Jain Digest 2005 01

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

Page 34

JAINA CONVENTION 2005 HIGHLIGHTS
JAISO
2005
π Extending Jain Heritage in Western Environment
Registration for JAINA Convention 2005 is moving at a record pace. Over 2,000 people have already registered, and if you have not yet registered you must do so. The 13th Biennial Jaina Convention is being held in beautiful San Francisco Bay Area. The convention program is uniquely structured to attract people of all ages and of all interests comprising of religious, social, cultural, lifestyle and professional. Please register now at http://secure.jaina.org.
The JAINA convention theme is "Extending Jain Heritage in Western Environment". The entire program is structured to facilitate discussions, brainstorming and implementation of ways to preserve and propagate the great Jain values to help Jain community flourish in North America. This will include speeches by prominent Jain scholars and experts, discourses by monks and nuns, workshops and seminars by experts and academicians, symposium by researchers, classes and workshops by teachers, worships ceremonies at the temples, and yoga and meditation classes by experts.
The JAINA Convention 2005 will feature keynote speeches by world-renowned and eminent dignitaries, and major speeches by religious figures such as Gurudev Chitrabhau and Acharya Chandna Ji. In a unique format the Opening Ceremony will feature three keynote speeches on three subjects important to the convention theme, "Extending Jain Heritage to Western Environment", namely, (1) Jainism in contemporary times, (2) Jain values in public life and government, and (3) Jainism and it's contributions to Inter-faith harmony with world religions. The three prominent speakers will be:
Dr. L. M. Singhvi, An eminent Jain Scholar, ex Ambassador of India to UK, Chair of Committee on Indian Diaspora..
Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, perhaps the only vegan in the US congress, and 2004 presidential candidate, (bio at www.kucinich.us)
Rev. Dr. William Lesher, Chairman of Board of Trustees of Parliament of World Religions.
Experience Jainism through professional conference style parallel track programs, being done for the first time in a JAINA Convention. This will include:
About 70 hours of discourses on pre-defined subjects and topics in Gujrati, Hindi and English.
About 10 hours of a Condensed Course on Fundamentals of Jainism
About 10 hours of lectures and discussions on advanced religious topics
About 10 hours of lectures and discussions on Tattvartha Sutra
About 10 hours of lectures and discussions on Atmasidhhi
About 20 hours of lectures and hands-on workshops on Jain rites and rituals for worshipping and meditation About 20 hours of Pujas at Jain Bhawan and at temporary temple being erected on the Convention site
About 10 parallel sessions every morning on Preksha dhhyan, other forms of meditation, yoga, pratikraman, mantra and stotra chanting and other activities for mind, body and soul.
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