BY A STAFF REPORTER
BUENA PARK, CA - The Jain community in Southern California reached another milestone – three families donated to start the Bhagwan Shantinath Lectureship at California State University, Fullerton . The signing ceremony took place on August 26 at the Jain Center of Southern California here. Drs. Meera and Jasvant Modi,
BUENA PARK, CA - The Jain community in Southern California reached another milestone – three families donated to start the Bhagwan Shantinath Lectureship at California State University, Fullerton . The signing ceremony took place on August 26 at the Jain Center of Southern California here. Drs. Meera and Jasvant Modi,
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Dr. Narendra and Rita Parson and Mahesh and Usha Wadher committed $ 30,000 per year for five years for the lectureship.
The ceremony opened with emcee Dr Nitin Shah and the chanting of the ‘Navkar Mantra’.
This mantra simply serves as a gesture of deep respect towards beings whom they believe are spiritually evolved, as well as to remind devotees of their ultimate goal which is liberation of the soul from cycle of birth and death.
This was followed by lamp lighting by CSUF officials Dean Sheryl Fontaine, Associate Dean and Professor of Religious Studies, Dr. Paul Levesque and Senior Director of Development Alina Mircea-Trotz along with donors Drs. Meera and Jasvant Modi, Dr. Narendra Parson and his grandsons Rohan, 10, and Deven, 7.
A number of speeches followed. The first was by Dr. Sulekh Jain – grand father of Jain Academic Education in North America. He had flown in from Las Vegas just for this ceremony. He asked “what is Samovasaran – enlightened soul gives sermons from it to all not only human beings but also animals and birds and Jains need to open such Samovasarans in many universities. We want to give Jain colored glasses like other religions for students to look through.”
Modi said “This is his dream come true. We want to develop such educational opportunities in as many universities as possible and he was inspired by his nephew Bhavin who asked him to look into CSUF as it was so close to the Jain Center. He emailed Alina to explore the idea and that has brought us here today. This is our 7th Tirthankar naming in an academic institution.”
Parson said that he was inspired by Modi who has been relentless and a front runner in creating such opportunities in as many places as possible.
Dean Fontaine said, “We are very grateful for what you are offering and this will change students’ lives. You will be working with one of the largest Universities in the State and probably country. CSUF was started 60 years ago and will go a long way in helping students learn values that the Jain religion offers.”
Professor Levesque said he was glad that this lectureship will add a very important religion in the department for students to learn. He gave an outline that CSUF will hire a lecturer who will teach a class of under graduates Jain Studies for one semester and organize a symposium related to Jain principles in second semester. Students will be given scholarship also from the funds to study Jain religion locally as well as abroad!”
Mahesh and Usha Wadher could not be present, but in his statement he said, “The world needs to understand the Jain way of life and Jain principles. Today’s global society has become more complex and the world around us has become extremely volatile. There are many barriers such as political, religious, race, gender that keeps the world divided. At a time like this it is very important for us to come together and focus on the core values of humility, respect, compassion, love and peace that are common to all faiths of the world.”Donors and CSUF officials signed the agreement and Drs. Meera and Jasvant Modi and Dr. Parson delivered checks to Dean Fontaine. Around 70 members of the community were present to witness another historic moment.
The ceremony opened with emcee Dr Nitin Shah and the chanting of the ‘Navkar Mantra’.
This mantra simply serves as a gesture of deep respect towards beings whom they believe are spiritually evolved, as well as to remind devotees of their ultimate goal which is liberation of the soul from cycle of birth and death.
This was followed by lamp lighting by CSUF officials Dean Sheryl Fontaine, Associate Dean and Professor of Religious Studies, Dr. Paul Levesque and Senior Director of Development Alina Mircea-Trotz along with donors Drs. Meera and Jasvant Modi, Dr. Narendra Parson and his grandsons Rohan, 10, and Deven, 7.
A number of speeches followed. The first was by Dr. Sulekh Jain – grand father of Jain Academic Education in North America. He had flown in from Las Vegas just for this ceremony. He asked “what is Samovasaran – enlightened soul gives sermons from it to all not only human beings but also animals and birds and Jains need to open such Samovasarans in many universities. We want to give Jain colored glasses like other religions for students to look through.”
Modi said “This is his dream come true. We want to develop such educational opportunities in as many universities as possible and he was inspired by his nephew Bhavin who asked him to look into CSUF as it was so close to the Jain Center. He emailed Alina to explore the idea and that has brought us here today. This is our 7th Tirthankar naming in an academic institution.”
Parson said that he was inspired by Modi who has been relentless and a front runner in creating such opportunities in as many places as possible.
Dean Fontaine said, “We are very grateful for what you are offering and this will change students’ lives. You will be working with one of the largest Universities in the State and probably country. CSUF was started 60 years ago and will go a long way in helping students learn values that the Jain religion offers.”
Professor Levesque said he was glad that this lectureship will add a very important religion in the department for students to learn. He gave an outline that CSUF will hire a lecturer who will teach a class of under graduates Jain Studies for one semester and organize a symposium related to Jain principles in second semester. Students will be given scholarship also from the funds to study Jain religion locally as well as abroad!”
Mahesh and Usha Wadher could not be present, but in his statement he said, “The world needs to understand the Jain way of life and Jain principles. Today’s global society has become more complex and the world around us has become extremely volatile. There are many barriers such as political, religious, race, gender that keeps the world divided. At a time like this it is very important for us to come together and focus on the core values of humility, respect, compassion, love and peace that are common to all faiths of the world.”Donors and CSUF officials signed the agreement and Drs. Meera and Jasvant Modi and Dr. Parson delivered checks to Dean Fontaine. Around 70 members of the community were present to witness another historic moment.
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