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Born and brought up in a traditional Jain family, Pramodaji Chitrabhanu developed an interest in the philosophy of Jain Dharma from early childhood. She started studying at the age of eleven which gave a direction to her life and enriched her vision, knowledge and practice. Gifted in Sanskrit, Jain mantras, music and vegan nutrition, she plays the sitar and has a refined and beautiful singing voice. After receiving her BA from Bombay University, majoring in psychology, she dedicated her life to practicing meditation and studying Jain Dharma in depth. Pramodaji's main interest is to apply the Jain teachings into day-to-day life. She focuses on women's issues and helps them emerge from the small self and see their potential. Building self-confidence, love for family members , love for people around us, and self-love - without ego - then you act with integrity, compassion, respect, kindness and appreciation toward all living beings. She is President of the Jain International Meditation Center in Mumbai (Bombay), and since June 2000 on the Board of Directors for PETA in India (People For Ethical Treatments of Animals). She also sponsors projects in educating and rehabilitating the poor and the underprivileged. She works for the Reverence for Life Society and for Beauty Without Cruelty which promote animal welfare and the vegan way of life worldwide. There are four books written by Pramodaji: - Foods of Earth; Tastes of Heaven - Jain Symbols - To Light One Candle (co-authored with Clare Rosenfield) - The Book of Compassion (coauthored with Pravin K. Shah). During her stay in the U.S., she gives classes in meditation and Jain Dharma, exposing Western students to the vision, ideals and concepts of Jain teachings. A list of Pramodaji's CDs will be published soon
Mahavir Janma Kalyank 2008 – JAINS UK was celebrated on April 26. This historic event was composed of a series of presentations on the theme of Life and Teachings of Tirthankar Mahavir and its relevance to today's western world presented to a crowd of over 1,500 people who were able to listen intently in perfect stillness for over 3 hours. The keynote speaker, Pujya PRAMODABHEN who had specially flown in from New York for this event, shared inspirational thoughts on the Teachings of Tirthankar Mahavir. Pujya Pramodaben reminded everyone on the importance of being kind to yourself, and that once you are kind to yourself, only then will you be kind to others. Pujya Pramodaben's main interests are in applying the Jain teachings into day-to-day life. Building self-confidence, love for family members, love for people around us, and self-love without ego, you act with integrity, compassion, respect, kindness and appreciation toward all living beings. Her articulate and precious manner captivated the entire audience on all these vital points. Click on Pramodaji Link above. Pujya Pramodaben is on the Board of Directors for PETA in India (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and the video that she introduced was an awakening experience into the horrors which many animals still suffer today. The life that cows have to endure to ensure that milk and other milk products can be mass-produced for human consumption brought many to tears. In today’s world, where we have become so detached from food production and where we rely on regulations to ensure that animal cruelty is monitored, we have let this abuse foster and grow, just so that we have enough milk for our cup of tea in the morning. The video encouraged the use of alternatives such as soya milk, which in fact contains more calcium than cow’s milk. As purchasers, the capability is within us to protest to this abuse through our consumer behaviour and change the way that cows are treated. Samani Prasanna Pragyaji and Samani Rohit Pragyaji gave a fact filled, humorous and imaginative dialogue depicting the secret of Lord Mahavir’s rebirth (Voice of Time), where they commented on the past, present and hypothesized on the possible future of Jainism if we all do not take care now. It was summarised in a very amusing play that depicted the damage that can happen if all of us to not take care of our religion. It showed Pratikraman in the future with the main essence of this form of penance being completely lost. It is our responsibility as individuals to protect our religion and in return our religion will protect us. |
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MAHAVIR JANMA KALYANK 2008 – JAINS UK. © 2011JainMeditation.Org