Jain Digest 1991 11

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

Page 12

Jain Digest - Bhattarak Shree Davendra Keerti travel thousands of miles to particiBhattarak Shree
pate in the celebration. Many thanks Davendrakeertiji was instrumental must go to Samanis Madhur and the leader in performing Pujajs Prajnaji, Mangal Prajnaji, in Pratishtha Mahaotshav in
Bhattaraks Charukeertiji, Davendra Siddhachalam. Bhattarak also had a Keertiji, Mrs. Anita Jain, and all very special program and delivered JAINA volunteers who made this lectures to Jains of the USA and
program successful. United Kingdom, at Jain Center of America in New York City. He also Summary visited Jain centers at Chicago,
Overall this year's program Detroit, Orlando and Toronto. was immensely successful. Hard
work and generosity shown by the Dr. N.P Jain & Mrs. Anita Jain: scholars and their hosts can't be
Mrs Anita Jain primed the described in words. Full cooperation JAINA convention and Pratishta from all the centers contributed Mahaotshay by her Manglacharan.. greatly to the success of this pro- Mr. N.P. Jain lectured on non
gram. Help of all the scholars, all violence, aprigraha and anekant the Jain centers, and all the volun
Mr. N.P. Jain and Mrs. Anita Jain teer hosts made it possible to spread traveled together and visited Jain the words of Lord Mahavir in this centers at San Francisco, Cincinnati, part of the world. We want to thank Orlando, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, all the scholars, all the centers and St. Louis, Chicago, and New York. all the volunteer hosts. With your We hope that Mrs. Anita Jain's cooperation we will be able to melodious voice will encourage our promote Jain philosophy throughout young generation to take on the this continent and hope to do so in singing of bhajans.
the future also.
original pro-lifers, people dedicated to the principle that human conduct must be guided by selfrestraint, compassion and reverence for all forms of life. They are Jains, members of India's oldest and least understood religion.
Traditionally, the world's 10 million Jains have kept their non-violent philosophy to themselves. Now they are ready to share it in hopes of healing a wounded world.
“The planet is on the brink of ecological disaster; the world has become a spiritual slum," said N.P. Jain a prominent Indian scholar and diplomat who was keynote speaker at a Stanford University conference that drew more than 3,500 participants last weekend - the largest Jain gathering held outside India.
"Up to now, Jainism has been confined to the borders of India, but the torch has been lit in the West," Jain told the gathering, which was sponsored by the Jain Association of North America, which claims 40,000 members in United States and Canada.
“We must be interfaith catalysts in the world community," added L.M. Singhvi, an eminent jurist and human rights activist who is India's ambassador to the United Kingdom. "We must promote the science and technology of non-violence. We must engage in peaceful campaigns for ecology and against intolerance. Ours is an ancient belief, but it is also a religion for tomorrow and the day after tomorrow."
Singhvi is author of the "Jain Declaration on Nature," a statement on Jain beliefs and ecology that was presented last October to Britain's Prince Philip,
Sadhvis Yashaji and Subhamji
Sadhvis Yashaji and Subhamji were very generous and kind hearted toward the Jain community of the USA and Canada. They preached the basis of Das Dharm and effects of Adharm (attachment, anger, etc.) They celebrated Paryushan at Jain Center of America at New York City. Kumari Mangalam's melodious voice and Yashaji's and Subhamji's scholarly preaching have touched everybody's heart and soul.
Feedback
Finally, around the end of the year, the scholar visitation committee evaluates the success of each program by talking to various centers and asking each center to fill out a feedback form for each scholar who visited their center. This feedback information is used for updating the JAINA guidelines. restructuring the scholars visitation program, and selecting scholars for the next year's programs.
Pratishtha Mahaotshav
It should be noted the JAINA took great pains and made tremendous effort in scheduling all the scholars visiting North America to help celebrate Pratishtha Mahaotshay at Siddhachalam. Scholars also took great pain to take time out of their busy schedule and
Excerpts from “Healing a Wounded World" by Joan Connell San Jose, Mercury News Religion & Ethics Editor July 13,1991
They consider themselves the world's first ecologists, the
Jain Education Intemational