Dr. Shugan Jain, ISJS India Chairman, visits USA to participate in Paryushan Parva at Jain Centre of Greater Boston and promote Jain studies at US Universities. Sept. 1st to Sept 17^th 2011.

Inauguration of ISJS Centre of Jain Studies at Claremont Lincoln University California

The first ISJS Centre of Jain Studies was inaugurated at Claremont Lincoln University on Sept 6^th 2012. The program started with a formal welcome lunch hosted by Prof to ISJS team consisting of Dr Sulekh Jain, Dr Shugan Jain, Mrs Pramoda Behn and Sh Dilip Shah and attended by Prof Dan Smith (VCU), President of CLU and Ms Brianne Donaldson, Chairperson Jain Centre exploratory committee of CLU. The formal inauguration started with a welcome breakfast at 8AM on Sept 6^th, followed by the inaugural function attended by hundreds of Jains from Los Angeles area, faculty, ISSJS alumni on CLU, Chairman and President of CLU and a large pool of Media representatives. ISJS formally expressed its sincere thanks and whole hearted cooperation in making the centre successful. On this occasion, ISJS also present over 100 Jain books for CLU library with promise of more to follow. CLU also expressed their sincere thanks for the first non Abrahamic religion Centre to be opened at CLU. Lighting the lamps, presenting the shawls to CLU dignitaries and brief speeches formed the part of the function attended by several hundred persons. This was followed by a Convocation ceremony of CLU in which the Convocation address was delivered by HH   Ambassador of South Africa. The function was followed by enjoyable vegan lunch and a meeting of the Jain Community leaders from Los Angeles and ISJS team on making the centre a model Centre of Jain Studies.

Lecture on Peace harmony and development through AAA doctrine of Jainism at South Asia Institute of Harvard University on Sept 8^th 4PM

Prof Parimal Patil, head of the SAI organized a lecture on the subject by Shugan Jain. The Lecture dealt with the application of the principles of Ahinsa, Anekant and Aparigrah of Jains to achieve peace, social harmony and all round sustainable development and how historically Jain Spiritual leaders and luminaries applied these principles to achieve these objectives. The lecture was followed by intense discussions with the attending participants. ISJS thanks Prof Patil and Sh Nawraj for organizing this successful lecture.

Visiting Yale University Dept of Religious Studies New Haven Connecticut

ISJS team consisting of Shugan Jain, Dr Khasgiwala and Sh Kulbhusan Jain visited Yale University on Sept 12^th to enhance cooperation between ISJS and the prestigious Yale University. The ISJS delegation met Prof Phyllis Granoff (Head Dept of Religious studies and a renowned Jain Scholar), Ms Ellen Gogh and Ms Lynna Dhanani both ISSJS alumni and now completing their PhD studies at Yale in Jainism and some Yale students interested in Jain studies. The discussions were open to appraise each other about the developments in Jain Studies, problems associated, ISSJS 2012 programs and enhance cooperation amongst the two institutions. ISJS extended a warm invitation to Prof Granoff to ISSJS2012 as expert faculty and some students as participants as well.

Lectures at Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Virginia (Sept 13^th and 14^th)

Shugan Jain delivered two lectures of one hour each on ‘Introduction to Jainism’ and ‘religion and Non violence based ethics of Jainism’ to students of VCU. The lectures were attended by over two hundred students from VCU and several Jain Community members from Richmond also. Both the lectures were followed by extensive discussions with the students as well. The lectures were also taken as an opportunity to introduce ISSJS2012 programs. These lectures were organized by Prof Dan Smith of VCU who is an alumnus of ISJS 2010.

In the evening of Sept 13^th, a dinner was hosted by VCU and attended by Prof Dan Smith, Prof Mark Woods and Prof David Bromley Head of Religious studies VCU to explore ways and means to enhance cooperation between ISJS and VCU. The discussions will be followed by further discussions in October 2011 with ISJS USA representatives. ISJS expresses sincere thanks to Prof Smith and local host Mr Yougesh Jain for the courtesies extended.

Das Lakshan Poojas and lectures at Jain Centre of Greater Boston

During the stay at Boston, the day’ program consisted of guiding and the host Jain community as well as participate in the special poojas of Das lakshan from 8AM till 10.30AM. After the poojas, usually one of the host families used to invite me for lunch and have personal discussions with them after the lunch on some special aspect /text of Jain religion. In the evening there were a series of lectures delivered. These lectures consisted of two parts, namely explain the Spiritual Virtue identified /associated on that particular day (e.g. Supreme Forgiveness, humility, straightforwardness, cleanliness, truth, self restraint, austerities, giving up, solitariness and celibacy) and the texts Asht Pahud by Ac Kund Kund. In Asht Pahud, only the two chapters namely Dansana (right belief) and Sheel (Nature of the soul /character) were discussed due to the paucity of time. The lectures were followed by questions and answers. The language was a mix of Hindi and English so that non Hindi speaking Jains and others could also benefit from such discourse. Saturdays and Sundays used to big affairs as the number of devotees used to increase significantly. Overall all and one expressed joy and satisfaction with the entire program. ISJS and Shugan Jain thank the management of Jain Centre of Greater Boston, particularly their president Smt Arti Shah, Dr Chandra Khasgiwal, Mr Kul Bhushan Jain (along with his wife, children and mother particularly for their excellent hospitality at their home) and Mr Rasik Vagadia in making the visit happen and provide extra ordinary hospitality throughout.

Other important meetings

On Sept 15^th important meetings were held with Dr Sushil Jain President JAINA and Sh Narendra Jain Chairman IDJO USA to exchange notes about the working of ISJS and the present scenario of Jain studies and JAINA in USA. ISJS thanks Sh Akinchan Jain and his wife Namrata Jain to make these meetings and stay at Washington extremely enjoyable. On Sept 16^th, meetings were held in Philadelphia with Prof Gary Francione, an expert speaker /faculty resource of ISJS and member of ISJS USA AC and Sh Dilip Shah, a senior functionary of ISJS USA and ex President of JAINA USA to apprise each other about ISJS and academic studies in USA along with ways and means to enhance the reach of ISJS.

Picture Gallery for above:

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Launch of Jain Studies program at Clayton Lincoln University on September 6, 2011.

September 6^th 2011 will be a historic day for Jain academic studies and for the Jain community. International    School for Jain Studies program is being launched at the Claremont Lincoln University in Claremont, CA (suburb of LA), which is well known. The convocation event will be televised by national media such as by PBS and the LA Times.

Incidentally ISJS has similar agreements with a number of other universities in USA, Canada and Thailand along with India.

USIEF, Fulbright scholar Mr. Christopher Fleming pursues research work on ‘Path of Purification a Textual Ethnography of Jain Philanthropy’ at ISJS.

Mr. Christopher Thomas Fleming has been awarded a Fulbright – Nehru scholarship by the U.S. government for 1 year of study of Sanskrit language through Jain holy texts. He will be conducting his research work under International School for Jain Studies titled as ‘Path of Purification a Textual Ethnography of Jain Philanthropy’ under Fulbright – Nehru research grant for a period of one months.

Mr. Christopher Thomas Fleming will be spending time at Varanasi, Pune, and Chennai along with Delhi during this period.

Admissions Start for ISSJS 2012.

This Summer Programme in ISJS aims to shed light on the various definitions, interests, and practices associated with the question of cultural heritage in India. The International School for Jain Studies will organize a summer programme in India, who wishes to have hands on exposure to important facets of Jainism, reading two very important holy texts of great significance to you and visit to holy places and places of Jain art.

The introductory announcement concerning Eighth ISSJS2012 program modules, please visit  http://www.jainstudies.org/admissions.php. Registration closes: 28 Feb, 2012

So, we request you to apply have your colleagues / friends and others at the university send their applications (Apply online: http://www.jainstudies.org) fast.

Discourse on Das Lakshan Parv at Jain Center of Greater Boston by Dr. Shugan C. Jain.

Dr. Shugan C Jain is visiting  USA from August 31st to September 18th, 2011. He will deliver lectures on Das Lakshan at Jain Center for Greater Boston. He is also scheduled to deliver lectures at Harvard, Virginia Common Wealth and Claremont Lincoln University besides visiting several other important universities to promote ISSJS programs. He will be away from August 31st to September 19th 2011.

Distinguished members of ISJS family:

Sadar Jai Jinendra
Wishing you all a Very happy, healthy, peaceful and prosperous 2011

The year 2010 is coming to close shortly. As most of you will be going on Family get together and celebrations, Christmas break and vacations, I take this opportunity to share some of the significant developments that have taken place at ISJS recently and during 2010.

A. Future works

• Nine ISSJS2011 announced: We have announced three levels of ISSJSs for 2011 along with four specialized modules of one week each on meditation, pilgrimage, reading one Jain holy text each in Prakrat and Sanskrit. Response had been very encouraging and we expect significantly more participants in these programs in India and Thailand. Also Prof Jeffery Long of Elizabethtown PA has agreed to be the guest faculty for a week in ISSJS2011.
• Proving financial support to three PhD students from Universities of Pennsylvania and Columbia to present papers at AAS-ICAS conference in Hawaii in March- April 2011.

B. Key projects initiated in Nov Dec 2010

• Organized very successfully the first of a series of three seminars on: ” Integrating Modern Science and Spirituality for Social Wellness: A Challenge of 21st Century on Dec 11th -12th at PHD Chamber New Delhi. This will be followed by one more seminars each at Varanasi and Jaipur later on.
  Organized a faculty conclave on Dec 15th to 16th attending by over 15 faculty members from all over India and Prof Chapple of LMU USA. We all discussed ways and means to enhance the teaching methodology, course content and structure of various programs offered in ISSJS2011.
• Translated, edited and getting the set of four books on Jain history from 1st tirthankara to 500AD by Ac Hasti Malji in English had been completed for launch on January 1st 2011 by Samyak Gyan Pracharak Mandal Jaipur. It will be an excellent reference book for students of Jain history and culture.
  Publishing a book on Jain Society in India and Abroad by Prof P.C. Jain of JNU (ISJS faculty member). With Key to Reality in Jainism (Tattvarthasutra in English in easy to understand question and answer form) ISJS is implementing its publication services in English for global students and scholars of Jainism.

• MOU with Vanier College of Montreal Canada for joint programs and faculty / student exchange is signed. Similar MOUs are under progress with other universities of North America.
• MOUs with Mangalayatan University Aligarh and Teerthanker Mahaveer University Moradabad finalized for setting up centres of Jain studies there and to jointly award certificates, MA and PhD programs.
• Cooperation with Parashwanath Vidhyapeeth Varanasi extended to have ISJS run the institute and make it an international centre of Jain education. BHU had renewed their recognition of the institute to jointly award PhD degrees to institutes candidates. Jain community has whole heartedly approved this arranged and is providing financing support to Parashwanath Vidhyapeeth to develop Jain education and Meditation programs for global delivery along with research and publication work going on. International Jain scholars already inducted in the advisory council of the institute.

ISJS alumni are registering for PhD programs with thesis on Jain philosophy and having ISJS as recommending and guiding institute. Three ISJS alumni are returning to ISJS for extended periods of studies of Prakrat, Sanskrit and Jain philosophy /art in 2011 under various scholarships and grants.

Dec 11th -12th at PHD Chamber, New Delhi

Dec 15th to 16th at Chhotidadabari, New Delhi

MOU with Vanier College of Montreal Canada

D. July 2010-October 2010

• Prof Nathan Katz, Chair Bhagwan Mahavira of Florida International University visits ISJS. Cooperation between FIU and ISJS is being explored.
• ISJS along with Jain community of Atlanta hosted a dinner reception on October 29th at Jain Centre Atlanta to the academics to DANAM and AAR conferences where they presented papers on various aspects of Jainism.
• Two batches of 25 students and faculty members each (Principia College Illinois USA and University of Waterloo Toronto Canada) visited ISJS Delhi for a day long exposure to Jainism and Jain way of life.
• Organized a seminar on Non violence jointly with Mahidol University Bangkok on Oct 1st. Director delivered three lectures more at different universities of Bangkok a day before.

Prof Nathan Katz, Chair Bhagwan Mahavira of Florida International University visits ISJS

Non violence jointly with Mahidol University & other universities Bangkok

E. January – July 2010

• We have already informed you about the tremendous success of ISSJS2010 and the resulting fallout as seen above.
• With your continued patronage, guidance and financial support, ISJS is set to be the foremost Jain studies centre globally.

Prof Peter Flugel of SOAS Univ of London visits ISJS Delhi

Social Consciousness and Jainism seminar at University of Ottawa Canada on August 27^th 2010.

The first ever international seminar on Social Consciousness and Jainism was organized by ISJS in association with University of Ottawa. Prof Anne Vallely of the university and a front ranking active member of ISJS supported by ISJS alumni and UoO faculty Dr Stefan Quinn organized this seminar very successfully. Here is a brief report by Prof Anne Vallely

‘Friday’s conference “Social Consciousness and Jainism” at the University of Ottawa was a tremendous success. It began at 9am with my opening statement (in which I spoke about the activities and successes of the ISJS), and then proceeded with a series of academic papers. We had a coffee break where the audience (which included members of the local Jain community) had an opportunity to interact with the speakers. This was followed by several more papers and concluded with a presentation by Dr Jagmohan Humar on the Bhaktamar Stotra and the meaning of Aarti, and followed by a lovely Jain aarti dance performance. We adjourned for lunch at the local Govindas restaurant near campus and at 2pm resumed our academic programme which lasted until 4pm. At that point, we had a stimulating “round table” discussion between the speakers and the audience about the relevance of Jain values in the contemporary period. A number of us then went out to dinner to continue our conversation. Peter Flugel of SOAS has asked me to write up a synopsis for his journal, and there is also a possibility of publishing the papers.’

Delegations from University of Waterloo Toronto Canada and Principia College St Louis USA visit ISJS India

As a part of its ongoing Jain studies activities, ISJS has become the first place of call for a number of delegations from USA and Canada coming to India for field visits about Indian culture, philosophy etc. Several groups sponsored by American Institute of Indian Studies had visited ISJS last year. During September 2010, ISJS has welcomed the following two delegations already.

1. University of Waterloo Prof Jacobsch and 13 students on Sept 10th 2010.

   ISJS welcomed the guest at Jain Mandir Green Park.  ISJS director made an hour and half presentation on Jainism and ISJS to the visitors followed by visit to the temple, a sumptuous Indian vegetarian lunch at Evergreen restaurant nearby and visit acarya Ac Sushil muni ashrama for a dialogue with Dr Sadhana ji maharaj and visit the Svetambar temple there. ISJS also presented a set of six books published by ISJS and other leading Jain scholars for the library of the university. There was a profound interest demonstrated by the visitors in Jainism and ISJS as seen during formal and informal discussions. Incidentally Dr Janet Gunn, ISSJS alumni, is a faculty member at waterloo but could not join the group. Prof Jacobsch had been in touch with ISJS for last two years on various academic and other interests. ISJS is also making arrangements for the two days stay of the delegation at Sravanbelgola.

2. Principia college:  Prof C. Young +two faculty + 21 students on Sept 15th 2010.

   AIIS, which cooperates with ISJS, brought this delegation to ISJS. The delegation was welcomed at Ac Sushil muni ashram Defence Colony where a very interesting one a half hour presentation on Jainism and ISJS was made to the delegation. The presentation was followed by discussions, blessings of Dr. Sadhana ji maharaj and visit to the temple followed by light refreshments. ISJS also presented a set of six books to the College library.

Group from University of Waterloo             Group from Principia College