Jain Digest 1997 06 Vol 13 No 02

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

Page 19

T
he 9th Biennial JAINA Convention was held in Toronto, Canada on July 4-6, 1997, and on all accounts was a roaring success, with attendance exceeding over 7,000. The International Plaza Hotel and Toronto Congress Centre, the venue of convention hummed with people throughout the day and night. All 400 rooms in this hotel and other neighbouring hotels were full. Although over 1100 families were pre-registered, the registration desk could hardly keep up with the flood of people coming in from all parts of North America for on-site registration. Almost 50% of the delegates had arrived by Thursday night in order not to miss any part of the activities on Friday, the first day of the Convention.
Each day, there were pratikramans in Hindi, Gujarati and English and Yoga and meditation starting at 6:30 in the morning under the guidance of Munijis, Samanjis & Panditjis. Following breakfast, lectures, workshops, seminars, discussions, presentations, questions and answers, exhibitions and auctions commenced at 9AM. There were over 60 speakers who spoke within their alloted time and 30+ moderators, well versed in their task did a wonderful job of running the three day programme of 80+ lectures etc. smoothly and efficiently.
The opening ceremony was very impressive part of programming. The stage and the podium were art-fully decorated with shrubs, vines, branches, leaves and flowers. The procession of the dignitaries was led by two lovely dancing young Jains to the tune of sitar, tabla, dholak and other instruments. The dignitaries included amongst others, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Her Honourable Hillary M. Weston; Minister of Culture, Madam Marilyn Mushinski; the Chief Justice of Ontario, Honourable Roy McMurtry; High Commissioner of India in the UK, Dr. L. M. Singhvi, who was also the keynote speaker; Rajiv Bhatia, Counsul General of India; and Terry Curran, Counsul General of U. K. Gurudev Chitrabhanu, Acharya Chandanaji, Jinchandraji Maharaj, Bhattarak Charukirtiji and Amrendramuni led the overall spiritual message to the delegates.
The national anthems of Canada and India were sung by a talented young lady followed by Namokar Mantra set to a dance choreographed specially for the occasion. Acharya Chandanaji recited the Manglacharan and Guruji Chitrabhanu blessed the Convention. The Lieutenant Governor welcomed all our guests and showed how well versed she was with Jain scriptures by mentioning and quoting from Tattvarth Sutra. This gesture captured the hearts of many in the audience and the keynote speaker, Dr. Singhvi, felt fit to mention it in his speech. Various other dignitaries gave welcoming words and praised the organisation of the Convention.
Dr. Singhvi's keynote speech was the centre piece of the morning's deliberations. In his 25 minute delivery, he talked about Jain identity which is social, religious and cultural and cuts across linguistic, ethnic, regional, economical and political differences. He talked about the art of inter-generational covenant
which enables present generation of Jains to pass on the tradition that they have inherited. He counseled us in North America to exorcise the ghosts of divisiveness of firquas. He urged us to build SETU-INDIA, a network of bridges between people living in India (Bharatvasi), people of Indian origin everywhere (Bharatvanshi) and friends of India in all countries of the world.
Dr. Singhvi offered many ideas for the future. He said Jains should create and strenghten:
an effective Global Network of co-operating, collaborating and constantly communicating with Jain organisations
> Global Awareness Programme to foster wider understanding of Jain history, traditions, principles and their contemporary relevance today
Eminent Exponents of Jainism should be invited to lecture at Universities, civic communities and other venues
> An Intercontinental Jain Youth Exchange Programme > Establish University Chairs in Jainology and Indian Cultural Heritage
> Encourage Jain Youth Camps
> Establish Jainism in curriculam of schools and universities > Organise Essay Competetitions on Jain themes
> Establish an Ahimsa Global Gold Medallion or similar substantial Award to raise profile of Jains and Jainism
Make an Annual Jain Sangh from North America to Jain pilgrimage centres in India thus reviving an old Jain tradition > Sponsor specific Ecology Programmes. First and foremost we should undertake the Promotion of Vegetarianism with Jain philosophy and ethics in focus. It should be our priority to reclaim and reconvert our fellow jains in particular and others in larger Hindu fold, who have lost their vegetarian life style.
> Consider creating Order of Lay Preachers who can travel, preach, maintain temples and perform ceremonies and rituals
> Create Order of Novitiate Monk and Nuns who may be ordained for overseas work for a limited period within the discipline of the Jain Order.
The dignitaries were then led to inspect the exhibition room with 35 Jain quilts and Jain artefacts. The quilts showed powerful synthesis of North American quilting art with Jain tradition of religious art. The quilts were labour of love from individuals as young as 6 years and as old as 76. All quilts were auctioned off with silent bids at the close of the Convention.
The Jain temple at the Convention was beautifully constructed in the terrace room. The ambiance of the temple created an inner feeling of piety and peace. There were fourteen dreams on the walls and life size mannequin of dreaming Trishla in artfully decorated palatial bedroom of the future mother of 24th Tirthankar.
For over 6,000 delegates by Friday and another 1000+ on Saturday, the daytime was occupied with listening to Sadhujis, Sadhvijis, Scholars and specialists in different fields of endeavour, visiting various booths and exhibition, socialising and of course eating sumptuous meals across the road in Toronto
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 9th BIENNIAL CONVENTION
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