International School for Jain Studies
(A Division of Amar Prerana Trust)
Fortnightly Newsletter
Vol#05 | Issue#06 | No.01 | June 2022
International Yoga Day
FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK
Dear Readers,
Jai Jinendra!!
Jain Yoga is worth noting on International Yoga Day, June 21. It begins with Jain
Acharya Hemchandra's deductions that yoga signifies three sorts of practice (Pravrutti).
1. The activity of the mind – Mana yoga; 2. The activity of speech – Vachan yoga; 3.
The activity of the body – Kaya yoga. spiritual practice isn't stopping our thoughts, but
getting rid of our vices. Negative activities we take once our Kashaya comes true create
fresh karmas.
ISJS will begin a 5-week summer program on Jainism on June 16, 2022, followed by
further programs. I hope attendees take home what they've learned and some fond
memories.
Global historians have discussed Mahavir's Nirvana year for over a century. Here's your
chance to shine by participating in the International Symposium on the same. Details
within.
A memorial lecture on lifestyle diseases and Jainism is planned for June 19 by an emi-
nent neurologist cum Jain scholar to address our concern on the relevance of Jainism to
modern-day issues.
In the speak-up article this time, we have an article on Christian vegetarianism “by Ra-
yappa A. Kasi. This article is an interesting read on Christian views toward vegetarian-
ism.
Dr. Manish Mehta and Dr. Sulekh Jain gave online lectures at Jain Heritage Festival-
2022 on June 5, 2022, you can find links to the recordings inside.
Learning through games can be the most effective way of knowledge gaining, on 6th
June Prakrit Bhasa Divas. ISJS team devised a game on Prakrit language and infor-
mation within.
If anyone of you wish to avail scholarship for undergraduate studies. The International
Alumni Association of Shri Mahavira Jain Vidyalaya (IAAMJV), can provide assistance
details within.
There was a podcast interview of Dr. Nirmal Baid on Understanding Jainism at Pakistani
Premier Podcast, if you wish to listen to his interview links are available. SOAS recently
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completed its 23 Jain Studies Workshop details of the events are given inside.
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UPCOMING EDUCATION PROGRAMS
th
17 Annual Residential Summer Program
International School for Jain Studies ‘ISJS’ is pleased to announce
that a 5-week summer program on Jainism is going to com-
th
mence on 16 June 2022 soon after that Teaching for Peace (for
High School Teachers), Jain Yoga (for MA Yoga students from Loyola
Marymount University), UTTI (High School Teachers for Dharmic
Studies) will be commencing.
All groups will arrive in Delhi and then fan out separately in Pune, Su-
rat, Amritsar, Sarnath, and Varanasi. While the Teaching for Peace
group will arrive in Pune and then they will go to Jalgaon and Delhi
for their further study. We are elated to welcome all the participants
to their educational journey with ISJS. We hope that you take all the
experiences and lessons you learn and some cherish-able memories
with you. We welcome you again to this wonderful institution that
has been serving society over the past 17 years.
Bhagwan Mahavir Prakrit Fellowship Program
The second Bhagwan Mahavir Prakrit Fellowship program by ISJS has
successfully concluded last month in Pune. ISJS, in collaboration with
Gujarat University, provided PG Diploma Certificate to the participants
at their Pune office and offered best wishes for their future ventures.
ISJS would soon announce the selected candidates for the
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3 Bhagwan Mahavir Prakrit Fellowship Program (2022-23).
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UPCOMING SEMINAR OR PROJECT
Smt. Uma Jain Memorial Lecture
Dr. Shugan Chand Jain invites you to the Inaugural Smt. Uma Jain
Memorial lecture on Lifestyle Diseases and Jain Philosophy
by Dr. Pratap Sanchetee on June 19, 2022.
Zoom link to join the lecture: https://us06web.zoom.us/
j/87352413691?pwd=VXE0ZnNWVGU5REMvd3BMb1JuZGhVQT09
Meeting ID: 873 5241 3691 | Passcode: 123456
Smt. Uma Jain was one of the founder trustees of both JEIS
and ISJS and took a very active interest in their conduct and
growth.
To complement the talk, an experiential retreat Rhythm of Life ‘ROL’
by Smt. Anita Jain of Switzerland will be launched in India.
Click here for the invitation
International Symposium
International Center of Jainism and Science of the JAINA-Academic
Liaison Committee is organizing an International Symposium on
the ‘Dating of Mahavira Nirvan’ on July 9 & 10, 2022 at
Navalveerayatan, a training center of International School
for Jain Studies, Pune, India. Please find more details on the
Symposium
5
SPEAK UP
In this section, ISJS invites original articles, and write-ups from Jain
professionals, teachers, and practitioners you can send your articles/
write-ups/opinions to us at [email protected]. In this issue, we have
an article titled “Christian vegetarianism “by Rayappa A. Kasi
a Catholic priest belonging to the diocese of Vellore.
Christian vegetarianism is as old as the religion itself. Christianity, be-
ginning with the early Christians has largely supported the idea that it
was wrong to eat meat and regarded ethical vegetarianism as a com-
peting idea. To read the full article Click here
RESEARCH & PUBLICATION
Book Review in ISJS-Transactions (Online Research Journal)
ISJS invites newly published books on Jainism for review.
The book should not have been published before 2020. Authors/
Editors/Publishers are requested to send two copies of the book (one
for the reviewer and another for the ISJS library). Only one book
along with the review article on that can also be sent.
The books can be sent to:
The Editor, ISJS-Transactions
C/o International School for Jain Studies
Firodia Hostel, 844, BMCC Road
Shivaji Nagar, Pune – 411 004 (MH)
6
NEWS FROM INDIA
Jain Heritage Festival
Jain Heritage Centre has organized Jain Heritage Festival-
2022 from May 26 to July 31, 2022 under this series on June 5,
2022. Dr. Manish Mehta, Chair, Diaspora Committee, Vice-Chair, Aca-
demic Liaison Committee delivered a talk on ‘Jain Diaspora’. Dr.
Sulekh Jain, Academician, Past President of JAINA delivered a talk on
“Status & Future of Jain Studies in Western Countries” . Watch out
for their lectures here:
Jain Diaspora-Dr. Manish Mehta
Status & Future of Jain Studies in Western Countries - Dr. Sulekh C.
Jain
Fun Celebration of Prakrit Bhasha Divas
ISJS celebrated Prakrit Bhasha Divas on Monday June 6, 2022
in its Prakrit class. The day falls on Jyeshtha Shukla Panchami when
about 2000 years back the first Jain (Digambar) text Shatkhandagam
was recorded in writing. Two monk-authors Puṣpadanta and Bhūtabali
had completed writing the composition on the instructions of his teach-
er Dharasena. Since it was the first written text after the verbal tradi-
tion of passing on the teachings, this day is prominent for Jain follow-
ers.
The ISJS team organized a fun game for both ISJS and the Jaina Mu-
seum team at its Pune office. They played Pictionary with Prakrit words
where a participant had to come, select a word from the chits and
draw it on the board. The participant’s team had to guess the word
with its correct pronunciation in Prakrit. The catch was in the words
which were written in Prakrit. The person drawing the word had to
draw it particularly to make his/her team guess it. Prof. Ashok Singh,
ISJS faculty for Prakrit, was the judge who appreciated the neck-to-
neck competition and praised the efforts of all the participants and or-
ganizers. The event helped in passing the message that Prakrit is an
interesting language and many of its words are still in use by Indian
language speakers.
7
NEWS FROM ABROAD
Financial Assistance for Jain Students
The International Alumni Association of Shri Mahavira Jain Vidyalaya
(IAAMJV), USA, is pleased to offer a $10,000 loan to deserving
and needy Jain students graduating from any US high school
and enrolling in an academic institute in the United States.
This program has been in effect for 20 years and has been very suc-
cessful. In the coming years, every Jain family is invited to take ad-
vantage of this service. The application deadline for the current fiscal
year is June 30, 2022. visit www.iaamjv.org for more information.
Understanding Jainism at Pakistani Premier Podcast
Peer Talks, one of Pakistan's most popular podcasts, request-
ed Dr. Nirmal Baid to explain Jainism to their listeners in sim-
ple terms. Watch the Interview of Dr. Nirmal Baid on Under-
standing Jainism. Peer Talks is a podcast hosted by Peer Syed
Mudassir Shah in which he interviews intellectuals, academics, diplo-
mats, and world leaders on Sufism, International Relations, Diversity,
Inclusion, Peace, and Harmony. Jainism has a long history in Pakistan,
yet it is a little-known religion there. Dr. Baid's visit to Pakistan last
year and presentation on Ahimsa in Lahore sparked increased interest
in learning about the Jain religion and its past in Pakistan.
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23 Jaina Studies Workshop at SOAS
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The 23 Jaina Studies Workshop was held at SOAS, London on June
10. The major theme of this workshop was “Jaina Knowledge Sys-
tems”. The workshop had five sessions. There were more than 15
scholars who presented their views in this Workshop. Well-known Jain
Scholar Hampa Nagarajaih’s book ‘Spectrum of classical literature in
Karnataka was launched during this event. The Workshop is co-
organized by Peter Flugel (CoJS) and Angelica Baschiera (SOAS cen-
tres and Programmes Office, and Co-funded by the CoJS the V& A
Jain Art Fund, the Jiv Daya Foundation, and anonymous well-wishers.
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87352413691?
pwd=VXE0ZnNWVGU5REMvd3BMb1JuZGhVQT09
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International School for Jain Studies
(A Division of Amar Prerana Trust)
C/o Firodia Hostel, 844, BCC Road
Shivaji Nagar, Pune — 411004 (MH)
E-mail: [email protected] | Web: www.isjs.in