Dates: 27 – 29 August, 2010
Theme: Voyage to Freedom: Crossing the Ocean
Venue: Canons High School, Edgware.
The Convention began with registration and dinner on Friday evening. Gift bags were given to all participants with pen, paper, choice of Jain text book, key-ring, book-mark, etc.
Introductory sessions were conducted on Friday evening.
The next two days concentrated
on interactive sessions, breakout sessions, and play acting to bring out a very clear understanding of the soul’s journey, using the body as a vehicle, through the ocean of life, death, rebirth due to the inflow and bondage of karma. The nine tattvas were covered logically to further understand the auspicious and the inauspicious, stoppage of inflow, annihilation of bondage and liberation.
The popular analogy: of a sailor [soul] in a boat [body] with holes [inlets] allowing clean water [auspicious karma] or filthy water [inauspicious karma] plugging the holes [stoppage] bailing out the water [annihilation of karma] and reaching the shore [liberation]: was used.
Approximately 120 people attended the Convention, with most in the youth age group.
To make it fun to learn, a beach party was played on Saturday night after dinner. Many activities and games were planned and people seemed to enjoy themselves with tasty bites and drinks as well.
On Sunday, representatives of Jain organisations were invited to attend. After lunch a final session of Q & A was held with a panel to respond. Vote of thanks to all concerned and promise to try and join the regular activities of Young Jains brought the Convention to an end on Sunday night.