At the 15th biennial convention, held during July 2-5 in Los Angeles, California, JAINA honoured Dr. Sulekh C. Jain with its highest award, the JAINA RATNA. The award is presented for exceptional dedication and contribution towards promotion of Jainism in North America.

By profession, Dr. Sulekh Jain is a Mechanical Engineer. He taught mechanical engineering at several universities in India and USA, published more than 50 papers and has nine US and international patents. Eleven years ago, he retired from General Electric (GE) Aircraft Engine Division in Cincinnati, Ohio and now devotes all his energies to the promotion of Jain and Ahimsa related causes and projects.
Dr. Sulekh C. Jain has been instrumental in the establishment of a large number of Jain centers, institutions and programs in North America, Europe and India. For nearly 50 years, he has served the community with vision, commitment, dedication and unflagging energy. He served JAINA for eight years, first as Secretary then subsequently as President for two terms. No other has served as long. He has been the president of two Jain Centers (Cincinnati–Dayton, Ohio and Houston, Texas) as well as several other organizations. Currently, Dr. Jain is the Founder and Chairman of the Governing Council of International School for Jain Studies USA (www.jainstudies.org) and Secretary of Mahavir Vision Inc. USA.

ISJS salutes Dr Sulekh Jain and prays for his long, active life and leadership.

Admissions for ISSJS2010 now open.

The ISSJS program is intended to provide an opportunity to pursue experiential and academic Jain studies in India from May 26th to July 8th 2010 to scholars in philosophy, religion, anthropology, theology and South Asian studies associated with the recognized university systems. During this period the participants will study in the cities of Mumbai, Jaipur, Varanasi and Delhi (including Hastinapur) and also undertake a few one day pilgrimages to holy Jain centers.

The course of study follows a daily schedule of academic lectures by notable Jain scholars covering a range of topics from Jain history, philosophy, rituals, ethics and contemporary Jain life. An important part of this program is the opportunity to contextualize what is learned in the class room by visiting academic, historical places of interests, interacting with Jain communities and participating in cultural activities.

In addition, ISSJS also provides opportunities to learn languages like Prakrat and Sanskrit, study Jain holy texts like Acaranga, Uttradhyana, Rattankarand Shravakachar, Samayasara for short periods. These specialized programs will be in the afternoons and require a minimum participation of three students.

ISSJSs offered in 2010:

Program	Class size	Duration	Objective
ISSJS2010-3W	12-14	June 1st – June 21st 2010	Introductory program
ISSJS2010-6W	12-14	May 26th – July 6th 2010	Advanced program
ISSJS2010-O	12-14	May 26th – June 16th 2010	Specialized program
ISSJS2010-M	15-20	April 18th – May 8th 2010*	For Southeast Asian participants.

For details and online application for admissions, please visit www.jainstudies.org

Eligibility:

This program is open to all scholars in related areas of study engaged in teaching /research or pursuing higher studies in any accredited university worldwide only. All participants are expected to be fluent in English since this program is offered using English as the medium of instruction.

Specialization in Jainism is not required. However, successful program applicants will have prior experience in the academic studies of South Asia /its religions or Hindi/Sanskrit/Prakrat and having the long term objective of including study of Jainism and/ or these fields.

While this is a non sectarian program, yet due to the fact that participants are intimately engaged with jain community, applicants must be willing to respectfully adhere to certain Jain principles while in India for the program.

You can download the application form and email or mail the complete application form to ISJS. You can also apply online from our website. ISJS accepts applications throughout the year but the deadline to apply for ISSJS2010 is February 14th 2010. If you have questions about the application process, please contact ISJS at info@jainstudies.org.

Program Costs and our generous financial package:

ISSJS provides complete hospitality (tuition, board, lodge, travel) to all participants in India. Almost all participants accepted for ISSJS2010-6W will also be eligible for a generous financial assistance program from ISJS.

The only charge in India from each participants is US$400 or US$500 per participant depending on the program applied for to partially cover expenses in India. For overseas ISSJSs, these charges vary from place to place and are minimal or nil.

About ISSJS

The International Summer School for Jain Studies provides an important link between the Jain community and the academic world. The Jain community despite its small number has, and continues to have, a large impact on Indian religious, social and cultural life. The academic study off Jainism is still an underdeveloped area of research. The spirit of the ISSJS is to work towards rectifying this omission in scholarly inquiry by fostering an interest in Jainism in universities around the world.

ISSJS programs are run by International School for Jain Studies, a project of Mahavir Vision Inc, a non- profit tax exempt, 501 C-3 organization. ISJS works in collaboration with Academic Studies of Jainism in North America (ASJNA), World Council of Jain Academies (WCJA) and Jain Academic Foundation of North America (JAFNA), University of Ottawa, American Institute of Indian Studies and Shastri Indo Canadian Institute (SICI).

The entire program in India and overseas of ISSJS is run and administered by an independent India registered Indian organization which is non profit, tax exempt, section 80G organization, called International School for Jain Studies New Delhi India.

ISSJS programs were started in 2005. Since then 123 participants have benefitted by attending these programs in five annual summer programs. Last year ISSJS was also organized at Mahidol University, Bangkok Thailand. The participants came from eighteen universities and eight countries of the world.

Contact information and mailing address:
Director Admissions
International School for Jain studies
D28 Panchsheel Enclave
New Delhi110017 India
Email: admission@jainstudies.org or info@jainstudies.org
www.jainstudies.org
USA: scjain@ earthlink.net; Canada: annevalley@gmail.com; Thailand: jain_pm@hotmail.com

ISJS 2009 retreat in Karnataka and Kerala India

The governing council members from USA and their spouses are meeting in the holy Jain town of Shravanbelogola Karnataka India from Nov 23rd to 27th 2009. This annual retreat is to review the activities, performance of ISJS in 2009 and finalize plans for 2010. These annual retreats have been a regular feature of ISSJS program and it is the first time that it is being held in India. The retreat is followed by a week long tourism expedition to God’s own country Kerala.

Seminars on Social Consciousness and approaches in Jain religion

ISJS, in association with leading universities of India and Canada, is pleased to announce organizing a series of regional seminars ( 5 to 7 in major cities /Jain centres), one national seminar (Delhi) and an international seminar (Canada) on ‘Social consciousness and approaches in Jain religion. These seminars will be held in the month of March-April 2010 in India followed by an international seminar in Canada in August 2010.

Subjects associated with the seminar on which papers are invited from distinguished experts.

A. Social topics with primary reference to their applications as per Jain religion only.
B. Jain texts and doctrines describing social engagements for Jains.
C. Case studies
D. Statistical reports /presentation

Regional, national and international seminars:

Each region may focus on one or more than one area as primary and others as secondary if possible. Each region will invite at least six papers selected for presentation. Other papers which are considered reasonably well shall be compiled also separately and the writers invited for informal presentations /group discussions. All papers will be sent to National seminar for compilation and record.

Out of the papers presented, each region will nominate one speaker for the national seminar. The national seminar will have two to three additional speakers to present their papers. National seminar will select two papers for sending to the international seminar. Authors of these papers shall get some financial support to travel and present their papers.

Acceptance of papers at regional seminars will be done by the regional academic council. However the regional council will send the papers to national council to avoid repetition of subjects at other regional seminars and approval.

Regional Coordinators &contact addresses

Place	University*	Coordinators
Atul		Dr. Mrs. Vimla Lalbhai, to-taral@gmail.com
Chennai:	Madras	Dr. Priya Jain University of Madras, priyadarshanajain@yahoo.in
Delhi:	JNU /SLBSSV	Prof. P.C.Jain , Dr Shugan Jain, svana@vsnl.com
Jaipur:	Rajasthan	Prof. Kusum Jain, Mrs Shivani Bothra, shivanibothra@gmail.com
Hastinapur:		Prof. Anupam Jain, anupamjain@yahoo.co.in
Mumbai:	Mumbai	Prof. Meenal Katarnikar, mili21mili@yahoo.co.uk
		Mr. Manish Mody, manishymody@gmail.com
Varanasi:		Dr. S.P.Pandey, pvri@sify.com
Vijayavada:	Nagarajuna	Prof. Murli Mohan, murli_sriram@yahoo.co.

*likely and approvals of some of them awaited

All the eleven participants to the one month program completed their studies at Parasnath Vidhyapeeth Varanasi. Stay at Paransnath Vidhyapeeth was fairly comfortable and lecture schedule was very well received. The participants visited the Jain temples and participated in the Snatra puja. Afterwards they were offered a jain breakfast at the temple. The participants also visited ghats at Ganga and the various Hindu and Buddhist temples of importance at Varanasi.  They returned to Delhi on June 21^st 2009. At Delhi, there were 4 more lectures on Sallekhana, Schism and a lively questions and answers session. The participants stayed at Chhoti Dadabari where the lectures were also arranged. On June 23^rd, a certificate distribution for the participants who completed their studies was organized where Ms. Chris Delauwer was presented the certificate by the director ISJS, Chris then presented the certificate to Sarah Hadmack who in turn presented the certificates to the remaining participants. Dr. Chizuko T. Allen from Hawaii left a day earlier and was presented the certificate prior to her departure. Overall the experience for the participants and the ISJS management was very rewarding. 

 

ISSJS2009 Two Months program at Hastinapur

All the eleven participants spent over ten days at Parasnath Vidhyapeeth (from June 28^th to July 11^th) after their prolonged stay of over 17 days at Jaipur (June 10^th- June 27^th ). Jaipur stay is marked for lectures by leading Jain scholars like Profs Sogani, Kusum Jain, Bhargava and others on various metaphysical aspects and ethics in Jainism.

 

The participants accompanied by the director ISJS left Jaipur on June 28^th by train to Varanasi. The train journey, though a bit stretched, was marked by the increased fellowship amongst the participants who were seen enjoying each other’s company.

 

Varanasi stay was marked by a series of lectures by Prof. Anne Vallely, who first presented her thesis on Jainism and nature. This lecture was organized by inviting local scholars(30) to attend also so that Parasnath Vidhyapeeth becomes a known centre of Jain studies as well as allow the participants of ISJS to interact with them. The participants were then taken to a Jain temple where the festival of Ashtanika was being celebrated. This visit highlighted the manner in which group pujas with all gaiety, monks and music was an excellent experience for all to see how Jains celebrate their festivals. After lectures by Prof. Priya Jain and Bhag Chandji, the participants embarked on their one week long research project. Some of them sent their research findings by stipulated date of July 12^th while the others presented them later. The participants, on their own, enjoyed visiting ghats, Sarnath and other places of interest for Hindus, Buddhists and Jains also.

 

All the participants (11) returned to Delhi for a couple of days for completing the academic lectures schedule before leaving for the last three days stay at Hastinapur. Hastinapur is an important Jain centre known for the four auspicious events of three tirathankars as well as for the first food taken by Adinath, the first tirathankar and the day is celebrated as Aksay tritya. It is a temple town with large temple complexes of all sects of Jains. Jambudweep, where the school was held, is known for its research of jain cosmology and the most revered Jain nun Gyan Mati ji. At Hastinapur, the participants attended two lectures and then spent two days presenting their own research conducted in Varanasi. Some of the presentations were indeed the seeds for further research. The paper on charity in Jainism by Sean Bevis was adjudged as the best paper while the paper on fasting in Jainism by Siwaphon from Bangkok was adjudged as the second best paper. All the participants enjoyed the puja, visiting temples and the village/holy place ambiance of Hastinapur. Of course menace of the minions at Hastinapur was a different story. The school ended on July 17^th with certificates of participation awarded by Pujya Gyan Mati mataji along with her blessings and direction for further work by the participants. The participants returned to Delhi on July 18^th from where they returned home.

 

Delegation from Colorado State Univ. USA visits ISJS

Fourteen scholars and teaching staff lead by Assoc Prof. Biernacki Loriliai from the university of Colorado came for a briefing on Jainism and ISJS on July 14th. The director welcomed the delegation and spent two hours briefing them on Jainism as one of the most ancient religions of India and its special characteristics as well as ISSJS movement. All the participants appeared to be very keen participants and showed tremendous interest in both Jainism and ISJS. They were presented with ISJS brochures. This group has come to India on a study tour of Indian religions under the auspices of AIIS. 

 

ISSJS signs co-operation with many institutions in India.

This year ISJS has received wide acclaim due to its management of the three schools as well as the lectures organized for general academia and community by Prof P.S.Jaini. As a result ISJS has entered into co-operation with the following reputed institutions in India

 

Trilok Shodh Sansthan Hastinapur, the owner and management entity of the Jambu Dweep Hastinapur. They have agreed to provide all the facilities to future ISSJSs and other activities of ISJS. Director ISJS has been nominated as one of the directors of the institute also. For details please visit www. Jambudweep.org

 

Somaiya Vidhya Vihar Mumbai. This institute has a very large complex in Mumbai with over 27 colleges and over 28000 students enrolled. The colleges are all affiliated to Mumbai University. They are signing an agreement with ISJS to provide their world class lodging-boarding and classroom facilities for future ISSJS and work together with ISJS in offering programs globally in Philosophy and religions of India.

 

Advanced level discussions are going on with University of Madras and Rajasthan for similar arrangements.

 

ISJS has already signed a management agreement with Parshwanath Vidhyapeeth for enhancing their research capabilities as well as host future ISSJSs.

 

Now ISJS has a pan India coverage to offer its services as per the specific needs of international scholars and to offer more services in India and globally.

 

 

 

  

 

  

 

 

 

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

  

  

 

  

  

  

 

 

 

Pilgrimage:

4.30AM on June 7^th, the participants accompanied by the director ISJS and Dr. Renuka Porwal (expert on Mathura History) left by AC bus for the three days of absorbing and sacred pilgrimage. All participants were oriented in details about the pilgrimage, handed detailed handouts to read so that they enjoy the pilgrimage.  

 

The first stop was at Mathura Chaurasi, the holy place where the last omniscient of Jains, Jambuswami attained liberation. The temple and Mathura were detailed by Dr. Porwal (en route and at temple about Mathura) along with a tour of the temple. The participants also observed large number of devotees offering their worship at the temple. The new idol of Jambuswami in the open hillock made was also visited and enjoyed. The group then visited the Jain museum (Government owned and operated at Mathura) to see the Jain idols and artefacts from 2^nd century BC to 8^th century AD). History of Kankali Tila and its remains in the museum and other art objects from Mathura were explained to the participants. From there we proceeded to the city of Agra.

 

The Jain community (literally several hundred) welcomed the group in traditional Jain style and honoured Prof. Jaini and Dr. Shugan Jain along with the entire group. We visited the beautiful Jain temple at Hari Parvat, the library of ancient manuscripts preserved and an absorbing lecture by Prof. Jaini on the contribution of scholars from Agra (notably Banarasi Dass and Hem Raj Pandey) to Jain religious literature. The meeting ended with a very sumptuous Jain lunch in traditional Indian thali style at a Jain restaurant. Overall it was a true Jain experience of temple, community, hospitality and old manuscripts. The participants then visited famous Taj Mahal and enjoyed its glory even though the mercury was touching 44^oC.

 

The group then travelled to Sonagir, the sacred Jain pilgrim place for night halt.  Next day i.e. June 8^th, we left for the most famous and largest collection of Jain idols and temples from 8^th to 13^th century AD. It is a good 175KM bus drive in most primitive Bundelkhand area (heart of Jains with a chain of Jain pilgrim places every 50KM) and Indians known for valour. The bus journey was a little demanding experience as good eating and toilet facilities are conspicuous by their absence in the entire area. We tried to serve good wholesome packed lunch, snacks, water and cold drinks en route to all. However the group was very cooperative and enjoyed every experience. As the group entered Devgarh museum, all the hardship of the journey were forgotten and the entire group immersed in the study of the Jain icons (laid out to give a feeling of the Jain heavens and Videhasketra). Prof. Jaini became our guide in explaining peculiarities of each and every icon as Prof. Tiwari could not make it due to illness. The group returned to Sonagir in the midnight. The next day the group visited Sonagir hill and enjoyed the large number of temples, the presiding idol of Chandaprabhu and the sacred ambience of the hill. The management of Kund Kund nagar organized a public reception and lecture for Prof. Jaini and the group. We then went to Gopachal in Gwalior. It was an experience as we reached there at 12.30PM noon. The walkway to the hill was very hot and yet everyone including Prof. Jaini climbed the hill and spent more than two hours enjoying the large collection of extremely large Jain idols. We then had a very delicious and complete Jain lunch at Hotel landmark. This was the end of the well organized, enjoyed experience of the pilgrimage. We travelled back to Jaipur the same day, spending some anxious moments (as the driver chose to take the small village roads) and then the highway.

 

Jaipur camp

Stay at Jaipur was managed by Ms. Shivani Bothra, commissioned by ISJS. Everyone was extremely happy and recommended Jaipur as a must site for the ISSJS program. It was an experience to see all participants enjoying meals and then internet (wireless) in the lunch room itself. The lectures were delivered by the most respected names in Jain studies (Prof. Kusum Jain at Rajasthan University for one month program) and Prof. K. C. Sogani at Nasiaji for the two months program. Lecture by Prof. Jaini on development and ecology was attended by several hundred academicians and community leaders. On Saturday, visit to Chulgiri and Sanganer temples and Dadabari were enjoyed by all. The one month group left on June 13^th by evening train to Varanasi for further studies while the two months group stayed back in Jaipur.

 

Prof. Jaini delivered a lecture on Jainism and Christianity-an interfaith dialogue based on his meetings with Pope John Paul II and Mark Tully on BBC. It was organized at Royal Asiatic Society library in downtown Mumbai. The program was attended by hundreds of Jains, Christians and academicians.

 

The next week starts in Parashwanath Vishyapeeth Varanasi for one month and at Nasiaji Jaipur for the two months group.

 

This year saw a tremendous fraternity feeling amongst the participants and a resounding support from Jain community and the academic community everywhere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The two groups of ISSJS2009 started as follows

·        One month program: May 24^th 2009

·        Two months program : May 31^st 2009

The first day of each program was devoted exclusively to orient the new participants about the program, way of life in the program, expectations on both sides and knowing each other better. It was indeed a very enjoyable experience which set the pace for joint learning and experiencing by the overseas participants and the ISSJS faculty and management.

 

The first four days of the one month program were devoted to academic lectures by Prof R. P. Jain (ex JNU and Munster Univ. Germany) and Prof. Kamla Jain (JMC of Delhi Univ.). These lectures were organized to prepare the one month program participants for the next week of studies led by the most respected Jain scholar in the world; Prof. Padmanabha Jaini  as the key faculty (six lectures of two hours each) and supported by Prof. Shashi Prabha Kumar (JNU – one lecture) and Dr. Shugan Jain (ISJS – 3 lectures). The one month participants had a very happy and enjoyable dinner evening with Uma and Shugan Jain at their home on May 30th. On May 31^st participation for the both the programs visited Jain temples at Ahimsa Sthal, Bari Dadabari and Jain Lal Mandir and Birds Hospital Chandni Chowk.

 

The next week i.e. from June 1^st to 5^th was a very absorbing period in which we had very deep academic lectures by Prof. Jaini on the one hand, comparative religions by Prof. Shashi Prabha and the practice of religion and epistemology by Dr. Shugan Jain. Simultaneously this period had heavy experiential activities in the form of meetings and dinner with Jain community leaders (Shri Nirmal Sethi President of SBDJM, Smt. Indu Jain chairperson Time of India group, Dr. O. P. Jain founder of Sanskriti Foundation) and visits to Jain temples in Delhi and an evening with a Jain nun and feast of devotional Indian music by well known radio artists.  The week ended by a public talk delivered by Prof. Jaini on warfare and heavens in Buddhism and Jainism at India international centre attended by an overflowing auditorium on June 6^th.

 

Some photos of the activities performed are attached for the pleasure of your viewing.

 

To conclude, this year the experience at ISSJS had been truly phenomenal. There had been a tremendous bonding amongst the participants and ISSJS, an experience never felt before. The experience had set new standards for future ISSJS globally. Of course there were a few hiccups but they were generally resolved quickly to the satisfaction of all.  We pray for the successful completion of ISSJS2009 in the same spirit and tone set till now. On June 7^th, ISSJS proceeds on its yatra to the Jain holy pilgrim places and finally start the Jaipur session on June 10th.

 The Fifth ISSJS i.e. ISSJS 2009 consisting of three independent programs has been launched successfully as follows:

·        ISSJS2009 Bangkok: One month program from April 21^st to May 15^th 2009 at Mahidol University Bangkok. Attended by 17 students and scholars, this program has been successfully completed.

·        ISSJS2009 One month program: For beginners and intermediate level university students in India. May 24^th to June 23^rd 2009. Thirteen students and scholars are attending this program from USA, Canada, UK and Thailand.

·        ISSJS2009 Two month program: For intermediate and senior scholars in India. May 30^th to July 19^th 2009. Twelve scholars from USA, Canada, UK, Belgium, Thailand and Japan are attending this program. Besides six alumni and senior scholars from USA along with some faculty (ISSJS) and community leaders will attend the program from June 1^st to June 5^th 2009.

 

An important feature of ISSJS2009 is the delivery of lectures from June 1^st to June 5^th in Delhi by Prof. Padmanabha S. Jaini, professor emeritus University of California Berkeley and an internally authority on Jainism and Buddhism. Besides these classroom lectures, he will deliver the following lectures for academic and community leaders:

 

·        June 6^th:  6 PM at India International Centre New Delhi  ‘Heavens and warfare in Jainism’

·        June 7^th: 11.30 AM MD College Jain Mandir Hari Parvat Agra “ Banarasi Dass and contribution of scholars from Agra to Jainism.

·        June 11^th : 5 PM  Anuvibha Jaipur ‘ Development and ecology, Jain view’

·        June 13^th :   4 PM Asiatic Library near RBI Mumbai. ‘Sectoral debates in Jainism’

·        June 14^th : 10 AM  Santa Cruz Mumbai   ‘ Development and ecology in Jainism’  

 

 All arrangements have been finalized and we expect ISSJS 2009 in India to be as successful as the one in Bangkok. 

 

 Please visit www.jainstudies.org for details. Also please send request for printed brochure of The Fifth ISSJS2009.