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REGIONAL NEWS
CANADA
Mahindra Mehta Regional Editor
Edmonton, AL
The members were enriched by a discourse on Ahimsa by Vimal Muniji Sunday, June 23, 1996.
The multi-faith chapel at the Royal Alexandria Hospital in Edmonton now has a pratima of Lord Mahavir and two plaques one of Namokar Mantra and an other containing an outline of Jain philosophy. The members of Jain Sangh participated in an Interfaith Prayer Service on healing at the Chapel.
Montreal, QU
The Jain Society of Montreal celebrated Paryushan Parva with Pratikraman every evening. Mahavir Jayanti was celebrated with fourteen Swapnas and Snatra Pooja. There were many tapascharyas with one fast of 8 days and one of 9 days. The young Jains organized a conference on vegetarianism and invited Dr. Mehta, from India as their guest speaker.
A Panch Tirth Yatra was organized. Shree Amrendra Muniji visited Montreal for three days and gave many discourses. Snatra Pooja is performed regularly each month.
The president of Jain Sangh of Montreal expresses Michhami Dukkadhum to all Jains.
Acharyaji gave daily discourses on Gurudev Chitrabhanuji presided over many familiar topics in the morning, after- 18 Abhisek and the other ceremonies. noon and after the Pratikraman. Sadhviji Guruji's 75th birthday was also celebrated Subhamji took on the task of explaining after the ceremonies. He delivered a lecture each of the slokas of the ten chapters of on "Nav Tattva." Acharya Chandanaji visTattvarth Sutra. She impressed everyone ited the Sanatan Mandir and gave a talk on with her gift of Sattavadhani Labdhi, re- peaceful coexistence. membering a hundred questions from the The Indo-Canadian Chamber of Comaudience and answering each of them at merce has announced Keshav Chandaria random correctly to the satisfaction of ev- the recipient of their Humanitarian Award eryone. Sadhviji Vibhaji excelled Bhakta- for 1996. Mr. Chandaria is an Internamar Stotra, answering questions in small tional Rotarian, Founder of Air India Digroups and enchanted the audience with saster Fund and several other Canadian her beautiful singing voice. Our center was and International charities and is a Trustee humming with activity from 7:30 A.M. to of Toronto Jain Society. 10:00 P.M.. We hope the dedication and Ajit Jain, Associate Editor of India devotion will continue.
Abroad, and member of Toronto Jain SoDhirajlal Mehta was in Toronto from ciety was awarded the President's Award by August 21-28, 1996 giving a series of lec- Indo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce tures on Tattvarth Sutra. Sagarmal Jain recognizing his twenty years of service to from Benares Hindu University came at Indo-Canadian community. the beginning of Daslakshan and spoke His Excellency, Dr. L. M. Singhvi, each day, on one of 10 Lakshans of the India's High Commissioner to the United Sravak. Dr. Jain is fluent in Sanskrit, Hindi Kingdom was in Calgary, AB to receive the and English. This made it very easy for Rotary Peace Award in presence of some everyone to understand.
30,000 Rotarians. He is the first Indian Acharyaji Chandanaji explained her and Jain to be honored in this way. life's work at Veerayatan in Bihar, India Dr. Singhvi who is an eminent Jain through pictures, videos and talks. The scholar, jurist and constitutional lawyer, members of Toronto Jain Sangh contrib- was in Toronto to present a bronze bust of uted over $40,000 in three days. Partial Mahatma Gandhi to Roy McMurty, Chief funds were used to ship two containers of Justice of Ontario on June 27, 1996. The hospital equipment to India which was bust will be permanently placed at the donated by the Canadian Foundation for High Court. World Development and worth over Prakash Mody was awarded the Vol$200,000. It is appropriate here to men- unteer Service Award of the Government tion, in true spirit of Paryushan, that the of Ontario for his work with the Ontario Gathani family of Toronto donated a full Multifaith Council and Interfaith Comcontainer of grain to Veerayatan with a mittee on Chaplaincy. promise of similar donations in the future. The Society was unanimously admit
The 1996 Arhum Yoga Retreat wasted as a member of the Interfaith Commitwell attended at Lorretto Centre in Niagara tee on Chaplaincy at its recent annual Falls, Ontario in June, 1996. The faculty general meeting included P. S. Jaini from California, John The I.M.J.M. of Canada celebrated Mosher, Shanti Parekh and Dinesh Parekh. the birthday of Acharya Sushil Kumarji on
The Sanatan Mandir was opened in June 8, 1996. The birthday was celebrated Toronto just before Paryushan and many at the University of Toronto with a lecture Jains from Metro-Toronto contributed to by Ellen Goldberg followed by devotional the financial success of this project. Among music by Vinodbhai Patel. the many Hindu deities, there is a beautiful As part of the Scarborough Bicentenpratima of Lord Mahavir.
nial there was Multifaith Celebration that JAIN DIGEST
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Toronto, ON
The Toronto Jain Sangh celebrated Paryushan Parva with great devotion and tapascharyas. The Executive Committee is to be congratulated for organizing the most auspicious occasion of Jain calendar extremely well. We were very fortunate to have celebrated the eight days in the presence of Acharya Chandanaji, Sadhvijis Vibhaji and Subhamji and Mangalam.
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