Anuvrat International Conference
Message from Acharya Mahashraman, 11th Head of Terapanth
Message from Dr. R.K. Pachauri:
I am delighted that a conference is being held to celebrate the birth Centenary of Acharya Tulsi the IXth Head of Jain Shwetamber Terapanth. It would have been my privilege to take part in this conference, but, unfortunately, I have to be in New York during that period for the Climate Change Conference being organised by the UN Secretary General at the end of the month and other related events.
I am, however, very happy to send a brief message on this occasion.
The Anuvrat International Conference is a remarkable opportunity to highlight and link together the importance of actions that confront humanity and tackle them on a cooperative basis. When 1 had the privilege of accepting the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), I referred in my acceptance address to the Sanskrit term "Vasudhaiva Rutumbakam". This means that the universe is one family. The beliefs and ethics of the Jain Shwetamber Terapanth highlight the sanctity of life and the need to view every part of creation as one single home and one family. The world today faces several daunting challenges, which if not tackled effectively can lead to some serious consequences. While certainly individual actions would be the building blocks of any universal initiative, there is need for collective action at various levels. Gandhiji was right when he said "Be the change you want to see in the world". However, there has to be an acceptance of this by alt of the agencies that are required to deal with some of our global problems such as the growing challenge of climate change.
On this occasion may I convey my very best wishes to the organisers of this centenary celebration and Conference, particularly my friend Mr. Surendra Borad Patawari. I am sure the Conference will be extremely successful, and I hope will make an impact on human values and behaviour in a significant way.
Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri
Director General
teri - The Energy and Resources Institute
New Delhi
Message from Chief Convener, Acharya Tulsi Birth Centenary Celebration Committee
Acharya Tulsi was a great national saint who dedicated his life for the entire mankind without any discrimination of caste, creed or religion. He started Anuvrat Movement for moral upliftment of the nation in particular, as also the entire human race. He undertook journey on foot in all corners of the country for a nationwide campaign to create awareness and respect for moral values in people to inspire them to assimilate these values in their lives. Anuvrat means small resolutions; a person who accepts these vows is an Anuvrati. The Anuvrat movement seeks to use small, achievable steps to build character, purify life and develop and strengthen will power. It aims to build a healthy society based on foundation of morality.
Dr. Radhkrishnan in his book "Living with A Purpose" included him in the world's 14 great people. He was given the title "Yug-Pradhan" in a function presided over by the then president of India V.V. Giri in the year 1971.
Acharya Tulsi was born in 1913 and his birth centenary is being celebrated in various parts throughout India and also abroad, starting from 5th Nov. 2013 and will continue till 25th Oct. 2014 under the spiritual guidance of the present Anuvrat Spiritual head Acharya Mahashraman, and is being undertaken by Acharya Tulsi Birth Centenary Celebration Committee, with which I am fortunate to be associated as Chief Convenor.
The various activities and program aim at highlighting the personality and contributions of Acharya Tulsi to the whole world at large. The Anuvrat Sankalp Yatra was undertaken from four corners of the country by the Samanis (Jain Nuns) who undertook travels to various cities and towns to spread the message of Anuvrat among people. They visited schools, colleges, hospitals, jails, public places and spiritual centres and organised lectures, talks, rallies among students, teachers, prisoners, businessmen, labourers and people from all walks of life. The invaluable literature of Acharya Tulsi is being published covering 108 books in one set. Also millions of school students in various parts of India have taken vow to abstain from alcohol, tobacco and all types of drugs throughout their lives on the occasion of ACHARYATULSI BIRTH CENTENARY. Such events are being supported by Acharya Tulsi Birth Centenary Celebration Committee to inspire others to join the spiritual path shown by Acharya Tulsi.
Anuvrat International Conference is an extremely important and major event being organized in the Acharya Tulsi Birth Centenary Year under Acharya Tulsi Birth Centenary Celebration Committee, 2013-2014. This conference will focus on matters concerning global peace, environmental issues etc. and present an unique forum for international scholars, social activists & intellectuals to put forth their valuable thoughts and opinions. Conference Convener Sri Surendra Borad Patawari, Belgium and his team are taking all steps to make this event purposeful and successful. We welcome all the learned speakers, delegates and participants and look forward to their active involvement.
Kamal Kumar Dugar
Chief Convener
Message from Convener, Anuvrat International Conference
A World Without Water
A World Without Oil
A World Without Copper, Zinc, and Lead.
In absence of decisive action, we are cruising to this dark reality, jeopardizing the future of our legacy.
WATER: At the current rate of consumption, we will endanger access to water for two-thirds of the world's population by 2025.
OIL resources are expected to be depleted by 2052.
METALS AND MINERALS such as copper, zinc and lead are becoming more and more scarce with limited availability expected beyond 2050.
As responsible individuals, what we can do to contribute towards the conservation of resources and preservation of the environment can be found in the principles of the Anuvrat Movement founded by Gurudev Tulsi.The Eleventh vow of Anuvrat calls for water conservation and preservation of the environment. Our present Guru, Acharya Shri Mahashraman ji, has reinforced this vow by advocating restraint (sanyam) on consumption.
HISTORICAL ORIGINS OF THE GLOBAL CIRCULAR ECONOMY
- The circular economy was born 3500 years ago embedded in the Jewish Code of Sanitary Law, which obliged "every citizen to be responsible for their own waste".
- In the year 500 B.C., the Jain Tirthankar, Mahavira, stressed the need for preservation of the environment in the Acharanga Sutra scriptures. Around the same time, the Greek city of Athens organized one of the first municipal waste collection systems in the world.
- In the year 1302, Japan recycled waste paper for production of paper.
The Anuvrat International Conference aims to raise awareness on and find solutions to the burning environmental global issues. Eminent speakers, panelists and experts from over twenty countries will be presenting their thoughts and spark discussions towards the preservation of the environment and resources and relevance.
We have developed a global audience for the conference through social media and hope that the diversity of discussions and interactions will continue for the years to come and spark a global movement towards the circular economy, conservation of resources and preservation of the environment.
I am grateful to Mr Kamal Dugar (India), Mr K.L. Jain (India), Mr Raj Sethia (Austria), Mr Shashi Bhansali (Belgium), Mr Rajendra Sancheti (India) and Mr. Vikas Chhajer (India) for their guidance and contribution to the organization of the conference.
Surendra Borad Patawari
Belgium
Convener
Message from Organising Convener, Acharya Tulsi Birth Centenary Celebration Committee
I am happy to know that the Anuvrat International Conference is being held on 26th, 27th and 28th September 2014 at Adhyatma Sadhna Kendra, Chattarpur, New Delhi, India.
The themes of the Conference, 'Sustainability & Circular Economy', 'Ecology & Conservation of Environment' and 'Relevance of Anuvrat in Day to Day Life' are indeed topical and significant.
I would like to use this opportunity to remind each one of you regarding the importance of Anuvrat in our day to day life, especially during the Birth Centenary of Gurudev Acharya Shri Tulsi. We are inspired by the universal message of peace from Acharya Shri Tulsi and it is in this spirit that this conference has been organised to propagate this belief as far and wide as possible.
I hope this conference will be an ideal platform to launch such a coordinated effort by all the participants from various backgrounds and countries. Let us work together towards our goal of spreading the Anuvrat movement in the world.
May this conference be a great success and achieve what it is set out to achieve. It is my deepest desire that the whole world unites for this cause so that we can leave it in a better shape than the one we had inherited.
Kanhaiyalal Jain
Organising Convener
