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.

 

 

 

ISSJS2009 Bangkok is organized by Mahidol University (leading multidisciplinary national university of Thailand with beautiful and modern campus) in association with Digambar Jain Federation Bangkok and ISJS India. Director ISJS Dr. Shugan Jain arrived here on 21^st April to make all arrangements final for inauguration, lectures, stay etc.

 

The inauguration program was attended by the entire class of 17 plus registered participants to the program and twenty community leaders and university faculty. The program was inaugurated by H.E. Mrs. Latha Reddy, Indian ambassador to Thailand. It was a very well organized program which started with lighting the lamp. Manglacharan by Dr. Shugan Jain followed by brief speeches by Prof. Sophana Srichampa of Mahidol and coordinator of the program, Mr. Pramod Jain president of DJF Bangkok, Dr. Shugan Jain director ISJS India and the Mrs. Latha Reddy Indian ambassador. DJF organized an exhibition of important Jain temples in the world which was also inaugurated by the ambassador. The function ended with light refreshments to all attendees. After the program an orientation program for the participants was organized and conducted by Dr. Shugan Jain in which a Help book was given to each student along with a CD containing Study notes Version 3.0 and Key to Tattvarathasutra. Jain path of Purification was also given to each participant.

 

From 22^nd to 25^th April, eight lectures as scheduled were delivered by Dr. Shugan Jain. These formed the foundation of Jainism for the participants to learn the concepts and practices in Jainism properly.

 

The following lecture schedule was delivered to the participants

·        First week        Dr. Shugan Jain (9 lectures)

·        Second week   Prof. Kusum Jain (5 lectures), Prof. Sogani (9 lectures)

·        Third week       Dr. Priya Jain (9 lectures)

·        Fourth week     Prof. Bhag Chandji (10 lectures)

 

Besides two lectures by ISSJS alumni from Thailand were also delivered for a total of 45 academic lectures on all aspects of Jainism.

 

·        On Sunday April 26^th, a three hour Shwetambar Jain puja was organized at Shwetambar Jain temple in Bangkok.

·        On Saturday May 2^nd a three hour Digambar Jain puja was organized at Digambar Jain temple in Bangkok.

Both pujas were followed by a sumptuous brunch organized by DJF.

 

All the lectures were highly interactive including group discussions by participants. All the seventeen participants attended the programs completely with others coming off and on depending on their interest. Participants are a mix of students and faculty members (6).  A very senior philosophy scholar (Dr Savior, an advisor to UNO and a number of MNCs) is also attending the program on full time basis. Three Jain business men and women also attended the program completely besides the university students and faculty. At the end of the each week all the participants were requested to give their comments and suggestions for improvements which were very valuable and showed complete satisfaction by the attending participants.

 

Overall a feeling is generated that this program is the beginning of an annual ISJS class regularly. More the half class wishes to attend the two months program in India also and others a similar program in Bangkok next year. Dr. Savior, the Spanish scholar wishes to come to India for the two months program and a stay later at PV Varanasi for experiencing the Jainism tradition in more details. A detailed meeting with the dean and senior professors of Assumption university (Dean Sriwarakuel and Director international affairs Glen Chatelier and senior professors) was held with a view to enhance cooperation between ISJS and them. Similarly, Mr Prasong, an ISJS alumni and a lecturer at Rahmbeg University was held to review cooperation. By all accounts ISJS has been fully established in Bangkok with very exciting activities already being planned.

 

ISJS thanks the organizers of ISSJS2009 Bangkok i.e. DJF (Mr. Pramod Jain, Mr. Atul Shah and Mr. Nikunj Mehta particularly and the entire council of ISJS Bangkok and DJF), Mahidol University, especially Prof. Sophana Srichampa for their special efforts and hard work to make this program a grand success. ISJS alumni Mr. Prasong and Nomnian have also worked very hard to make this program a reality. Special thanks go to Shri Nirmal K. Sethi president of Shri Bharatvarshiya Digambar Jain Mahasabha for financially sponsoring the visit of all the five faculty members of ISJS. 

 

ISJS Bangkok chapter was also inaugurated with Mr. Pramod Jain as its chairman. The chapter members requested director ISJS to significantly increase ISJS activities in Bangkok. The current program is a joint offering by Mahidol University and ISJS and a certificate of participation will be given to all participants by both institutions combined. The candidate selected as best performer in ISSJS 2009 Bangkok will be offered a trip to India to attend the lectures by Prof. Jaini and participate in the pilgrimage.

 

Some photos of ISSJS2009 at Bangkok are enclosed.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the eve of ISSJS2009 launch, director ISJS India has presented his report to all alumni, enrolled participants, faculty, supporters and well wishers of ISJS.

 

The following new initiatives have been launched by ISJS on the occasion:

 

·        Setting up ISJS chapters at UK and Bangkok. Now ISJS has complete presence in India, USA, Canada, UK and Thailand.

·        Sending Jain scholars to different universities / research institutes in India and overseas): Requirements of Jain scholars for posting in Thailand and India exist with ISJS. Need good Jain scholars.

·        Offer of two scholarships for four years, each valued at Rs 50000 per year for PhD students conducting research on Jain history. These scholarships are sponsored by Shri Satish Chand Jain of Nagpur.     

·        Setting up ISJS-PV Global Centre for Ahimsa and Indological Research at Parashwanath Vidhyapeeth Varanasi. More such centres are being planned throughout India.

 

ISJS whole heartedly thank its financial supporters and faculty members for providing financial and academic resources for ISSJS2009.

 

Messages from Prof Crawford chairman Academic council ISJS USA, Dr. Sulekh Jain chairman ISJS governing council USA, Dr Atul Shah Chairman ISJS chapter UK and Mr Pramod Jain Chairman ISJS Bangkok chapter can be viewed.

 

 

 

Message from Prof. Cromwell Crawford

Chairman Academic Council USA and ASJNA

 

My dear participants of ISSJS 2009,

Once feels lucky, twice is nice, three times every one can tell you that is a tradition. Applying this to International Summer School for Jain Studies (ISSJS), our first successful attempt was explained as a stroke of good luck, second time around one heaved a sigh of relief and pronounced it very nice and  repeat performances now call ISSJS a tradition. Oxford dictionary defines a tradition as the act of transmitting or handing down from one generation to another. The image that flashes on my mind is that of runners in a relay race ending on a baton from runner to another runner with each runner being careful to deliver the baton to the other who is equally careful to receive it with a firm grip and making certain that it does not fall, causing his/her team to lose the race.

In a real sense, we started a tradition when Dr. Sulekh Jain, Dr.  Shugan Jain and a few others organized a summer school  which has gone on running for a number of years, involving more than 80 runners who have carried the message of LORD MAHAVIR with speed and diligence, making certain that it will be passed on to the next generation. In this inauguration ceremony you have stepped forward to take the baton into a new race. For this act of dedication, all of us congratulate you for supplying living link that connects the 5^th Century B.C with modern times. We also pledge you our support to make the race most thrilling experience of your life. With that, I repeat the famous words uttered each May at the INDY 500 AUTO RACE in USA, “Gentlemen start your engine”. And so, Drs. Sulekh Jain and Shugan Jain and I say to you “Students you are in the race of your life. Start your engine as we wish you GODSPEED”.

Jai Jinendra

 

 

MESSAGE FOR ISSJS 2009 from Dr. Sulekh C. Jain

Chairman Governing Council ISJS, North America

 

In my experience of more than 43 years living in the West, I have noticed that compared to other religions of India, Jainism is the least known and most misunderstood religion not only in the general population but also in academia as well. This is so despite the fact that Jain scholarship over the centuries has made outstanding contributions to the world’s knowledge of physical science, logic, biology, and cosmology. There can, of course, be no doubt that Jain ethical concepts, and, in particular, the doctrine of Ahimsa or nonviolence, have played a pivotal role in modern history and have a continuing relevance to many current world issues.

Unfortunately, I have found the same lack of understanding and appreciation of Jainism in India and among Indians despite the fact that the Jain community and Jain tradition can be seen as a microcosm of Indian society and ways of thought and Jainism has unquestionably made significant contributions to Indian heritage and culture. There may be myriad reasons for this state of affairs but one reason stands out that for the last several hundred years—Jainism has remained confined to those born into Jain families and there have been few efforts made to educate others—whether in India or elsewhere—about this great system. In addition, there is no formal, organized and regular system of imparting knowledge about this tradition even within the Jain community and, as a result, very few Jain youths are well versed in their own great tradition.

Prof. Gary Francione, Distinguished Professor of Law at Rutgers University in New Jersey and an American Jain, has on several occasions shared with me his distress that many of the American-born Jain youths he encounters are either ignorant about their own religion or have developed an apathy towards it.  

A good part of the problem is that the old guard Jain academic scholars, who are mostly confined to India in any event, are now in their late 70s and 80s. Their numbers are dwindling rapidly and there is hardly anyone in the pipeline to replace them. For Jainism to take its rightful place amongst the world’s great religious traditions, Jainism must not only be preserved in Indian universities and centers of learning, but must be incorporated into the academic institutions of the West and the rest of the world.

This is what inspired us in 2005 to create the International School for Jain Studies (ISJS) to train faculty and teach students in the universities not only in the United States and Canada but throughout the world. Individuals who are deeply interested  and eager to learn Jain philosophy and Jain way of life, and are willing to promote Jaina studies in their universities and other academic institutions, are encouraged to enroll in the intensive summer schools which are organized annually .

We have had a marvelous experience with ISSJS in the past four years but our journey has just begun. We have developed a multi-pronged approach to expand our program. Some of the action plans we have been working on now are:

 

1) In addition to offering courses during the summer only, we will also be looking to offer courses throughout the year on demand in India and at other universities of the world. For example, this year, we will be offering a course in Thailand.

 

2) Parshwanath Vidya Peeth in Varanasi, India, a 73 year old premier institute in JAINA studies where many famous Jain scholars studied and worked, is being revived and upgraded right now to open as a year-round ISJS, which will be called the ISJS-PV Global Centre for Ahinsa and Indic Research. This new Center will be available to scholars from around the world as a residential facility that will afford them the opportunity to study, do field work and scholarship, and to give lectures reflecting their respective areas of expertise.

 

3)    We are looking at making the whole world an open class room by offering courses on-line  and via distant e-learning. As a start, Dr. Pankaj Jain, a 2006 Alumnus of ISSJS and now a faculty member at North Carolina State University in USA, will be offering a regular on-line course in Jainism starting in the fall semester 2009.

 

4) To facilitate communication and connectivity, we have successfully initiated programs to create a global data base of Jain academicians and of Jain publications and their search and location in any libraries of the world.

 

5) ISJS has already started and will strive to facilitate the acquisition and maintenance of a good collection of Jain books in many college and university libraries, particularly in North America.

 

6) We are constantly working to develop collaborations with universities and institutions with similar mutual interests. So far, we have collaborations with the University of Ottawa, the Indo Canadian Shastri Institute, and the American Institute of Indian Studies.

 

ISJS has emerged as the world’s foremost facilitator of awareness about Jain academic education and its teaching and research in the colleges and Universities around the world. As we educate more faculty, graduate, and undergraduate scholars, we will not only create  opportunities to start and offer regular courses in Jainism in many colleges  and Universities around the world but we will also facilitate the academic exchange and interaction between Jain educational institutions in India and Colleges and universities around the world.  

Jainism is not only an ancient tradition of religion, philosophy, and science that deserves to be preserved for the contributions that it has made to India and the world, but it is a tradition that offers solutions to the problems that are increasingly threatening life on this planet. One ISSJS 2005 alumnus, Mr. Tim Helton, who is currently working on his PhD at Drew University in USA, wrote a research paper, What is Common Between Three Ms and Three As?  The “three Ms” are Mahavir, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King and the “three As” are Ahimsa, Anekantavada (the multifaceted nature of truth) and Aparigraha (non-attachment to possessions). Mr. Helton made a case that Mahavir influenced Mahatma Gandhi who influenced Martin Luther King, and all three had the “three As” as their way of life. Through ISJS, we plan to create such a band of scholars who will look at Jainism rationally but critically and will then offer this tradition to the rest of the world.

This is our dream and plan and we appeal to the Jain and academic communities to join with us in this journey.

 

 

Message from Dr. Atul K. Shah

Chairman, ISJS Chapter U.K

 

‘The vision behind this project is bold and unique. It is also very timely. We are really excited that we have selected five candidates in our first year to travel to India, all of whom are highly qualified and also highly motivated to go. This shows that there is a lot of latent interest in Europe for such a Summer School and we see this interest growing over the coming years. We also believe that Jain philosophy has a much wider appeal in subjects such as mental health and psychology, food culture and nutrition, literature and poetry, social cohesion, environmental ethics, business ethics, and sustainability studies and would like to widen the participation from students in these disciplines in the coming years.’

 

Message from Shri Pramod Jain

Chairman ISJS Thailand Chapter

 

It gives me immense pleasure and a sense of pride to announce the start of very first ISSJS 2009 class on Jain Philosophy in Thailand. I came to know about ISSJS program in 2005 founded by Dr. Sulekh Jain and few other visionaries from USA few years ago and supported by ISJS India under the leadership of its Chairman, Dr. Shugan C. Jain. It is like Dream-come-True project for me.

Back in 2005, I was asked by All India Digambra Jain Mahasabha President, Shri Nirmalji Sethi, to send 2-3 scholars from Thailand. I am pleased to inform that so far we have total 5 Thai scholars (2 in year 2006, 1 in year 2007 & 2 in year 2008) as ISSJS Alumni and this year we have one more scholar going to study 2 months’ ISSJS workshop in India. Some of these scholars are now teaching Jainism in their Comparative Religious Studies course at their local universities. During my interaction with Thai professors, scholars in past few years I came to know that most of them had heard about Jainism but had very little knowledge and there was very little information and practically no books available on Jainism in University libraries.

The 1^st ISSJS workshop in Thailand is being held from 23^rd April till 14^th May 2009, classes held on 6 days/week. We now have total of 17 full time scholars (lecturers and students) for this course and there will be few more professors, scholars attending lectures on some of the days. This program would not have been possible without consistent encouragement and support from Dr. Sulekh Jain, Dr. Shugan C. Jain and also without help from Dr. Sophana Srichampa, Director, ILCRD, Mahidol University and one of our very active ISSJS Alumni, Mr. Prasong. It is worth mentioning here that Mr. Prasong along with help from 2 other ISSJS Alumni-Ms. Lalita and Mr. Wichanchai has translated a book “JAINISM-Religion of Compassion and Ecology” compiled by Dr. Pravin K. Shah, Chairperson / JAINA Education Committee. It is indeed a memorable event for both Thai and Indian scholars to share and learn from each other.