Jain Digest 2000 03 Vol 16 No 1

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

Page 9

HEADQUARTERS NEWS....
PARLIAMENT OF THE WORLD'S RELIGIONS
JAIN PRATISHTHA MAHOTSAV Bharatiya Temple of Lansing
955 Haslett Road, Haslett, MI 48840 Phone: (517) 339-6337 http://www.nscl.msu.edu/-raman/btl
Jain Community of the Greater Lansing area and the Board of Trustees of Bharatiya Temple of Lansing are pleased to announce the Jain Pratishtha Mahotsav, May 26 - May 29, 2000. This most auspicious, festive, and once-in-a-lifetime event for our Jain Mandir will include a series of religious ceremonies (both Swetambar and Digambar), spiritual discourses, and cultural pro- grams including music recitals by internationally acclaimed artist Shri Purushottam Das Jalota. The deities in the temple are of Mahavir Bhagwan and Parshwanath Bhagwan. The main Pratishtha events will be on Saturday, May 27 and Sunday, May 28. The ceremonies will be performed with the blessings of Gurudev Shri Chitrabhanuji. Pradhana priest will be Shri Narendrabhai Nandu. Please support this auspicious celebration by making plans to attend it and by your generous sponsorship of various events.
For additional information, please contact any member of the Pratishtha Coordinating Group: Mahendra Jain (517-349-2867), Anil Jain (517-349-9153), Ramesh Dedhia (517-349-8213), Madan Lalwani (517-337-2086) or Navin Jain (517-347-4168).
SHREE BIDADA SARVODAYA TRUST 1.6 MILLIAON PATIENTS TREATED IN 26 YEARS
The Third Parliament of the World's Religions was held in Cape Town, South Africa from Dec. 1" to 8th, 1999. There can not be a better selection of site like Cape Town, a location where two oceans, the Atlantic, and Indian meet. A location, which has historical significance of uniting west and east since Vacso-DeGama in 1548, found the sea route to travel from Europe to India. While the world is becoming a global village, there cannot be a better choice than Cape Town where the process of globalization began, way back in the 15th century.
More than 3000 delegates from all over the world representing Christians, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim Bahai, Sikh, Zoroastrian and Jain religion attended the Parliament. There were 32 Jain delegates from all over the world including India, North America, U.K., and Kenya. The 'JAIN' delegation was coordinated by Nemu Chandaria of the 'Institute of Jainology', U.K. JAINA was represented by immediate past presidents, Dhiraj Shah, Manibhai Mehta, and Pravin and Aarati Shah of Raleigh, NC, Narendra Shah and Vijay Shah of Atlanta, GA, Savita Mehta of LA and C.A. Patel of Gaithersburg, MD.
Jain speakers included Dr. L.M. Singhvi, Dr. N.P. Jain, Mr. Niraj Jain, Sadhvi Shilapiji, Dr. Kumarpal Desai, Dr. Vinod Kapashi, Dr. Sohanlal Gandhi, and Mr.Pravin Shah. Gurudev Chicrabhanu's lecture was read by Dr. N.P. Jain in the absence of Gurudev, because of his health.
The conference covered a wide variety of subjects includino discussione on the environment, health, non-violence global understanding, earth charter, and different faith traditions.
The Parliament was held at very appropriate time when "Today there is a broad and deep movement towards openness, goodwill, and warm-hearted and loving engagement among religious and spiritual communities around the world. Sustained encounters between people of different religious, spiritual and cultural traditions have created heightened momentum towards actualizing our many visions of a better world as well as stronger possibilities for establishing ethical common ground. New awareness and shared ethical principles opens the way into a new era of creative engagement, where we find and implement new modes of outreach, cooperation, and constructive common action, not only among the world's religions but among all of the world's guiding institutions." (From Gifts of Service to the World).
The Parliament ended on positive note. Anglican Archbishop Ndungane called for a New World order that puts people ahead of profit.
The 26th Medical camp was organized from January 3 to 17, 2000 covering 18 medical specialties. 15,573 patients were treated, 2,314 patients went for special investigations or operations, 101 patients were referred to Mumbai for major surgeries. Trust extended the medical activity in Atmavallabh Hospital, Idar, Gujarat, and plan to continue every year.
Urologist Dr. Manibhai Mehta from CA inaugurated the camp and it was sponsored by Radiologist Dr. Naresh Shah from Wilkesbare, PA. 53 volunteers and donors from America participated in the camp including 9 doctors and 5 resident doctors.
England's Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Michael Bates inaugurated the cardiac and rheumatic heart camp, which was sponsored by Jain Center of Southern California and JAINA.
Highlight of the camp was a major surgery of a 7 year old Manjula for a 10 pound tumor in the abdomen. The girl was operated by Dr. Ila Meisheri, Dr. Rashik Shah, Asst. Dr. Bela Chheda (USA), and Team of Medical people.
Thank you for your kind support for the humanitarian activity and please plan to attend Medical Camp in January 2001, Village Bidada, Kutch, Gujarat, INDIA.
(Headquarters News Continued on Page 20)
JAIN DIGEST. SPRING 2000/7