Jain Journal 1981 07

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 33

JAIN CENTER, LEICESTER
Paryusana in Leicester, 1980
Paryusana can be literally translated as "coming together from all directions". This meaning is a rich symbol for the soul's transformation: the purpose of this life according to Jain teaching is to experience wholeness, peace, and reverence for life. That is the way to realize one's Self. There are two aspects-becoming complete, perfect within oneself as the Siddhas have done, and feeling communion and unity with all other life, whether it be in vegetable, animal, human, or deva form. These are like two sides of a coin; they can never really be separate. We can talk about them separately, but the experience is of oneness with life, the essence, the soul.
R. KLEIFGEN
This year Paryuşaṇa at the Jain Centre in Leicester, England was indeed a coming together from all directions, as people arrived from all parts of the world. Gurudeva Shree Chitrabhanu, who led the ceremonies, is a universal traveller, a man with no home. A native of India, he now dwells in New York City and travels around the world spreading the message of Bhagvan Mahavira and ahimsa. He brought with him. his wife and devotee, Pramodabhen, and three American students who taught meditation, yoga, and lead musical programmes. Others arrived from France and Bombay during the week; and one seeker came all the way from Sao Paulo, Brazil to meet Gurudeva Chitrabhanu and be in his presence. As the Jain community of Leicester is composed largely of Indian people who first migrated to East Africa before coming to England, five continents were represented in the large crowds that met each evening during these days of forgiveness.
At first it might seem surprising to think of a Jain holy week being celebrated in Leicester, an industrial city located about one hundred miles north-west of London. But the city's population of 300,000 is about twenty percent Indian in origin, and the Leicester Jain Samaj is a thriving and devoted community. Dr. Natubhai Shah, a prominent physician, is the current President, and he is joined in leadership by many