Editor Carla Geerdes
Samani Pratibha Pragya together with Samani Punya Pragya from JVB London participated in the 2004 Parliament of World's Religions at Barcelona, Spain, from July 7-13th, where Samani Pratibha Pragya delivered a video message from His Holiness Acharya Mahaprajna.
About 7000 people from all over the world did not feel discouraged by the high fees exclusively for registration (475$ for all days, group reduction 375$, entry for one day: 60 Euros one person, children from 6 years on paying half the price) and participated to the event. Many interested people practised secondary boycott by not participating and the local newspapers criticised this policy of making money [minimum cashing: 2.625,000,00 $, Editors] with a religious gathering.
The participants enjoyed the occasion to meet and discuss with representants of the diverse religions, as did Samani Pratibha Pragya from JVB London who did not miss the occasion to exchange views with Sikhs, Christians, Jews, and Muslims, for quoting only a choice of her discussion partners. The following interview on the phone was given by her last week:
HN4U: How many people could you reach apart from the registered participants?
Samani Pratibha Pragya: There was one event on July 8th in the Public Corner of the Forum where we reached about 200 people. For aproximately one hour we gave brief informations on Jainism, followed by an introduction to Preksha Meditation which was pursued by a Preksha Meditation session and Preksha Yoga Asanas and concluded by chanting Mantras and prayers. This event was recorded by UNESCO-Television.
HN4U: Did you conduct other meditation sessions?
Samani Pratibha Pragya: In the evening of July 10th during a public event on the place of the 'Sagrada Famiglia' [A famous not yet finished cathedral conceived by the famous Barcelonian master of architecture Antoni Gaudi. Editors]) we gave a meditation session in the open space from 8-9 p.m. where about 6000 participants of the World's Religions Parliament were gathered.
In the morning of July 13th from 9-10 a.m. we had 170 participants to the meditation session with brief introduction and Asanas.
HN4U: Which questions were mostly put to you?
Samani Pratibha Pragya: Two main questions, the first was 'Who are you?' We told them that we are Jain nuns from India training people in non-violence. The second was 'Why are you keeping the hanky?' So we answered that according to Jain philosophy there are air-bodied beings whom we do not want to harm on one hand, on the other hand we are keeping the hanky for our own health and to restrain from too much speaking.
HN4U: From which countries were the people you talked to?
Samani Pratibha Pragya: There were people from all over the world and from all religions of the world, so nationality was not primarily a point of matter.
HN4U: What was your daily program?
Samani Pratibha Pragya: We participated in different lectures on Sikhism, Christianity, Judaism, talked to the people of the Jain community, gave informations on Jainism and inspired people to practise non violence in daily life.
These are the essentials of our program from July 7th to 11th:
7th July
Jain prayers recited by Jain nuns, Samani Pratibha Pragya ji and Punya Pragyaji in the inauguration session of the 2004 Parliament of World's Religions in Barcelona.
8th July
Speakers Corner program at the Barcelona Forum. Jain nuns had dealt one hour programme about Jainism, Preksha Meditation and yoga which was sponsored by UNESCO.
9th July
Samani Pratibha Pragya has attended interviews about Jainism and Preksha Meditation on the Spanish TV and the local Barcelona TV channels. Samani Punya Pragya has sung a ‘Shanti ka sandesh’ song composed by Acharya Mahaprajnaji on the Katalunia TV channel. In the ‘Community Night Programme’ they discussed about the Terapanth sect, the Jain Vishva Bharati Institute, the Saman order, the 'Science of living' program, Preksha Meditation, and the Anuvrat movement.
10th July
Samani Pratibha Pragya ji has presented a marvelous speech and a presentation on the subject ‘Holistic Jain Approach Of Peace: Role Of Jain Nuns.’
11th July
The message of H.H. Acharya Mahaprajna and reverence of the President of India, A.P.G. Dr. Abdul Kalam was shown on a large screen in the ‘Unity of Minds’ programme which was part of the Jain community's program during the Parliament of World's Religions.