JAIN'S INCREDIBLE KNOWLEDGE OF COSMOLOGY

It was at one of the classes by Dr. S.L. Gandhi that I learned the uniqueness of Jain cosmology. He lectured that Jains preceive the Universe in the shape of a human being ... the body drawn as a hour-glass. The upper part resembles a muraja, a kind of cylindrical drum; the middle part is shaped as a cymbal - a jhallari - and the lower is circular in shape.

It is believed that the Universe is filled with different living beings surviving at different levels of existence. The Gods and Goddesse dwell in the Upper world of the highest heavens, and they perform many tasks, as guardian spirits of the Tirthankaras, as their attendants, as performers of workship ...

Both cosmology and cosmography have an important place in Jain mythological sculptures ...

The cosmos, eternally existent by natures, is comprised of six types of substances: dravyas catagorised as jiva and ajiva, animate and inanimate.

The cosmos is referred to as "loka" - it is materially mathematical and geometrical as the whole as well as in parts, and is shaped like a human figure ... standing akimbo with the legs spread sideways.

The space inside the cosmos is called "lokakasa" and outside is "alokakasa" and the Siddha-sila is the space of the liberated souls; it is the summit of the cosmos.

The central part of the cosmos is "manusya-loka" where the humans inhabit and consist of innumberable continents or "divipas", except for Jambudvipa, each encircled by an ocean.

The universe is conceived as the pure white many-petalled "lotus" - utpalla-padma - in the centre of which sits the Deity ... It is said that "the Lord created the lotus in front of him, then he sat on it and meditated upon the first origin flower.

The lotus is the most pervasive symbol and purest metaphor - likened to the human heart. It is said to be "born of the light of the constellations" ... in the womb of the Universe ... the seat of generation and regeneration - signifying prosperity and youthful innocence and wonder, while invoking purity and beauty ... suggesting complete detachment and great wisdom ...

We welcome comments on Jain cosmology ...

DEMO EDIT of JAIN ENLIGHTENMENT - A Cosmic Way of Life

GLOBAL CULTURAL DIVERSITY FILMS (GCDF) Inc., headquartered in New York City, USA, is editing the10min DEMO of "JAIN ENLIGHTENMENT - A Way of Life" in order to raise the budget for the 5-part digital video series on Jain Dharma and what its content has to offer North America and the world.

All our blog reviewers are invited to contribute to the content ... and interact ... and share their views with the filmmakers who have invested over three years of R & D, pre-production, productions and now post-production to make this digital video series for WebTV on the Internet ...and across global TV networks !

First quesiton to be anwered is Who are Jains (pronounced as "Jane" ? How many people have ever heard of Jains ?

The 10 min edit speaks to Americans and worldwide viewers ... as the film storyteller/ anchor starts with his personal discovery of the world's oldest civilization and a unique life style dating back to 2,500 B.C. and beyond ... to 6,000 BC - reflecting the cosmology and scientific philosophy of Jain Dharma.

The film offers unique answers to questions about daily living in "reality TV" docudramatic style, with New Age jazz music (tabla/flutes/guitar and precussionist of ancient temple bells, cowherd sounds, etc.,) and super editing skills with special effects and animation.

The director/producers' purpose of producing these films is to bring the past, present and future of the cosmology and scientific philsophy of Jainism as an alternative way of life ten years into the new millennium. It will offer solutions to our hi-tech, industralized modern world, plagued with terrorism, physical/mental violence and utmost greed.

The importance of discovering Jain cosmic and scientific realities of vegetarianism and non-violence is important for today's human survival. It offers answers to modern civilization where this ancient scientific theology is being revealed by modern scentists as Facts not Fiction ...

Today, we are living in a modern world seething in chaos and disharmony ... Extreme violence and terrorism. Even the environment is being challenged with natural destruction and disasters. Whenever the Earth rumbles, it causes havoc and utter devastation, unsettling the daily lives of human beings around the world, with mental and physical insecurities, perpetual cravings for possessions, etc., resulting in exploitation of human dignity.

This film will reveal answers to questions on how to reverse daily realities, because Jain Dharma offers an alternative life-style for modern civilization. It is a timeless tradition moving towards a simpler and more harmonious way of living by Man & Nature.

Who are Jains ? The word "Jain" translates from the Sanskrit word "Jina" which in English spells "spiritual victor" ... "a liberated soul," free of the physical body and demands of earthly possessions and greed. Jain living symbolizes how to conquer the world of temptations, inner suffering, and earthly illusions.

Photographs and more information are available at New York headquarters 212-759-4568 or contact via email with your suggestions: globalfilmlinks@earthlink.net /

Join our blog at http://jainenlightenment.blogspot.com - and invite your friends to social network on a global scale ...Short films can be found on www.vimeo.com/5084696, /5084856, /5085852, /50864417, 5092260, /5092316

EDITING 10 min of "JAIN ENLIGHTENMENT - A Way of Life"

EDITING 10 min of "JAIN ENLIGHTENMENT - A Way of Life" will enable us to bring in major funding from Jain businessmen and independent funders via personal contacts.

R & D reports there is great potential in bringing in the financing of the total budget for the one-hour film-made for global TV and DVD distribution ! It is all part of Filmmaker Vinanti Sarkar's determination to complete the production.

With over 200 hours of digital/HD film, it is proposed that after the 10 min DEMO is completed, and fundraising comenses, five major programs will be on the editing table (working titles):

1. "The Legend of Lord Bahubali"

2. "King Adinathan - 1st JainTirthankar"

3. " A Man Called Mahavira - the last and 24 Tirthankar"

4. "Sacred Pilrimages to the Temples of Palitana, Ranakpur and Shavenbegola ..."

5. "Jain Art & Sculptures of Perfection ... "

We welcome everyone to participate in suggestions and advice and become part of this unique, once-in-a-life-time feature documentaries to promote Jain Dharma in the USA and worldwide.

Our target audience are families and the younger generation who need to understand Ahimsa - Non-Violence which goes beyond physical violence.

Ahimsa translated to "reverance for life .... respect for the dignity of daily living with our neighbors."

Three world leaders - India's Mahatma Gandhi; America's Martin Luther King, Jr. and South Africa's Nelson Mendala used the basic Jain principle of Ahimsa to liberate their masses against oppression.

Today, the world is chasing the shadows of peace, as most nations prepare for war and mas destruction. This reality has resulted from the fear of the enemy - fellow human beings and next door neighbors - empowering the demand for deadly Nuclear weapons ...

What can you and I do about it ?

We invite our fellow bloggers to start discussions of how we can bring real peace ...