YJA Convention 2010 07 New Brunswick NJ Ninth

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

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High School / College Sessions
Ahimsa in Crisis
Many Jains interpret the principle of Anekantavada to mean that there are no moral truths; that all truths are relative to a particular perspective. If that is the case, it would seem that we cannot regard Ahimsa as having any clear moral content because both Ahimsa and Himsa are simply a matter of perspective. In this session, we will explore the notion that Anekantavada does not deny that there are moral truths but claims only that truth is complex, and that we cannot understand the whole truth until we have reached keval gyan. We can, however, understand even as non-kevalis that whenever we act, speak, or think without equanimity, with any kashays, Himsa is present. What we can know about Ahimsa is enough to provide a clear blueprint for taking positive social action to make nonviolence a real and meaningful concept in our personal lives and in the world.
Speaker Biographies Session Descriptions &
Gary Francione - Gary L. Francione is Distinguished Professor of Law and Nicholas deB. Katzenbach Scholar of Law and Philosophy at Rutgers University School of Law. He is the author of numerous books and articles on animal ethics, including: The Animal Rights Debate: Abolition or Regulation? (2010); Animals as Persons: Essays on the Abolition of Animal Exploitation (2008); and Introduction to Animal Rights: Your Child or the Dog? (2000). Professor Francione has been a vegan for 28 years based on his acceptance of the principle of Ahimsa and he rejects the use of all animal products, including dairy, leather, wool, and silk. He is a serious student of Jain philosophy and has written about Jainism and animal ethics. He delivered the Opening Keynote Address at the 15th Biennial JAINA Convention in July 2009, and has spoken at other Jain events and has done a series of interviews for Mangalam. His website: www.abolitionistapproach.com.
Ahimsa in Our Times - Creating a Livable Planet
The objective of this session is to reflect on the bigger picture of life on our planet, and to inspire a fundamental change in our ways of living in order to address the universally urgent challenge facing mankind. This session will discuss the existence and nature of the challenge, how it affects us (various perspectives of environment, health, spiritual well-being, animal suffering, etc.) and why we should care, our spiritual and moral imperative, and the true meaning of honoring the message of Mahavir Bhagwan. We will also discuss the power of a vegan lifestyle as a solution, what it is, the difficult implications, and practical tips on how to adopt a vegan lifestyle.
Vinit Doshi - Vinit M. Doshi is a 38-year old aspiring Jain. He serves as the Pathshala Coordinator at the Jain Center of Connecticut. He grew up in the USA, and studied statistics and liberal arts at the University of Michigan and University of California at Berkeley. He currently works as a consultant in the field of marketing analytics and strategy. Vinit lives in Fairfield, Connecticut with his wife and two children.
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