahimsa.
212-534-6090
Ahimsa is neither dogmatic nor sectarian. Its foundation is not blind faith but experiences of various living aspects of life. In this world there is no religion so alive, beautiful and kind as Ahimsa. Our primary purpose is to liberate our mind from attachment, greed and ignorance. When the essence of these principles is taught to our children, they will become the best citizens of the world. I am sure that all centers, societies and temples, individually and collectively with JAINA, will continue to work in this direction and seek the light to create an atmosphere thatwill be conducive to achieving our goal.
Yes, Jains are in a small number, a very small number, but they have enhanced the beauty of various cultures and religions through practice of nonviolence, compassion, collaboration, cooperation and coordination with the rest of the world. Jains have been very generous in their lives to help suffering living beings.
The former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, very appropriately mentioned in his letter to me that, "Ahimsa is the only answer for mankind," and "... this Ahimsa is our heritage, our wealth, our spiritual light and our essence."
Jain International Meditation Center
E-1, Queen's View, 28-30 Walkeshwar Road, Mumbai - 400 006. India Phone: 368 6887
Tel./Fax: 367 3355
JAINA was founded to uphold these very principles of Ahimsa, compassion and humanitarianism. It is when we practice these in our daily lives that we transform the world around us. I have no doubt that you can change many things in this world by changing yourselves, by being sensitive, caring and compassionate beings.
May you cherish a feeling of amity amongst your fellow beings and may peace and nonviolence become your beacons.
Love and Blessings, Chitrabhanu
For Priva15 Personal Use Only
-AINISM
J
Z -
N
THE
NEW
MILLENNIUM
Tat