7,000 Jains from all over the world will gather in New Jersey later this year for the 2017 JAINA Convention that takes place in the Garden State.
The June 30-July 4 convention will be addressed by eminent Jain scholars and leading members of the community. Besides eminent Jain acharya, Dr. Lokesh Muni, who is the founder of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti, the five-day convention will also be addressed by founder of Art of Living Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Several other spiritual masters, both Jains and non-Jains are expected to address the convention.
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“We are yet to finalize the list of speakers as also the location of the convention in New Jersey,” Kenu A. Sharma, AVP media secretary, said.
JAINA is the largest Jain organization outside India and represents more than 150,000 Jains in the U.S. and Canada. JAINA was established in the year 1981 to provide a forum to foster friendship and unity among all Jains from North America.
Muni said that the members of JAINA work together to advance principles of non-violence, vegetarianism, charitable and humanitarian volunteerism and academic and cultural interchanges.The theme of convention is ‘Jainism and Science’.
“The convention will seek to drive home the point about the scientific nature of Jainism and how best the humankind can benefit by embracing it in their lives. Though the five day discourses and seminars, the convention will seek to decide on a plan of action for the future in order for it to be spread among more people,” Sharma said.
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Jain religion has always made important contributions towards establishing non- violence and peace in society, adding that the Jain community has always worked for the development of different sections and areas of society. Whenever people faced problems like flood or earthquake, the Jain community came forward for welfare activities. He expressed the hope that like in U.S., the Jain community in India also will come together to work for social welfare in a more organized manner.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said that, “Interfaith and inter-religion harmony is necessary to end war, violence and terrorism from the world. Jainism preaches the principles of Ahimsa (nonviolence), Anekant (unity in diversity) and Aparigrah (renunciation) and shows us the path towards establishing world peace and harmony.”
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar appreciated the fact that acharya Lokesh Muni has been making efforts towards the mutual brotherhood, communal harmony, nonviolence and character-building not only in India but also in different parts of the world.
By Premji
