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GLOBAL NEWS
DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARS PRESENT JAINISM
AT WORLD SANSKRIT CONFERENCE Dr Nalini Balbir reports on the important contribution made by renowned scholars of
Jainism at the 12th World Sanskrit Conference in Helsinki, Finland
N U RING A WEEK IN JULY
2003, the northern light of the
beautiful Finnish capital of Helsinki saw a gathering of some 250 scholars from all over the world to participate in the 12th World Sanskrit Conference, organised by a team of Finnish Indologists under the guidance of Prof. Asko Parpola and Dr. Petteri Koskikallio. Of the 14 conference sections, one was specifically devoted to Jain Studies. Its organisation had been entrusted to Prof. Mrs. Colette Caillat and Dr. Nalini Balbir. Colette Caillat has been trained in classical philology and comparative linguistics, in Pali, Prakrit, Apabhramsha as well as in Theravada Buddhism and in Jain literatures, which she studied under Walther Schubring, A.N. Upadhye and D.D. Malvania. She taught at the University of Paris for some 25 years. Among her most important publications are Atonements in the Ancient Ritual of the Jaina Monks (Ahmedabad, 1975, L.D. Series 49), a booklet entitled Jainism in collaboration with A.N. Upadhye and Bal Patil (Delhi, 1974; new edition with an
updated bibliography in progress), and Jain Cosmology in collaboration with Ravi Kumar (new edition in progress).
Twenty years ago, at a time when gatherings of Jain scholars were not a regular part of academic life outside India, she had organised an International Symposium on Jaina Canonical and Narrative Literature (Strasbourg, 1981; Proceedings published in Indologica Taurinensia 1983) where leading scholars from Europe and India had participated with enthusiasm (among others the late N. Tatia, D.D. Malvania, C.B. Tripathi). The section on Jain Studies held in Helsinki showed how this field of research has progressed over the past twenty years, how the focus of interest has changed to some extent and how new persons have come up. The fact that the section was inserted in the frame of a Sanskrit conference partly explains that most papers were devoted to textual studies, rather than to anthropology or sociology of Jainism. Canonical literature was the focus of papers presented by Colette Caillat (the composition of the Maranasamadhi, a
text relating to sallekhana); Kristi Wiley (Karma literature of the Shvetambaras and the Digambaras); Jagat Ram Bhattacharya from the Vishva Bharati, Ladnun (on women); Sucitra Ray Acharya (agronomy); Nanda Lal Jain (anekantvada) and Sin Fujinaga (dharma and adharma). The aims of specific narrative works in Prakrit, Apabhramsha or Sanskrit and the connection between stories and doctrine were considered by Paul Dundas, E. de Clercq and H.P. Devaki, while J.P. Osier, S.C. Goswami and John Cort reflected on the ways and expressions of mysticism. Finally, Peter Flügel discussed the emergence and the history of the Lonkagaccha, Nalini Balbir analysed some modern autobiographies by Jain monks and nuns, and O. Qvarnström showed how the Jains responded to some Hindu thinkers in the debate about omniscience during the Medieval period.
The Conference proceedings will be published in the near future by Delhi-based publisher Motilal Banarsidass.
SILICON VALLEY EXECUTIVE
EXPOUNDS BUSINESS ETHICS Eminent Silicon Valley executive Dr. of every Jain to leave Jainism in Parveen Jain explained how Jain values their will - to leave something of their have enhanced his business success culture behind for the future and raised the quality of his life and generation. Lasting success in business achievements to an audience of young is primarily because of our values and Jains during his recent visit to the UK. we should live by them and encourage Dr. Jain is past-president of the Jain others to do so too. A leader is most Center of Northern California and was successful when he is invisible, in charge of the project to build their explained Dr. Jain, during his business pioneering $6m temple in Milpitas. He ethics talk, which was co-organised by emphasised that it is the responsibility Young Jains UK and Jain Spirit.
Dr. Parveen Jain
December 2003 - February 2004
Jain Spirit
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