About the JCA & YJP Scholars Lecture Series

Jain Center of America (JCA) and Young Jain Professionals (YJP) has planned an intensive three day JAIN Academic Lecture Series at Shri Siddhachalam Jain Tirth from Friday - June 27, 2014 to Sunday - June 29, 2014. The topics of study have been thoughtfully chosen to dive deeply and clarify many common questions about Jain philosophy with simultaneous sessions in English & Hindi. This academic lecture series in English will be an amazing, one of a kind learning opportunity for young adults and parents to learn about the core tenets of this great philosophy.

This event will be held at Shri Siddhachalam Jain Tirth in NJ, which recently completed its new Shri Sammed Shikharji experience.

Registration has been limited to only 75 guests on a first-serve basis to provide personal attention for all attendees.

Renowned Jain Scholars, Professor Jeffery Long from Elizabethtown, PA - USA and Pandit Mahesh Kumar from Jaipur, India and will conduct the concurrent English and Hindi sessions.

The English session will be conducted by Jeffery D. Long, Professor of Religion and Asian Studies at Elizabethtown College, in Pennsylvania. Prof. Long received his Ph.D. in the philosophy of religions from the University of Chicago Divinity School in the year 2000. His Ph.D. thesis was on Plurality and Relativity – the Jain Principle of Anekantavad. He is also the author of one of the top selling books on Jainism on Amazon.com - Jainism: An Introduction. He recently delivered the Keynote Address at "Jain Anekantvad and Pluralism Across the Dharma Traditions: A Panel Discussion" held at Claremont Lincoln University, CA.

Pandit Mahesh Kumar was Head Lecturer at Shri Jain Shraman Sanskriti Sansthan, Jaipur, India and has conducted several similar sessions in cities across India as well as in New York, California and Thailand.

Both scholars will lecture on and discuss the following three topics in detail which are some of the most central concepts of Jainism:

  • Jain Tattvas - The Fundamental Principles of Jainism
  • Aparigraha - The Jain Principle of Non-Possessiveness
  • Living a Jain Way of Life in today’s world

Please click to view Brief Course Content of Lecture Series from the 2013 Event >

This is also an excellent opportunity to have all other questions about Jainism answered by renowned Jain scholars.

Shri Siddhachalam Jain Tirth, North America’s First Jain Tirth with its beautiful spiritual setting and replica of Shikarji provides an ideal environment for the JCA & YJP Scholars Lecture Series. By having the event at Siddhachalam, the participants will have the opportunity to stay overnight and become fully involved with the educational sessions that provide a dual immersive experience – both religious as well as educational.

The schedule has been planned out to allow attendees to connect and network through Yoga camp in the mornings, and Jain games and group discussions in the evenings after Aarti.

This two-day and two-night event includes food, lodging, a printed program guide and curriculum for the registered attendees. There is a nominal registration fee of $99 which covers cost of the program including course materials, lodging and boarding expenses and food which includes breakfast, snack, dinner for 2 days and 2 nights.

Please note the low registration fee of $99 is possible due to the generosity of our Sponsors that have subsidized this Lecture Series to enable members to take advantage of this unique opportunity to learn more about our great Jain Philosophy.

You must be over the age of 15 years to register and attend the lecture series. Registered attendees have the option to stay overnight at Siddhachalam or can return home and come back the next day if they wish. We strongly suggest to get the full spiritual and networking opportunities that you stay overnight at Siddhachalam.

Children below the age of 15 years can attend for free and do not need to register and must be accompanied by a parent. Jain patshala, games and other activities will be organized for children between the ages of 5 to 15 years old.

We would like to thank JCA and YJP for sponsoring this event and Shri Siddhachalam Jain Tirth for hosting it and the Sponsors for supporting it. We would also like to thank ISJS - International School for Jain Studies for their help in connecting us with the Jain Scholars.

As there is a Limit of 75 Attendees – please reserve your seat right away to take advantage of this wonderful educational and religious weekend experience.

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