Jain Digest 1998 04

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

Page 10

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
AFFILIATE NEWS
Jain Monk on Record Year Long Fast
Sri Sahaj Muniji Maharaj, a 65-year-old Jain muni, who was fasting for world peace since May 1997, broke his fast here on May 1, 1998. The muni weighed 42.5 kilograms (about 94 pounds) at the end of his year-long fast when he subsisted on little more than a glass of water a day for 365 days. He lost 88 pounds during his fast. He broke his fast by drinking little milk mixed with cloves, saffron and some Ayurvedic herbs. Over 20,000 people assembled outside his residence at Ganesh Bagh, to seek his blessings. However, the muni broke his fast in solitude, without even his guru or fellow monks.
The muni said: There are many tapasvis who can fast longer than me. When you are concentrating on your fast, nothing else matters. I feel strong because of the purification induced by the penance. Sri Sahaj Muniji, who was born into an Agarwal Vaishnav
wal Vaishnav family of Punjab on November 18, 1933 was ordained a monk in 1953. He has been fasting on and off since 1964, each time extending his endurance limits. This was the longest period he has fasted. The day he broke his fast over 100,000 devotees observed a day's fast all over the country.
Gurudev Chitrabhanuji's Itinerary JULY 2-4 Houston YJA Convention Rajesh Dharamshi
281/970-4791 Neela Gada
713/662-2857 Detroit, MI Pratistha Praful Shah
248/851-1978 Whitmore Lake, MI Light House Center Chetna/Cathy Florida
313/449-2101 11
Johnstown, PA Vegetarian Convention, NAVS Brian Graff
518/568-7970 Pittsburgh, PA Jain Center Dr.Surendra Sethi
412/283-8822 Vinod/Indu Doshi
412/856-9235
AUGUST
Middletown, CT Jain Center of Greater Hartford Dr. Faquir Jain
860/487-0607 Dr. Padam Jain
203/561-0893 Devesh / Kajal Jain
860/675-8509 19-27 PARYUSHANA, Festival of Forgiveness
Jain Center of Southern California Kantilal Shah
714/831-8687 Kalpana/Prakash Shah
562/693-5965
Veerayan Celebrates Silver Jubilee
Veerayatan Celebrates Silver Jubilee on October 3rd, 4th and 5th, 1998. This occasion will be graced by the Chief Minister of Bihar, Prime Minister of India, President of JAINA and many dignitaries from all over the world. (For more details, see page 22.)
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER S
Please call the Jain Meditation International Center at 212/ 362-6483.
Requests for Gurudev's visits in 1999 must be received by January 25, 1999.
Bhagwan Vardhaman
Global Educational Fund In celebration of Gurudev Shree Chitrabhanuji's 75th birthday, Bhagwan Vardhaman Global Educational Fund has been established. The primary objective of this fund is to assist Jains in becoming Jain teachers for the 21st century, under the guidance of Gurudev Shree Chitrabhanuji. Please send in your generous donations for this noble cause to:
Kamlesh Shah, 11409 Berland Place
Germantown, MD 20876 For additional information, please contact: Kamlesh Shah
301/353-0481 Dr. Manibhai Mehta 714/898-3156 Dr. Dhiraj Shah 716/775-0268
Gurudev Chitrabhanuji received the Courage of Conscious Award from Peace Abbey in Sherborn, MA. Directors Lewis and Meg Randa presented the award on September 21, 1997. The Jain Center of Greater Boston had nominated Gurudev for the award.
8/JAIN DIGEST SUMMER 1998
Jain Education Intemational