________________
News and Announcements
Visiting scholars and religious leaders
Dr. Mukund V. Soneji will be in the United States visiting different Jain Centers from July 29 thru September 7, 1993. If you are interested in inviting Dr. Soneji or would like information concerning his schedule, please contact Praful Lakhani, 30 Balsam Drive, Dix Hills, NJ 11746, or phone (516) 423-9647.
Shri Dhirajlal Panditji will also be visiting the U.S. this summer. If you are interested in inviting him to your Center, or if you would like information concerning his schedule, please contact Pravin Shah at (919) 469-0956.
Birth anniversary of Shrimad Rajchandra by B.P. Shah
More than 300 devotees became a part of the unique historic event when Members of India House of Worship (IHOW) and the Jain Society of Metropolitan Wahington got together on Mothers Day, May 9, to celebrate the 125th Birth Anniversary of Shrimad Rajchandra, one of the Gurus of Mahatma Gandhi. A tribute to mothers was paid with the singing of songs.
Dr. Upendra Desai presented a 60-page book containing the famous poem ATMA SIDDHI SHASTRA, written by Shrimad Rajchandra, along with its interpretation and several informative articles on the life of Shrimad, all in Gujarati. The book was distributed to all who attended the program. India House of Worship was able to make the reprint of the book. Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Ajit Shah, Darshan Jain, and Shrimati Kusum Patel. For your copy at a cost of $5 (to
Jain Education International
Jain Digest
cover the cost of postage and handling), please write to IHOW at 1428 Chilton Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20904, or FAX your request to IHOW at (301) 585-7937.
A variety of instrumental musical accompaniment was provided by Ramesh Majethia, Bhanukant Vaidya, Chandrakant Mehta, Jadavaji Gangar, and Dilip Zaveri. The entire program was narrated and interpreted by Niyati and Pranav Pandya. Himmat Desai managed the video production. The afternoon event was produced and organized by Rajnikant Gosalia with the assistance of several people including Dr. Manoj Dharamsi, Ila Desai, Nayan Pandya, Moti Patel, Jyoti and Kanu Doshi, Kamlesh Shah, and Meeta and Kanti Gangar.
Mithiben Shah concluded with Kshamapana Paath and Dr. Upendra Desai offered his thoughts on the inspiration of Shriamad's ideas on Gandhiji's philosophy.
1993 Parliament of World Religion
by Ramesh T. Solanki, Wheaton, Illinois
"100 years ago, Chicago brought the people of the world together. There is no better time than now for this to happen again." This is the theme developed by the 1993 Program Committee of the Parlia
ment.
The 1993 Parliament of the World Religions conference will be held in Chicago from August 28 - September 5, 1993.
The 1893 Parliament's theme was "The Vision," and the 1993 Parliament is considered as "The Promise" for the future. The Promise is to focus on the critical issues facing humankind: a) Non-violence and Peace, b) The Earth, c) Social and Economic Justice, d) The Human Community, e) Science and Technology, f) Power, Politics, and Liberation, and g) The Next Generation.
2
For Private & Personal Use Only
The Jains have been in the forefront to address these critical issues and they will be discussed and presented at this Parliament.
The 1993 Parliament will also feature workshops, lectures, discussions, and performances on a wide variety of themes. The highlight of this Parliament will be the presentation of the several plenary sessions. The plenary sessions can best be described as theater. Their purpose is to inspire, inform, challenge and to entertain. The following 12 plenary sessions are planned: (1) Opening Plenary, (2) Interfaith Understanding, (3) What shall we do?, (4) Common meal- A Call to Action, (5) Visions of Paradise and Possibility, (6) Voices of the Dispossessed, (7) Voices of Spirit and Traditions, (8) From Vision to Action, (9) The Inner Life, (10) The Inner Life and Life in the Community, (11) The Next Generation, and (12) Closing Plenary.
Several Jain delegates, scholars and philosophers will be attending and addressing this Parliament. The highlights of the Jain participation include Major Presentations and Workshops; Models of Jain Temple;Statue of Virchand Gandhi; Video, Audio and Slide presentation of Jain Architecture; Jain Agams and Manuscripts; and Translation of Jain Scriptures "Tattvaratha Sutra."
This gathering of distinguished Jains will be unique and historical in Chicago. This will be a once-in-alifetime opportunity to attend the event.
All are welcome to gather and participate.
For registration and additional information, please contact Council for Parliament of World Religions in Chicago at (312) 629-2990. See also Jain Digest, April 1993 issue, pages eight and ten.
Live and let live
www.jainelibrary.org
