JAINA Convention 2001 07 Chicago IL

Author(s): Jain Society of Metropolitian Chicago
Publisher: USA Jain Center Chicago IL

Page 18

48. Mr. Kiranbhai Parikh is very senior Swadhyaykar from Mumbai, India. He has been associated with
Godiji Dehrasar for several years. He came in contact with many Acharyas, Sadhus and Pandits. He has traveled extensively in India. He has given lectures in various places in India. He had been to America for several years.
Gift of Jain Religion to the Science of the 21st Century (Gujarati) Hyatt Vienna Understanding of Modern science and Jain Philosophy Hyatt Vienna (Gujarati)
Fri Sat
2:30 to 3:30 PM 2:30 to 3:30 PM
49. Mr. Pravin K. Shah is the Founding member and past President of the Jain Study Center of North
Carolina. He received the prestigious JAINA Ratna award at the 1999 convention. Since 1980, he has been teaching religious classes to youth as well as adults and is involved with multi-faith organizations. He has written and published several books and articles on Jainism. He started the Jain Bulletin Service in 1992 and is very active in various Jain activities in North America. He is the chairman of the JAINA education committee. Pravinbhai will deliver speeches to both the adult (listed below) and youth groups (ABC 604) and will be a moderator for panel discussion on “Jain Unity"(64).
Jain Universe
Hyatt American/Branif
Fri
4:30 to 5:30 PM
Lord Mahavir preached Jain religion and its philosophy using four different methods known as Four Anuyogs; Stories (Pratham_anuyog), Conduct (Charan_anuyog), Mathematics (Ganit_anuyog), Philosophy or Adhyatma (Dravya_anuyog). The subject matter of Jain universe is included in Ganit_anuyog. The presentation will cover the topics such as the concept of Jain Universe; explanation of fourteen Rajlok; concept of Addhi dvip (Two and half islands) for human life; location of Bharat, Airavat, and Mahavideh kshetras (lands); concept of Moon, Sun, Planets, and Stars; description and location of Hell, Heaven, Animal, and Human dwelling.
At the end a comparison will be made between the present knowledge of the Universe and the Jain universe and will provide a rational explanation for the discrepancies.
50. Dr. Pravin L. Shah (Reading, PA) has extensively studied the teachings of Shrimad Rajchandra who is his
spiritual Master. He is very fluent in Sanskrit and Prakrit. He has conducted many Swadhyays and Shibirs for adults and youth at many Jain Centers.
Lord Mahavir's Last Sermon (Gujarati)
Hyatt Rosemont Ballroom C
Fri
2:30 to 3:30 PM
Sudhrama Swami in the most popular Jain text Utradhyayan Sutra compiles the last sermon of LORD MAHAVIR'S. This Sermon was given by the Lord at Pavapuri in the form of questions & answers. Lord describes the nature of Sansara as cycle of pain, miserly, birth, old age and death due to accumulated Karmas for all living begins. Lord Mahavira provides a fool-proof prescription for freedom from Karma by following His teachings of non-violence (live and let live), Syadvad, non-attachment, and self-control. This talk will discuss in detail the metaphysics of soul and matter and how one can live in peace and harmony in the world and experience true spiritual bliss and self-realization using the TEN COMMANDMENTS of Lord Mahavira
Shrimad Rajchandra's Impact of on Hyatt Rosemont Ballroom C Mahatma Gandhi and Jainism (Gujarati)
Sat
2:30 to 3:30 PM
Jain community all over the world is celebrating the Centennial of Shrimad Rajchanadra, a highly self-realized Jain Master of the modern time. In his short life span of 33 years, Shrimad attained highest form of pure consciousness. He started composing epic scriptures like Moxmala at age 16 and helped numerous disciples to attain self-realization. Mahatma Gandhi met Shrimadji many times and became overwhelmed with his spiritual powers. Gandhi writes in his autobiography, "I have taken many teachings form Tolsoty and Ruskin, but no one has influenced me more than Shrimad Rajchandra to learn and practice non violence in every day life." Shrimad composed his true epic poem Atamsiddhi at age 28 in one sitting and he has condensed the essence of 14 Purvas in this epic work. This epic is also called "Self Realization and Shrimad has made the most outstanding contribution to Jain philosophy and literature by providing a step wise guidance to all Jain followers how to get away from blind rituals and follow the path of true spiritual awaking. Shrimadji's writings are true reflection of his divine way of living. He was a revolutionary and visionary Master with enormous powers to condense Agam texts into simple and easy to follow verses most suitable for the Jain followers in the 21st century. After Hemchandra Acharya and Upadhyay Yasovijayji, no other Jain Master has made such enormous contribution to Jainism as Shrimad Rajchandra who lived the life of a householder but his spirit was that of a highly self realized Master
JAINA Convention 2001 Program Book Page # 16