[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 8843]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 WELCOME TO GURUDEV SHREE CHITRABHANUJI

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Gurudev Shree 
Chitrabhanuji for providing such words of wisdom this morning here on 
the floor of the House of Representatives.
  Gurudev Shree Chitrabhanuji spent 28 years as a Jain monk. During his 
years in India, he founded the Divine Knowledge Society and other 
social welfare and emergency relief organizations. He is also a 
prolific writer, having written more than 25 books that reflect his 
message of world peace and nonviolence.
  The Jain religion, which places heavy emphasis on personal and 
societal nonviolence in thoughts, speeches and actions, has flourished 
in India for 3,500 years. This year Jains all around the world 
celebrate the 2,600th birth anniversary of Lord Mahavere, the last of 
the revered 24 genas, who spread the Jain message. I guess we could say 
in a way that Lord Mahavere was ahead of his time, once proclaiming all 
human beings are equal, whether male or female, rich or poor.
  I would like to thank Gurudev Shree Chitrabhanuji again for providing 
this morning's opening prayer and also Mr. Sushel Jain and all the 
Jains who have made the trip to Washington this morning to hear this 
prayer. Many of them are in the gallery. I would also like to thank the 
House Chaplain Coughlin for allowing us the opportunity to celebrate 
the Jain spirit here on the House Floor this morning.

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