YJA Convention 2002 07 NJ Fifth

Author(s): Young Jains of America (YJA)
Publisher: Young Jains of America YJA USA

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Samaniji Charitrapragyaji
| Samani Charitrapragyaji received her initiation (Samani Diksha) in 1990 From Ganadhipati Gurudev Sri Tulsi and Acharya Sri Mahapragyaji. She holds an M. A. degree in Jain and Comparative Philosophy from Jain Vishva Bharti University, India. She has organized a number of Preksha Meditation camps, and delivered numerous lectures on Jain Philosophy and Culture at many colleges and universities in India as well as Europe and the U.S. She has also made presentations at many national and
international conferences. Charitrapragyaji is a heavily sought out speaker for all aspects of Jainism and is a tremendous advocate for amplification of women's rights in Jainism.
Samaniji Shardapragya
1 Samani Shardapragyaji, is a disciple of H.H.Acharya Mahapragyaji. She took Saman diksha in October, 1994 in New Delhi. She has received her masters degree in Jainology & Comparative Religion and Philosophy from Jain Vishwa Bharti Institute University. She has visited India and traveled abroad preaching non-violence, Jainism, preksha-meditation, and more. She visits several countries every year, participates in inter-faith programs, preaches the values of non-violence, peaceful co-existence and environmental protection.
Satish Kumar
Born in India, Satish Kumar became a Jain monk at the age of nine, which he later renounced to join the Gandhian movement. He walked 8000 miles for peace from India to Moscow, Paris, London and Washington DC. Currently he is the editor of Resurgence, a bi-monthly magazine that provides an international forum for ecological and spiritual thinking, and Programme Director of Schumacher College, an International Centre for Ecological Studies. The magazine, which is now working to widen its tiny North American
audience, has been called "the artistic and spiritual flagship of the Green movement" by the Guardian. Satish also directs a college devoted to holistic principles of learning, an alternative school in his local village, and a publishing house - all of which he founded. He lectures all over the world on assorted topics When asked what particular experience in his life led to his hard work, he replied, “In 1962 British philosopher Bertrand Russell was jailed because of his civil disobedience against the nuclear bomb. Russell was 95 at that time. Reading the news that a man of that age and that stature could go to jail for his convictions and for peace in the world gave me courage to embark upon a life of service." Satish, who can be counted among our most interesting social thinkers, needs considerable energy to accomplish all the things he wants to do.
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