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JAIN DIGEST
FALL 2000 VOL 16 NO. 3 CIRCULATION: 7500
In this issue
Meet the trustees..................3... Letter to the Editor
Headquarter News...................
Jaina Yatra 2001
San Jose Pratishtha................
Regional News
Acharya Kundkund
Visit to British Library.
Divine Light of Mantra...... Committee News.......... 18 Affiliate News.......
Book Review.
Life Members Update. Financial Statement.........
MIS Registration Form
Matrimonials
Convention MIS forms
Convention Registration Form
International News 20
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Young Minds Young Jain Professional...... 32 11th JAINA convention 33
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Dear Sahdharmic Brothers and Sisters:
Jai Jinendra! Recently we celebrated the Mahaparva of Paryushana and Das Laxan and I would like to seek for your forgiveness on behalf of entire JAINA organization for any transgressions that might have been caused by any of us...Micchami Dukkadam!
This summer we celebrated an event that the Chairman of the Jain Center of Northern California appropriately called "the most auspicious event of our life." We should all be aware that the approach of the Californian organization was to maintain unity and openness in all their activities, while being respectful of our diverse traditions. This was the key to the success of such a large project. I am confident that we will all continue to follow this JAINA tradition.
During this summer when I was in India, I attended several meetings of the International Mahavir Memorial Committee (IMMC). The purpose of IMMC is to plan the celebrations commemorating the 2600th Janma Kalyanak of Bhagwan Mahavir. It was distressing to discern that the representatives of all Jain traditions were very much concerned about the deteriorating status of the Jain community in India at social as well as governmental levels. They seemed to attribute it to the disunity among Jains in India. At the same time, we can be proud of the fact that Jains all over the world are looking towards JAINA and the Jains of North America in our experiment of "Unity amongst Diversity". This shows that we are still the best example of Jain unity in the Jain world today. Some of our Jain Centers are involved in expansion or building new organization or temple and we have to be very concerned and vigilant about maintaining our precious unity. I appeal to all involved in planning new temples and other such activities, and request to all religious leaders and scholars visiting from India to help us in preserving our fragile unity. We should be well aware that if we loose this unity, then whatever we may be left with will not be acceptable to our young generation.
The Board of Directors of JAINA held its meeting at the newly inaugurated Jain Bhawan in Milpitas, CA. on August 5th, 2000. Among other things, we agreed to expand the existing Education Committee, into four separate committees, namely JAINA Publication Committee, JAINA Education Committee, JAINA Library Committee, and JAINA Web Site Committee. I am very hopeful that these committees will soon take charge and increase our educational activities.
Last month, I attended the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders at the United Nations in New York. All attendees strongly felt that this was the time to sit together with respect and tolerance for each other, and work for world peace, environmental preservation and poverty elimination. Among the Jain representatives were Acharya Chandanaji, Muni Roopchandji, Muni Ahmendraji, Bhattark Davendra Keertiji, Br. Ravindraji, Mrs. Indu Jain and Mr. L.M. Singhvi. A meeting in honor of Mrs. Induben Jain, Chairwoman of the Times of India Group and the Working Chairperson of the International Mahavir Memorial Committee was organized by Mr. Arvind Vora of Multi Faith Forum of Long Island, New York. There was a lively exchange of ideas on need for JAINA and Jains in North America to become actively involved in interaction with other faiths.
I want to congratulate our YJA and YJP Committees for holding successful convention and gettogether this summer. Their determination to maintain the Jain heritage and to practice Jainism in their daily personal as well as professional life was very evident in all of their programming and activities. Jains in North America also celebrated Srimad Rajchandra Deh Vilaya Centennial and 111th Janma Jayanti of Sri Kanji Swami with major emphasis on the Adhyatmic aspect of Jainism.
I invite all Jain Centers and Jains of North America to plan with JAINA to celebrate the biggest international event of our life, the 2600th Janma Kalyanak of Bhagwan Mahavir that will start on April 6, 2001.
The JAINA Convention Board is working very diligently in planning the 2001 JAINA Convention to make this convention very educational and enjoyable event. Please register early and donate generously for its various activities.
Orlandys
Mahendra K. Pandya, President, JAINA
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