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जैन जगत्
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university system, in which students can earn up to credits towards degrees; and it is integrated with academic institutions in India, aimed at helping students understand Jainism within its indigenous environments.
The plan is for a two-track program, open to students and professors in North American universities. Its purpose is to impart a basic grounding in the Jain religion within a cultural context where it is experienced as a lived reality. Through seminars, lectures, and library resources, students and professors will be provided with the basic intellectual tools for an understanding of the many facets of Jainism, including its history, politics, philosophy, ethics, architecture, visual and performing arts. Through fieldwork, they will be exposed to the culture of Jainism by means of temple worship, rituals, festivals, family ceremonies, and visits to Jaina homes.
Prof. Crawford briefly reviewed the progress and achievements of the first International Summer School held in India during June and July, 2005 in which Six Ph.D and M.A. students and one faculty member from Universities in USA and Canada participated. Prof. Crawford termed the first school as a great success. Next year the class will consist of fifteen students and faculty members from North American Universities,
Dean Miller welcomed the Jaina leaders and thanked them for this great initiative. She mentioned that no Indian philosophical studies are complete without the study of Jain philosophy and its contribution to Indian thoughts and culture. She also hoped that these Summer schools would help in exposing many students and faculty members throughout North America to Jainism and after their return; they will become catalyst in starting regular studies and research in Jainism.
Mr. Shugan Jain from Delhi; the India program Director of the International Summer School a non profit organization in India Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
