Launch of Jain Studies program at Virginia Commonwealth University In Richmond, VA

Friends, Jai Jinendra

For several years, we have been working with Virginia Commonwealth University ( VCU) in Richmond, VA to introduce regular Jain Studies program at VCU. During the last 2 years, VCU has had offered lectures on Jainism, four ( 3 students and one Professor) went to International Summer School for Jain Studies in India this year, and last month, Dr. Shugan Jain from ISJS India delivered 2 lectures there to nearly 220 students.

VCU is a prestigious and the second largest university in the State of Virginia with 32,000 student.

With several negotiations and discussions between ISJS and JAINA, now the time has arrived to launch a regular Jain Studies program at VCU.

This will happen on Sunday, November 13, 2011 starting at 10.00am at a beautiful historic hall on VCU campus which has been specially reserved just for this meeting. This really is an excellent opportunity that we will be starting JAIN study program there.

Jain community of Richmond, VA and VCU are hosting this meeting. Several University officials and the Jain Sangh of Richmond, VA will be there to greet the Jain community.

All Jains are invited. Hope we will have a great presence.

Please make your plans and invite as many Jains ;especially from Washington D.C and Raleigh NC areas to participate in this event.

Kindly let us know that you will be coming.

Dr. Sulekh C. Jain Past President JAINA Houston, Texas ,USA 281 494 7656 ( home) 832 594 8005 ( cell)

Dr. Sushil Jain President JAINA Washington, D.C 703 208 1861 ( home) 240 277 3039 ( cell)

Dilip v. Shah Past President JAINA Philadelphia, PA 215 561 0581 ( home) 215 868 0381 ( cell)

Parshwanath Vidyapeeth hot pick of foreign students

VARANASI: The International School for Jain Studies (ISJS), Parshwanath Vidyapeeth, Karaundi, is nowadays frequented by foreign students from various countries to study Jain philosophy.

In the recent past, two groups of foreign students from countries like the US, UK, Belgium, Japan, Thailand and Norway made visits for study purpose.

According to Dr SP Pandey, director in-charge of Parshwanath Vidyapeeth, the first group of 13 foreign students was on an education tour from June 14 to 19 while the second group of 12 students stayed for study purpose from June 30 to July 11. Lectures of noted scholars like Prof Anne Valley, department of Religious Studies, University Ottawa, Canada, Prof SN Upadhyay, director, Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University, Prof RS Ambasht, professor emeritus at BHU, and others were organised for them.

The Parshwanath Vidyapeeth, established in 1937 as an Institute of Indology, is an institution of higher learning in Jain Studies.

Foreign students attend lectures on Jainism

VARANASI: On a week long education tour from June 14 to 19, a group of foreigner students
studied Jainism at the International School for Jain Studies (ISJS), Parshwanath Vidyapeeth. The students came from various countries including the US, UK, Belgium, Japan, Thailand and Norway.

According to Dr SP Pandey, director in-charge Parshwanath Vidyapeeth, the students were engaged in various classes during their stay. Prof MNP Tiwari, department of history of art, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), delivered a lecture on Jain Art while Dr Pandey delivered a lecture on Anuvrata (code of conduct for Jain house-holders. Sarah Hadmac, lecturer at Hawaii University, delivered her lecture on Jainism and ecology presenting the relationship between nature and man especially in the light of Jain scriptures. Prof Sudarsh Lal Jain, former dean, Faculty of Arts, also taught code of conduct for Jain monks and penance.

The visiting students also witnessed the puja ceremony held at Shvetambar Temple, Bhelupur. Students discussed with faculty members on various concepts of Jainism in detail and also visited the Jain temples. The group left for New Delhi on Friday.