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COMMEMORATING THE 2600TH BIRTHDAY OF LORD MAHAVIR
HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.
OF NEW JERSEY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Wednesday, April 25, 2001
Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I come to the House floor today to praise the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Vajpayee, in declaring this year as the year of nonviolence. April 6 commemorates the 2600th birthday of the greatest prophet of Jainism, Lord Mahavir.
Jainism is a beautiful religion originating in India over two millennia ago, built on the principles of nonviolence, working on the self, and realization of multiplicity of truth through our varying perspectives of life. Lord Mahavir worked tirelessly all his life until he reached Nirvana, and then embarked barefoot to spread his message of truth across the great nation of India.
Lord Mahavir practiced and preached environmental protection to safeguard trees, plants and animals for the living. The observation of the nonviolent practices of the Jainis was a major influence on the philosophy of the great Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi. The same principles of nonviolence and respect for life were practiced more recently by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in the United States, as he led the struggle for civil rights for all Americans.
Mahavir's principles are extremely important today as well. Mahavir or the great soul taught us liberation of soul by right knowledge, right faith and right conduct. We must all bring this into our lives to make this world a better place for our children and grand children.
April 6th marks the beginning of pioneering celebrations throughout the world for nonviolence, and thus I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the year 2001 as the year of nonviolence worldwide.
Reprinted from the Congressional Record Vol. 147, No. 53, Washington, Wednesday, April 25, 2001: Proceedings and debates of the 107th congress, First Session.
International Jain Sangh thanks the Honorable Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr., for his efforts to commemorate the 2600h Birth Anniversary of Lord Mahavir in the Congressional Record to spread his message of nonviolence worldwide.
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