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FIU Miami |
Welcome Speech by JERF President
It is indeed a great pleasure to have community leaders together to celebrate our very own Dr. Dipak Jain receiving prestigious honor from FIU. For those who don't know Prof. Dipak, he is a man of soft gestures but leaves everlasting impressions. Famous for his mild manners, quick laugh and a ready hug. I met Dipak at Kellogg Jain leadership conference where I updated him about Samaniji's teaching Jainism and Indian religion courses at FIU. He inspired us to think big and mentioned "Always remember that the challenge ahead of you is never greater than the force behind you and Dipak Jain is always behind you". He, of course, was true to each and every word he had said.
I cannot resist making a request to Dr. Dipak that "you do not start a story which you cannot complete" - well, you have been the scriptwriter of this story and it is far from complete... we will always need you.
Prof. Dipak Jain's Speech
It is a great honor to be with you today and receive this doctorate degree. Thank you for this wonderful recognition and warm welcome by JERF members and Jain community. Thanks also to President Rosenberg for his leadership to make this day happen. I cherish the occasion, particularly since we have the opportunity to reflect on FIU's thriving Religious Studies Department.
Specifically, it gives me joy to see Jain Studies flourishing, thanks to the commitment and support of many people, particularly the Jain community in Florida and the faculty of FIU. Of course, we know how instrumental the efforts of Professor Nathan Katz have been as the inaugural Bhagwan Mahavir Chaired Professor of Jain Studies. His passion and scholarship for this subject are a real inspiration. I personally thank the FIU faculty members and the Jain community for their commitment to what has been a dream of mine since childhood to share the Jain values in this way.
At the reception at FIU President's house (Left to Right CAS Dean Ken Furton, Pres. Mark Rosenberg, Prof. Nathan Katz, Dean Dipak C. Jain, Prof. John Stack, Provost Doug Wartzok)
In some respects, it is not surprising that FIU would serve as the locus, the platform, the home for this remarkable effort.
Jainism has a lot to share with the world, especially now. We only need to pay some small attention to the news to understand how much the world needs to hear the Jain message of ahimsa (nonviolence), anekantavad (tolerance for multiple perspectives) and aparigrah (nonposessiveness). By cultivating these jewels, we each do our part to bring greater peace to this planet.
Leaders who bring such values into their work can build healthy organizations and make healthy contributions to society. Leaders who respect diverse views (anekant) not only create more harmonious work environments, but they also benefit from the diverse insights and talents of their teams.
By inviting us to see the world through eyes other than our own, Jainism helps us gain a more comprehensive understanding of reality, our place within it, and our responsibilities toward our fellow travelers and all sentient life.
In this way, by creating such a comprehensive and inclusive centre, FIU is creating an icon to make this world a better and safer place. The university is helping animate our best qualities. Each person who graduates from this program will be an ambassador for a peaceful world. Let us continue doing our best to share the fruits of this wonderful treasure. Thank you again for your kindness. In recognizing me today, you are recognizing the scholarship and diversity of this fine institution. I am sincerely grateful for the privilege of being with you - the FIU family - today.