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JAIN DIGEST• Winter 2007
कौesha
avail every opportunity. I am suggesting a four step approach media. JAINA had well attended exhibition booth in Barcelona below.
Parliament; and a booth and Dharma Music Concert in
Montreal Global Congress. Developing connections and inThe first step is to educate ourselves with a goal to make Jainism
person approach is essential to get attention of religious leaders. synonymous with Ahimsa something like Enlightenment is to The International summer School for Jain Studies sponsored Buddhism. Ahimsa is the key strength of Jain philosophy as by the Mahavir Mission is a great effort for developing this attitude does not justify violence in any circumstances.
educators. As a result, tolerance is our binding spirit. The human values that promote mutual respect, forgiveness, compassion, justice. The fourth step is training. Our initial goal should be to peace, liberation and freedom will help us become credibly organize/streamline interfaith activities already taking place at visible. We should also review other websites with Jain material, many Jain centers and then build upon it. With this objective, for example, www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/jainism. You JAINA has organized a two and one half hour Symposium on may be surprised by the simplicity and the flow of material. Communicating Jainism on the main floor of the upcoming
2007 July JAINA convention for preparing the Jain community The second step is to prepare the presentation material with a and vouth for representing Jainism in this multicultural society. goal to present Jain philosophy in simple language giving It will include three sessions: Overview of Jain Philosophy a examples and relevance in modern life. For example, I explain refresher course: the IAINA Experience examples of Ahimsa as Avoidance of Harm Intended by Mind, Speech and
representations and communications; and an Open Forum for Action. Similarly, I explain a Jain's conduct in daily life as Just,
questions and answers by a panel of members with significant Amiable, Inclusive and Nonviolent. JAINA has prepared a
interfaith involvement. Flyers and booklets will also be made series of posters with such messages as well as flyers and booklets
available in the Exhibition. that have been distributed in the international forums. The material should also avoid certain undesirable words such as
(Naresh Jain is JAINA Interfaith Co-chair. He also serves as Vice-President in International Jain Sangh and on the Board of Trustees of the Council for a Parliament of World's Religions, Chicago. E-mail: njain 52253@aol.com)
Interfaith programs at Various Jain Centers:
Jain Center of Greater Phoenix:
bi
Naresh Jain presenting JAINA book, 'Essence of World's Religions' to Patriarch Bartholomeos
Interfaith organization of AZ. We attend their major events throughout the year by invitation. We also invites their representatives to attend our major events such as Mahavir Jayanti celebration etc. Piyush Shah is JOGP lead and rep to Interfaith org in AZ. Jain Society of Rochester, NY A 42 slide power point presentation on JAINISM was made by Anop Vora at the Baha'i Center in Rochester. The attendees were delighted with the information they received. After the presentation to the Baha'i community their leaders approached and asked if the Jain Society of Rochester (JSR) would be willing to join hands with them to develop a course on Anger and Forgiveness for the local community. They felt that this course was needed badly especially for the people living in downtown Rochester where crime rate is very high. JSR is in the process of establishing such a program.
promote Jainism as it has missionary connotation. Conclusive words such as only, best, singled out, etc., also do not support the teaching of Anckaant or inclusiveness. The third step is to deliver the message. The collective behavior gets built upon the individual attitudes. At individual and local levels, one-to-one dialogues, share-a meal, be a good neighbor and local volunteering are quite effective. Ishtaar dinners are becoming popular. So can be Diwali dinners to share Jainism. Beyond local level, participation can be in the form of an exhibition, artistic performance, participation in
nce, participation in interfaith programs, lectures and communication with the
ERLARA
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