Siddhachalam NJ 1993 06 Acharya Sushil Kumarji

Author(s): Siddhachalam NJ
Publisher: USA International Mahavir Jain Mission Siddhachalam

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through non-violence could not be compromised or exploited and would ensure the sanctity of human life as well as extending protection to the animal kingdom, the environment and all of our Earth Mother. Guruji and his devotees also served as the fourth largest support group for the Peace Rally held in New York in 1982 -- an event that was attended by nearly one million individuals from around the world. In August of 1989, Guruji was invited to inaugurate and preside over the World Hindu Conference in Britain. As Hindus regard him as one of their spiritual leaders, they enthusiastically embraced his notion of Ahimsa (Non-Violence) and vowed to join him in propagating the virtues of meditation, vegetarianism and unity. That same year Guruji addressed the World Conference on Religions for Peace in Melbourne, Australia. Advocating the dire need to protect the animal kingdom and our natural environment, he explained that all living beings equally share the right to life. In 1990, Guruji was an honored guest at the Global Conference for Human Survival in Moscow. More than 1200 individuals from 70 countries travelled to the USSR to take part in this historic gathering and were present to participate in Guruji's meditation and hear his remarks on the need for non-violence. It was here that Guruji had an opportunity to meet with Mikhail Gorbachev and discuss issues related to the establishment of world peace and global co-operation. Then in 1991 he travelled to Iran in an attempt to persuade Saddam Hussein to adopt a peaceful resolution to the Gulf Crisis. And although poor roads and the prevailing war
Guruji welcoming Pope John Paul
From 1954 to 1989, Guruji organized and presided over a significant number of World Religions Conferences, many of which were attended by highly esteemed individuals, including various Presidents and Prime Ministers of India. Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. Radhakrishnan, Dr. Zakir Hussain, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, Zail Singh, Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi were amongst those who were known to participate and declarations advocating world peace, universal brotherhood and above all non-violence were frequently adopted at these conferences. Guruji is also widely known for his unprecedented -- and highly controversial -- international tour which began in 1975. For centuries, Jain monks were permitted to travel solely by foot, yet Guruji recognized the wisdom in breaking from this ancient restraint in order to share his message of non-violence, peace and the oneness of all living beings with the world at large. Since then, his acclaim as a true man of God has spread to all corners of the earth: In 1982, Guruji inspired the leaders of eight nations to submit a memorandum demanding peace through non-violence to the Secretary General of the United Nations. He explained that peace
Guruji with Mother Teresa
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His Holiness Acharya Sushil Kumar Ji Maharaj
Jain Education Intemational