Editor Carla Geerdes
Exhausted from the journey we staggered out of the busses into the dawning day. Very soon the light had succeeded over the night, and for us there were about three hours left to relax. Volunteers kindly directed us to the bedrooms. At our destination scarcely anybody had assumed a possibility to recover from the night in the bus. The happier we were, and in some ways for some of us the day was saved. Anyway, the mood was high when we met again for breakfast, served in a big hall on first floor.
In this neat house we found recreation and got back our strength.
After breakfast we met in front of the house and had some nice small talks.
Even a photo of both of us was taken.
Very soon we boarded again. The traditional camel carriage got photographed a lot.
Revitalised and very much looking forward to the encounter with HH Acharya Mahashraman and the Sangh we entered the busses. After a short drive we stopped on an improvised parking near a market place.
Street to the assembly
Amazed and impressed the participants of the conference entered the assembly area.
On a small road of the village we walked to the assembly area which was canopied with clothes and covered with carpets. On its face side was a podium. In the middle Acharya Mahashraman was sitting on a small podium. A group of monks had settled with crossed legs on the floor at his side as usual..
Tejkaran Jain who is president of Anuvrata Vishwa Bharti, Rajsamand
Tejkaran Jain, ANUVIBHA president Rajsamand, one of the organisers, in his speech
The monks on the podium
There were chairs for the participants of the conference on the side of the podium and the audience. Nobody had to put off shoes and walk on socks in the sand. It was unusual for us to visit Acharya Mahashraman and the Sangh in a group. We were hidden very well in the group.
The conference participants were very well visible from the podium and for the audience.
Some participants had been chosen to address Acharya Mahashraman and the gathering after the organisers had done the same. They expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to meet the Terapanth community and especially their spiritual head. Dr. Thomas Daffern explained the result of the conference as a form of an enlarged contemporary version of the Anuvratas created by Acharya Tulsi. It was planned to present the same on a big poster in form of blossoms. Its final version unfortunately yet is not available for us. In the meantime some of the monks on the stage had recognized and smilingly welcomed us in sign language. This made us really happy.
Muni Mahendra Kumar in his speech
Muni Mahendra Kumar said that the Sangh has decided to make more use in the future of the positive options of the Internet, social networks and online conferences. A view taken up by HN4U since quite some time. We hope it being realised in the very near future..
Acharya Mahashraman gives the signal for leave
After His Holiness Acharya Mahashraman had welcomed and greeted the conference participants, the session was over. All were invited for an exclusive meeting with Acharya Mahashraman in a house nearby.
Acharya Mahashraman gives his blessings to Christian Geerdes, who recorded this beautiful moment in a photo.
The gathering rose in honour of Acharya Mahashraman.
Now the village street was very populated.
People crowded the small village street. The conference participants hurried to the house where the meeting with Acharya Mahashraman took place.
Acharya Tulsi Samadhi Sthal, memorial in honour of 9. Terapanth Acharya Tulsi
After this meeting we visited Acharya Tulsi Samadhi Sthal erected in honour of Acharya Tulsi and used the opportunity for meditation and spiritual contemplation.
Here visitors are finding calm and inner peace.
Some are circling the turret where the ashes of Gurudev Tulsi are kept. Others are meditating.
After a late lunch all gathered in the hall of the building where we had stayed in the morning. Muni Mahendra Kumar was the chairperson and gave the official farewell address. Ahead of us was a several hours bus journey, but this very unusual valedictory session is a very special memory for all conference participants. For some of them it was visibly the first opportunity to meet and speak with Jain monks apart from descriptions in books they might have studied.
Foto of 9. Terapanth Acharya Tulsi (r) and his successor Acharya Mahaprajna
Foto of 10. Terapanth Acharya Mahaprajna and his successor Acharya Mahashraman
These photos of the great Terapanth spiritual heads drew our attention when we sat in the hall and listened to Muni Mahendra Kumar. They accompanied us mentally on the trip back. It was about midnight when we reached our rooms in Anuvibha Bhavan and immediately fell asleep.
PROGRAMME: WEDNESDAY, 8th January, 2014
10.00 Hrs - 12.30 Hrs | VALEDICTORY SESSION UNDER THE AUSPICES OF HIS HOLINESS ACHARYA MAHASHRAMAN |
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Photos: 2014.01 HN4U ►Jaipur ►ICPNA
Photos: 2014.01 8th ICPNA
