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FROM THE EDITOR IN CHIEF
Jai Jinendra!
Jain Centres of North America are bursting with religious activities. We are building centres everywhere, religious camps, JAINA convention, YJA convention and other regional conven- tions, pathshalas are opening in many cities. Numerous scholars, monks and preachers are visiting centres all over North America. All this to enhance our spiritual life to guide us in inching towards moksha. Where do we really stand after all these pious activities?
The word "Recognition" creates such an uproar in us that we forget right or wrong, fair or unfair, true or untrue, necessary or unnecessary, meaningful or meaningless; we simply long for it. We love to bask in the glory of momentary recognition, and we get upset when someone else gets recognition instead of us (no matter how deserving the person is) not to speak of many deserving individuals simply left out due to petty politics of those in power. Let's leave our egos behind in all of our community endeavors.
Lata Champsee
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE (continued)
over 100 youths. The ground breaking ceremony for the Jain temple in North California also takes place. JAINA extends its full cooperation and support.
December 1997
JAINA organizes an essay competition for youths and adults. JAINA launches a new website, www.jaina.org. I meet the leaders of 29 European Jain organizations in London and speak to them about JAINA and its activities. I visit the Leister, UK, temple and meet the leaders of the Jain Samaj of Europe. Dr. L.M. Singvi, India's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, invites me to dinner for a discussion on common issues of concern.
briefed him about the activities of JAINA. I am interviewed by The Statesmen and The Times of India. Both interviews added to JAINA's visibility and name recognition. Dr. Manibhai Mehta, the past President of JAINA, led Jain doctors and volunteers to the Bidada Medical Camp, where we work until the 18th of January. JAINA makes donations for a Bhuj blood bank, and I was fortunate enough to perform the ground breaking ceremony for the blood bank.
On January 21st, I meet His Excellency the Dalai Lama in Bombay and had a brief discussion with him related to the increasing cooperation between Jains and Buddhists. After this meeting, I proceed to Veerayatan and inaugurate the children's cataract camp. There, I address a gathering of 2,000 people and inform them about JAINA and its activities. From there, I go for a pilgrimage to Samat Shikhar in order to help prepare for the Jain Sangh to be taken there in October. In the last few days of January, I visit Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharm and Dr. R. Venkataraman, both past presidents of India. I brief them on JAINA and its activities.
January 1998
A press conference is held at the Chelmsfor Club in Delhi, which is attended by all the major news organizations in India. It lasts for over 2 hours. The press is briefed about JAINA and its activities and JAINA gets an enormous amount of publicity through at least 100 newspapers. My appeal of unity to all Jains on the Samat Sikhar issue and JAINA's consideration of a Mahavir Ahimsa Award, equivalent to the Nobel Peace Prize, were headlines in the newspapers.
I meet the US Ambassador to India, Richard Celeste, and
February 1998
I went to the 'Nokha' site of the annual gathering of Terapanthi and address a large gathering about the activities of JAINA. I met Acharya Maha Pragya, head of Terapanthi, and briefed him about the activities of JAINA. Then, I visit Ahmedabad. There, I meet Jain leaders and address a large gathering at the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce. Afterwards, I visit 1,500 orphans, victims of the Latur earthquake, in Pune.
Meet the new committee chairperson
Mahavir Memorial
Mund Dharansi
Continued on page 4
JAIN DIGEST SUMMER 1999/3
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