"Jainism has contributed to the world the sublime doctrine of Ahimsa. No other religion has emphasized the importance of Ahimsa and carried its practice to the extent that Jainism has done. Jainism deserves to become the universal religion because of its Ahimsa doctrine."
- Justice Ranglekar, Bombay High Court -

TRADITIONS IN JAINISM
SALLEKHANA OR SANTHARA
According to Jainism, each individual soul is pure and perfect, but since eternity it is associated with karmic matter which is transformed into different forms. This suppresses innate cognitive and other properties of soul which has, therefore, become subject to birth and rebirth. The supreme object of religion is to show the way of liberation to the soul from the bondage of karma. This spiritual process is inextricably connected with the process of shedding karmas. The basic concept underlying a vow of sallekhana or santhara is to prevent influx of new karmas even at the last stages of life and at the same time liberate the soul from bondage of karmas.

The word sallekhana is composed of two words, sat and lekhana. Sat means samyak (rationality in belief) and lekhana means weakening the strength of body and passion by taking a vow. Santhara is a process that starts after a vow of sallekhana is taken. Santhara derives from the Sanskrit word sanstar which in prakrat has become santhar. Santhar is to spread a bed of grass. It is in the last stage that a person, for achieving samadhimaran, sits on a grass bed and goes into deep meditation. He cultivates no interest in living or no regret in embracing death. The purpose is not to seek moksha but to liberate the soul from the bondage of karmas. In Jainism, the tradition of systematic fasting, known as santhara, has existed for more than 2,000 years. Holy men say that sallekhana is giving up the body by fasting when there is unavoidable calamity, severe drought, old age or incurable disease, in order to observe the discipline of religion. Prior to taking vow of sallekhana, santhara is required to give up all feelings of love, hatred, companionship and attachment of any kind with a pure mind. One may take to santhara after obtaining blessings from gurus, and permission from family, friends and relatives.

Sallekhana is voluntary termination of one's life, but under no circumstances is it equivalent to committing suicide. Suicide is committed on a sudden impulse. It is normally a misfortune of one's own making. It may be a result of mental weakness or external circumstances. Attempting suicide is a penal offence under Section 309 of Indian Penal Code. The high courts of Bombay and Delhi have held Section 309 unconstitutional. In Rathinam P before a division bench of the Supreme Court, it was argued that provisions of Section 309 of IPC are arbitrary, monstrous and barbaric and offend the equality clause under Article 14 of the Constitution. The division bench by invoking Article 21 has held that since right to live includes right to die, Section 309 is violative of Article 21. It is true that the division bench judgment of the Supreme Court in Rathinam P stands overruled in Gian Kaur. However, in the Gian Kaur case the court observed: "The right to life including the right to live with human dignity would mean the existence of such a right up to the end of natural life. This also includes the right to a dignified life up to the point of death including a dignified procedure of death. In other words, this may include the right of a dying man to also die with dignity when his life is ebbing out". The Supreme Court in Gian Kaur has summed up the law of the land by observing that the right to live with human dignity includes the right to terminate natural life after commencement of natural process of certain death.

If we examine the case on the basis of philosophy of religion it is evident that every man lives to accomplish four objectives of life i.e. dharma, artha, kama and moksha. When earthly objectives are complete the question arises as to why a person should cling to the body. Hence, a man has a moral right to terminate his life according to Jain religious tenets, because death is simply changing the old body into a new one.

In 1972, the Law Commission recommended abolition of Section 309 of the IPC. In UK, there is no punishment for abetment of suicide. In a number of countries, including UK, euthanasia or mercy killing is permitted. In 1993, Dutch parliament permitted mercy killing under strict guidelines. In Gian Kaur the court has recognised the right to die with dignity. Hence, a dying man who is terminally ill or in a persistent vegetative state can be permitted to prematurely terminate his life.

Sallekhana is a system of belief which Jains regard as conducive to their spiritual well-being. The preamble to the Constitution states that the Constitution secures to all its citizens liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship. Article 25 guarantees that every person in India shall have freedom of conscience and a right to profess, practice and propagate religion. Article 29 goes further and declares that any section of citizens having a distinct culture shall have a right to conserve the same. If any law comes in conflict with constitutional rights, it will have to yield. According to Sati Prevention Act, 1987, abetment of sati means that if any widow commits sati, or if someone abets or glorifies it, the act is punishable. This is different from sallekhana-santhara. It is clear that sallekhana is not suicide, and practice of sallekhana in the Jain community is protected by various guarantees enshrined in the Constitution. Source: www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

SAINTS
DEVOTEES RECALL THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ACHARYASHREE VIDHYA SAGAR JI MAHARAJ ON HIS 61st BIRTH DAY - Acharya Shri Vidhya Sagar Ji maharaj entered his sixty-first year on the 7th October, 2006. Entire Digambar Jain samaj remembered him on this day for his enormous contributions to the Jain religion and Jain society. He has been a motivating force behind the establishment and renovation of many Jain teerths. He has been instrumental in spreading the message of Mahavir, propagating ahimsa, truth and aparigraha, providing facilities for youngsters to learn Jain religion and philosophy, looking after various cowsheds (Gaushala) and shelters for birds and animals. Shri Vidhya sagar Ji has been the symbol of gyan (knowledge), bhakti (devotion) and acharan (conduct). In spite of continuously practicing austerity, asceticism and penance, he always maintains simplicity, calmness, straightness and sensitivity.

MUNI RAKESH KUMAR JI ADDRESSES STUDENTS AND STAFF OF PUNJAB AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY - Muni Rakesh Kumar Ji accompanied with Muni Shri Sudhakar Ji, disciples of Acharya Shri Mahapragya belonging to Jain Shwetambar Terapanthi sect visited Punjab Agricultural university and addressed the students and staff there. He laid stress on the need for spiritual development apart from mental and physical development of young generation. He discussed at length the harmful effects of addiction and appealed to all the students not to indulge in such a vice which causes a person to lose all his senses. The audience present was highly moved by the appeal and all the students and staff took a vow before the saints not to take any intoxicating items in future. Munishri Ji also talked about the subject of science of living and explained the necessity for developing mental concentration, resoluteness and discipline amongst the students.

TEMPLES
MAHARASHTRA GOVERNMENT PROPOSES BILL TO TAKE OVER RELIGIOUS SHRINES
Mumbai, November 13, 2006: The Maharashtra government is proposing legislation which will empower the state to take over all religious shrines. If the legislation is enacted it will place all Hindu, Jain, Christian and Buddhist shrines under government control. The law, however, makes no mention of Aukaf land (Muslim religious bequests) which are located all over the state. The intended purpose of the proposal, according to the government, is to curb corruption at the temples. At the present time, some shrines are under government control from which the state is getting two per cent of the total income. In the new bill the provision is made to take 12 to 15 per cent of the total income. According to senior government officials, the proposed legislation will add approximately Rs. 40,000 crore in yearly revenues to the government . In Mumbai alone, there are 60,000 - 70,000 religious shrines.There are more than nine lakh religious shrines and places in the state of Maharashtra. But this proposed legislation is likely to invite some unavoidable tensions for the government. After the enforcement of this act all Hindu, Jain, Christian and Boudh shrines will be under government control. But this draft bill is totally silent on the huge Aukaf Land spread all over the state. Source: www.cybernoon.com

NINE IDOLS STOLEN FROM JAIN TEMPLE
Jalesar (UP), Nov 3: Nine antique ashtadhatu idols were stolen along with cash and ornaments from the Digambar Jain temple. Two idols of Parsvnath, four of Chandraprabhu, and one each of Sidwanath, Adinath and Mahaveer Swami were stolen. Several ornaments, cash, 'mangal kalash' and other valuables used in temple rituals are also reported missing. Additional Superintendent of Police Pramod Kumar said the thieves entered the temple by breaking open the main door while those inside the shrine were asleep. Several suspects have been rounded up for interrogation and police teams sent to different places for tracing the thieves. Meanwhile, members of the Jain community said they would launch an agitation if the police failed to nab the thieves soon.

EXCAVATIONS NEAR BIKANER REVEAL RARE STATUES OF TIRTHANKARS
Bikaner: During the digging of soil in a field at Rai Ki Dhani village in Khatu Bari region of Nagaur district of Rajasthan, six rare stone statues, belonging to 11th century have been recovered few days ago. The statues are those of Bhagwan Shri Parshwa nath Ji, Shri Adinath Ji and also of Shri Bahubali swami. year Samvat 1094 is inscribed on some of the stones. The information about the recovery of statues was reported to the Archeology department at Bikaner by the local police for further investigations.

JAIN INSTITUTIONS
VIRAYATAN OFFERS YEOMEN SERVICE TO THE FLOOD-STRICKEN IN SURAT
An eminent religious institution, founded by Shwetambar Sthanakwasi saint, Upadhyay Shri Amar Muni, based at Rajgiri in Bihar, performed exceptional service to the poor and helpless people of Surat town during the devastating floods a few months back. Acharya Shree Chandana Ji maharaj, the disciple of Upadhyay Shri Amar Muni, has been at the lead in providing service to the people in the form of food items, medicines, clothing and shelter along with her devoted and dedicated team of other Sadhwis throughout the period till the floods receded and people could go back to their homes. Over the last thirty-four years, the activities of Virayatan have grown steadily. The small candle of compassion lighted in Rajgir, has inspired many people in different parts of India and abroad, to practice 'compassion into action'. Earlier, while the people of Bhuj were facing the calamity caused by devastating earthquake, Veerayatan had been at the forefront to provide all sort of help to the earthquake-stricken people, including establishing a hospital there.

INAUGURATION OF NEW ACTIVITIES AT VIRAYATAN
Under the guidance of Acharyashree Chandanaji maharaj, Veerayatan is putting into practice the message of Mahaveer, as relevant to the modern times through service, education and spiritualism (Seva, shiksha and sadhna). On 5th, 6th and 7th January, 2007, Veerayatan will be celebrating the inauguration of various new activities, namely:
(i) inauguration of "Tirthankar Mahavir Vidya Mandir at close-by holy place, Pawapuri;
(ii) a conference to deliberate furtherance of spiritual endeavors through compassion and action and
(iii) inauguration of an "Artificial limb centre.
Veerayatan invites all those associated with its noble activities to attend these celebrations. For further details contact: , Sadhwi Shri Sampargyaji at E-Mail : sampragyaji@hotmail.com

SEMINARS AND CONVENTIONS
NINTH ANNUAL YOUNG JAIN PROFESSIONALA CONVENTION AT LOS ANGELES
The 9th Annual Young Jain Professionals convention was held in Los Angeles, CA from October 15 to 18, 2006. The theme of the convention was Balancing the Scales of Life. A primary aim of this convention was to provide a forum for learning about and discussing issues that we as Jains face in the professional stage of our lives. Jains from the US and Canada attended in the convention and participated in scholarly presentations, self reflection, and social activities for the weekend.

The convention began Friday evening with a recitation of the Navkar Mantra and an introduction of the YJP Executive Board. Next morning began with a meditation session, where Ashok Sanghavi took participants through a relaxing journey. Next day, came a presentation, Discovering the Gift of the Wound. In this presentation, Aqueela Sherrills began by sharing his life story as a gang member in his teenage years and the journey that led him to dedicate his life to ending gang violence. Mr. Sherrills emphasized that peace is not a destination. Peace is not only the absence of war, it is about balancing the gift of the wound with who we are. Next, participants had a choice of three different sessions: 1) Passion & Purpose: Mind, Body, and Soul, 2) Aparigraha, or 3) Human Rights/Labor Rights.

Then came a trip to the Los Angeles temple. Inside the temple, attendees were able to view a mini temple that the British had built in 1904. This intricately carved two story teak temple, a replica of a temple in Palitana, had been made for the 1904-1905 World’s Fair held in St. Louis. After the World’s Fair, the temple ended up on display in a casino in Las Vegas for decades. Eventually, the Jain Center of Southern California was able to acquire the temple and was recently able to put it on display.

Attendees got a tour of the temple, were given a chance to worship, and then were treated to a sumptous lunch. This was followed by team building activities, where participants got a chance to interact with each other and learn more about each other, while enjoying fun and games.

Sunday morning, those who were able to wake up early enough participated in a meditation session again led by Ashok Sanghavi. Then, after breakfast, participants had the option of choosing among three different topics: 1) Higher Consciousness in Marriage, 2) Living in the Now, or 3) Jain Rituals. In Higher Consciousness in Marriage, Dr. Anil Singhvi, with his down-to-earth, humorous style, raised issues such as the purpose of getting married, picking the right person, what makes it difficult for couples to talk to each other, and factors that lead to failed marriages. Dr. Singhvi helped participants recognize the elements necessary in developing a strong and healthy marriage. In Living in the Now, Gabe Anderson conveyed to the audience that we all create stories in our lives and relate to them as if that is who we are, thereby, repeating old patterns in our lives. We can, however, make the choice to step away from old stories and change them, thereby creating new patterns for ourselves. In Jain Rituals, Ashok Sanghavi educated the audience on purpose and meaning behind various Jain rituals. Participants got a chance to learn about how these rituals can serve as a source of spirituality.

The participants attended one of the two following sessions: In Making Your Life a Fulfilling Experience, Dr. Mohan Sood conveyed that a person can be successful, but still not be fulfilled. He identified the following factors as essential to fulfillment: education, making work a joyful experience by maintaining a work ethic, respect for elders, love and acceptance, and giving back to society. In Contemporary Issues in Jainism, Jain priest Jayesh Khona led a discussion on controversial topics, such as gender roles in Jainism, marrying non-Jains, etc. This was followed by a session on Anekantavada. In this session, Dr. Anil Singhvi focused on the application of the principle of Anekantavada (non-one-endedness) for effective communication. He identified characteristics of bad communication and then shared secrets to effective communication. These secrets include the following: 1) Finding the truth in what the other person is saying, 2) Putting yourself in the other person’s shoes, 3) Asking gentle probing questions to learn more about what the other person is thinking or feeling, 4) Expressing feelings with “I feel” statements instead of “you” statements, and 5) Finding something genuinely positive to say to the other person, even when angry. The convention ended with dinner and as everyone parted, many looked forward to seeing each other at next year’s YJP Convention. [Courtesy: Shilpa Shah]

2ND YOUNG JAINS OF INDIA CONVENTION CONCLUDES WITH REVOLUTIONARY RESOLUTIONS - New Delhi, Nov 5: The 2nd Young Jains of India (YJI) Convention concluded on a high note with two key revolutionary resolutions that are expected to transform the Jain community in the coming future. The key resolutions passed as a part of the convention are - “To exhibit humanity and compassion in all fronts by denying dowry system and practicing ahimsa by not promoting abortion”. The resolutions read out by the National Chairman of YJI Manish Kasliwal emphasised that persons practicing dowry and encouraging abortion will be denied from being members of YJI. Youths and dignitaries present at the convention accepted this resolution unanimously and there by setting the ball roll for a new era in the Jain community.

Colourful Inaugural Function – The convention was inaugurated on 3rd November, 2006 at a colourful and attractive inaugural function at Siri Fort Auditorium. The inaugural function was attended by Justice Vijendra Jain (Acting Chief Justice Delhi High Court), Abhishek Singhvi (Congress Spokesperson), Indu Jain (Chairman, Times Group), N.P.Jain (Ex Indian Ambassador), D.R. Mehta (Ex Chairman SEBI and Ex Deputy Governor RBI), Kirit Daftary (President JAINA), Prem Jain (Ex VP Cisco System), R.K.Jain (President, Bharat Jain Mahamandal), Parveen Jain (VP MCafe) and Manish Kasliwal (Chairman YJI). The function went on to a flying start by a motivating speech by NP Jain. Mr N P Jain recited his soul stirring poem focusing on the behaviour of human attributing all his failures to the will of God. Justice Vijendra Jain emphasized assertively that all revolutionizing concepts and the everlasting rules that govern the world are in fact Jain principles. Smt Indu Jain quoted that youth have the maximum energy to lead the world in the right prospects.

Abhishek Sindhvi in his address stressed on the rise of India as an economic superpower due to the contribution and talents made by the Indian youth with the right technological approach. Pravin Jain also a member of YJI board of trustees opined that united positive efforts by the Indian youth could change the world’s scenario in the right perspective. Manish Kasliwal, the chairperson of the organization emphasized on the more than urgent need for the youth to come together to go beyond the rituals and unite under the common thread of the Jain philosophy. He stressed that the focus of the organization will be to bring in a positive change within the community and encouraging the youngster to be a contributing factors to the social causes affecting the society. The function witnessed the launch of the movie ‘Samyaktva’ based on the principles of Ahimsa Aparigraha and Anekantwad by Dr Abhishek Sanghvi. The inaugural function was followed by colourful cultural presentations. The highlight of the presentation was the dance performance by Deaf and Dumb children from Indore, Their synchronized performance to the musical tunes by the children who understood only sign language was mesmerizing and unbelievable.

Interesting Discussions: The Following two days of the convention witnessed many interesting sessions resulting in many fruitful and interactive discussions. The speakers were successful in making the youths to be very interactive during the sessions. The plenary sessions on Ahimsa, Aparigraha and Anekantavad led to many interesting discussions and questions on practicing these principles in daily life in our family and professions. The plenary sessions on Aparigraha deserves a special mention. This session led to a long drawn discussion on its practice with Ruby Bhatia (a popular television anchor and a stern follower of ahimsa and vegetarianism). The 2nd Day evening witnessed many humorous and breath taking cultural presentations by the YJI team members from across India. The participants whole heartedly appreciated the efforts put forth by YJI-North team in organising this convention successfully. The convention concluded with a decision to meet in South India at its 3rd All India Convention in 2007.

TR-IANNUAL CONVENTION OF DIGAMBAR JAIN MAHASABHA HELD AT NEW DELHI
The tri-annual convention of Digambar Jain maha sabha was held at Sirifort auditorium, New Delhi on the 29th October, 2006 in the holy presence of Poojya Acharya Shri Vidhyanand Ji maharaj. The occasion was also the celebration of birth centenery of Acharya Shri Desh Bhushan Ji maharaj. The inauguration of the convention was presided over by shri A.R. Antule, Minister for minorities, Govt. of India and the chief guest was Shri Arjun Singh, Minister for Human Resource Development, Govt. of India.