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Inspirational Conventions
By Priti Shah and Sonal Shah
The Young Jains' conventions are unique Jain events in the United Kingdom. The first such convention was held in 1994 and since then they have been held every two years and continued to inspire delegates long after the convention is over. Previous conventions have included:
1994-Jainism in the 21st Century
Focused upon bringing about an international ethical revolution through Jain action. Recognising that Ahimsa (non-violence) and Aparigraha (limiting one's possessions) are central solutions to the environmental concerns of the Global Village, delegates signed a declaration to live by these values.
"I was very moved by what I saw and heard at the Convention. I enjoyed listening to Dr. Singhvi and Dr. Tobias and the film interview of Maneka Gandhi was very moving. Please convey my congratulations to all the organisers and helpers." Anant M. P. Shah, London UK.
1996 - Reviving the Community Spirit
All over the world communities are becoming extinct. For the Jains, the community spirit has been central to their success in business, professional and social aspects of life. This convention served as reminder of the value of this and discussed ways in which it can reinvigorated. It highlighted the role that communities play in society and how, by working together, so much more can be achieved.
"I am planning to revive the Jain youth of Manchester because I now realise the importance of reviving the community spirit" Suken Shah, Manchester, UK
1998 - The Art of Living - a Jain Perspective
This convention brought things to a personal level, as each individual explored their own art of living. Looking at Jainism as living philosophy and exploring spirituality as the tool for self-development, workshops looked at the Art of Positivity, of Letting Go and a Treasure Hunt for the Art of Self Discovery.
"My friends and I (all teenagers) really enjoyed it. The ideas used were really innovative and inspirational. I found the visualisations of our fears made me feel more burden-free. I would like to thank my facilitators, Rodney and Ajay for making the whole experience so liberating and enjoyable" Amit Vipool Gudka, Student, London UK.
2000 - Freeing the Spirit
At the heart of Jainism lies the concept of Self. 'Until I have come to understand and accept myself I will never be at peace with the world around me.' Central to this convention was the exploration into how we perceive ourselves. As the level of stress in our homes, schools and in our work places reaches new heights we looked for ways in which we could maintain a sense of stability and inner calmness. We focused upon our inner resources such as love, strength and wisdom and learn to make better use of these treasures whenever and wherever we need them most.
Jain Education International
"I looked forward to the weekend and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The first striking thing I noticed was that the majority of participants were young people who showed a lot of interest and were eager to learn more about Jainism. Through the Convention you have done a wonderful job in lighting a sparkle of curiosity for Jainism in them...... In a casual / informal fun way you beautifully managed to convey the message of how important it is to identify the body as separate to my soul." Anila Mahendra Shah, Nairobi, Kenya.
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