HIGHLIGHTS
 
JERF Board expresses gratitude and reverence to HH Acharya Mahashraman
On a cool and bright morning, a large crowd gathered in the Mahapragya Adhyatma and Education Foundation building in the Sardarshahar, Rajasthan to listen to His Holiness Acharya Mahashraman's discourse... Read
 
Dalai Lama blesses JERF donation to FIU
An elegant ceremony was organized on October 25th in Miami Beach in honor of HH Dalai Lama by Princess of Vietnam. Read
 
Jain Scriptures donated to FIU library
It was only last April that the Bhagwan Mahavir Endowed Professorship... Read
 
 
FIU's Study of Rare Religion Gets a Boost
Florida International University's Religious Studies Department is receiving... Read
 
 
 
 
Dalai Lama blesses JERF donation to FIU

An elegant ceremony was organized on October 25th in Miami Beach in honor of HH Dalai Lama by Princess of Vietnam. Dr. Dipak Jain, ex-Dean, Kellog School of Management and Chairman of JERF, the Board of Directors of JERF and many leaders of Jain Society including Samani Charitra Prajna, Samani Chaitanya Pragya, Mr Bharat Desai, Ms. Neerja Sethi and Mr. Rajiv Jain were present on the occasion. They presented a check to HH Dalai Lama as the second installment of a multi-million dollar plan with FIU toward Bhagawan Mahavir Professorship for Jain studies. This historic professorship was started with the blessings of His Holiness Acharya Shree Mahapragya and HH Dalai Lama in April 2010 on the great occasion of Bhagawan Mahavir Jayanti. It is the first ever Jain Professorship outside India -- a new step towards spreading the teachings of Jain Philosophy like non-violence, pluralism, tolerance and non-attachment to the western world.
Addressing the exclusive gathering, HH Dalai Lama called Jainism and Buddhism "twin brothers" from India. In his meeting with Samanijis, the BOD of JERF and other Jain leaders, he fondly recalled his meetings with Acharya Shree Tulsi and congratulated the Jain community for its vision and effort. He also invited Samaniji and Dr. Dipak Jain to the dais. Dr. Jain spoke eloquently about the Jain studies and research efforts by JERF.

Following the ceremony, a delicious lunch and beautiful cultural program was hosted by Princess Thi Nga of Vietnam. In his address, Prof. Nathan Katz, the first Bhagawan MahavirProfessor and Chair of the Religious Studies department as well as Dean Ken Furton of FIU appreciated Jain studies at FIU and inspired people of other communities to learn from the Jain community. During a public address on the second day of the program at a well known synagogue, HH Dalai Lama mentioned Jainism many times along with non-possession, non-violence and self-discipline practiced by the Jain monks. There was much curiosity about Jainism from present media and other attendees at both functions. The visit by HH Dalai Lama provided a great exposure to the percepts of Jainism to the western world and highlighted the role that teachings of Jainism can accord in resolving the problems of modern day world.
 
 
 
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