President of India inaugurated Seminar on “Solution of Global Challenges through Mahavira Philosophy”in Rashtrapati Bhawan Auditorium
“Ahimsa, Anekanta and Aparigraha can provide answers to many modern day problems” – President
New Delhi, 22nd April 2013:HonrablePresident of India Shri Pranab Mukerjee inaugurated the seminar on ‘Solution of Global Challenges through Mahavira’s Philosophy’on the occasion of Bhagwan Mahavir Jayanti in Rastrapati Bhawan auditorium organised by Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti .In the seminar held in the presence of Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni, Founder President Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti and Shri Shriprakash Jaiswal, Coal Minister Government of India, Sh. Abhay Kumar Jain, President, Bhagwan Mahavir Jayanti Reception Committee, Sh. D.K. Jain, Convener Bhagwan Mahavir Jayanti Reception Committee, Sh. Pradeep Jain, Chairman Bhagwan Mahavir Jayanti Reception Committee,Sh. Subhash Oswal, Senior Vice President All India Jain conference, religious leaders of different religions, political leaders of different parties and distinguished people from different walks of life took part.
President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee gave his heartiest felicitations to Jains all over the world on this auspicious birth day celebration of Lord Mahavira. Mahavira, the 24th tirthankar of Jains who was born with riches but adopted renunciation to attain Bliss. He said that Bhagwan Mahavir’s teachings are as relevant today to address current global problems like rampant erosion of our environment and natural resources due to aggressive consumption based development, violence in the form of terrorism and wars; religious fanaticism, political ideologies, exploitation and corruption all around. Shri Pranab Mukerjee congratulated Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti for organising seminar on ‘Solution of Global Challenges through Mahavira’s Philosophy’ on the auspicious occasion of Bhagwan Mahavir birth anniversary.
President further said that the three A’s of Ahimsa, Anekanta and Aparigraha of Lord Mahavira’ philosophy can provide answers to many modern day problems. Shri Mukerjee appreciated that under the guidance of Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni, Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti is working towards building a society free from violence, terrorism, exploitation, poverty, communalism, caste distinctions and other social ills.
Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni said that presently the whole world is affected by the problem of violence and terrorism but they do not provide the solution to any of the problems. Violence gives rise to counter-violence. Bhagwan Mahavir’s Philosophy of Ahimsa (non-violence) and Aprigraha (limiting possessions) is a sustainable solution for violence and terrorism. Presently there is need for training of non-violence, a need to bring alive the glorious form of non-violence so that incidents like Boston, Mumbai, 9/11 can be stopped. He further said that the whole world is concern with the problem of Global Warming, increasing temperature of the earth. Bhagwan Mahavir 2600 years back said that do not use our resources of water, vegetation, minerals etc recklessly. Resources are limited, wishes are infinite, unlimited expectations cannot be fulfilled with limited resources.
Appreciating Acharya Dr. Lokesh, Muni Shri Shriprakash Jaiswal, Coal Minister Government of India said that today all Jains practice and follow the path shown by Bhagwan Mahavir. The results are obvious even after 2600 years of birth that even today Jains, though a small minority, are the most peaceful, non-violent, educated, economically well off community who are in the fore-front to share their wealth with the society in the form of over 5000 schools and colleges, 1000s of hospitals and dispensaries, orphanages and homes for the destitute, objects of art and architecture in the form of iconography, temples and vast corpus of literature in almost all languages of India.
The seminar began with National Anthem and Manglacharan. Welcome speech was given by Shri Abhay Kumar Jain, and program was conducted by Mrs. Madhu Jain. Vote of thanks was proposed by Shri D.K. Jain
Article Courtessy :Kenu Agarwal Media Convener Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti 9811025332