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SPECIAL REPORT
THE WEST IS THE BEST
JAINA 2005 IN SAN FRANCISCO RAISES THE BAR'
Rupal Shah, JAINA Media Relations, reports on the Biennial Convention last July
The 13th JAINA Convention, held 1-4 July at the Santa Clara Convention Center brought together a host of Jain religious leaders, scholars, followers and dignitaries for a comprehensive fourday convention focusing on the theme "Extending the Jain Heritage in the Western Environment". The reach of this year's convention was impressive, with more than 70 speakers for a total audience of approximately 3,500 people.
Jain religion dates go back some 2,600+ years, and over the years varying traditions have entered the religious cannon, making it a diverse and unique heritage. Now, as the North American Jain organisation, JAINA, faces the 21st century, some key questions arise about its future and living a Jain way of life in the west. This convention aimed to address some of those questions and pose JAINA as leader in the growth and acceptance of Jainism in North America.
The convention line-up was varied and included some 250 sessions, entertainment and cultural programmes, an ahimsa symposium, as well as special Jain cooking seminars and demonstrations featuring the renowned vegetarian chef, Tarla Dalal.
"This convention has been different from others," said convention convener and new president-elect of JAINA, Kirit Daftary. "We had a multiple level of courses offered in the same convention, from beginners to advanced level that were offered in Gujarati, English and Hindi," he added. Many of the sessions addressed questions around everyday life as a Jain, and balancing life between home and work. Specific religious sessions included information for everyone from the beginner to the more devout follower, and included parallel sessions on spiritual exercises such as yoga, meditations, sun gazing, chanting, sutra recitals, Preksha Dhyan, and Pratikraman. Session topics also covered health, education, women's issues, senior citizens' issues and raising children in a Jain environment.
The convention's informative and thought-provoking sessions were rounded out by entertaining and fun events, such as a raas garba, a cultural competition and a musical performance by Anuradha Paudwal and Manhar Udhas. An art exhibit featured works by Jain artists, and a mela featured
Jair Education inte
booths on Vastu Shastra, acupressure, colour therapy, rangoli, mehndi, and Prannic healing, to name only a few.
Speakers at the convention included religious and Jain scholars and monks, academicians, scientists, health professionals and artists from both India and the west. A special symposium, "Ahimsa and Aparigraha in Contemporary Contexts" was organised by the Ahimsa Center at the California Polytechnic University, Pomona, and focused on spreading the word of ahimsa at colleges, universities and at school level. Understanding the principles of ahimsa can lead to solving major problems of the world.
Spreading unity in the world
"AHIMSA IS THE BEST MESSAGE WE CAN GIVE TO THE WORLD."
KIRIT DAFTARY'S
related to regions OPENING SPEECH
in conflict. Different sects of Jainism came together at this year's convention to take a pledge of unity, which was signed by all attending monks and Jain leaders to take back to
India and spread the message of unity.
This year's youth programme, "Communications, Charity and Compassion in Action Through Service," was organised by Nita Itchaporia and it included field trips, lectures and workshops aimed at a variety of age groups and people with diverse interests. The Jain Academic Bowl, a cruise trip, and a trip to Great America were just a few of the highlights. One of the major concerns for the next 25 years is maintaining the Jain heritage within the younger generations. Though Jains have unity and harmony, they do not have uniformity, according to Daftary. Yogendra Jain, head of the Long Range Planning Committee for JAINA, is addressing this very topic when he asks the question, "What do we do for the next 25 years?"
way of life to the mainstream. The main goals for the next 25 years, says Yogendra, are to share Jain values in a respectful manner, evolve the practices of Jainism, grow in numbers, expand awareness and strengthen the organisation.
His answers lie in raising the bar of Jainism. He explained that as Jains, "we all want to live a Jain life and we want to preserve that culture," while inviting others to live a Jain way of life. JAINA's purpose, however, is not to convert but to share the philosophies and principles of Jainism with those not familiar with the religion. Lord Mahavir lived the true way of ahimsa, and that is the guiding light for Jains the world over. Now, JAINA wants to bring that
"For thousands of years, Jains have been practising yoga, vegetarianism, meditation and environmentalism," said Yogendra. "Now this movement is happening here in the west and we want to be able to participate in and lead that movement."
photo courtesy of Raju Shah
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