Ahimsa Yatra (2001 - 2009)

Worldwide terrorist attacks, communal and ethnic clashes, conflicts arising from globalization, poverty, exploitation and the increasing lust for power and wealth among people have made social life insecure and vulnerable. This pathetic situation touched Acharya Mahapragya deeply[36]. In response, he came up with the solution of Ahimsa Yatra, a journey on foot to advance the cause of non violence, was launched by Mahapragya 5 December 2001 at Sujangarh in Rajasthan[36]. With Ahimsa Yatra, Acharyaji's mission is to train and spread nonviolence and its broad perspective to people. It is an endeavor to awaken a new faith in the infinite power of nonviolence. It aims at bringing the problems of all forms of violence into sharp focus[37]. Its mission is to provide training for transforming the negative thoughts/emotions into positive direction. The spiritual aspect of non-violence training is to ignite the consciousness of non-violence and to cultivate the values of non-violence. And its practical aspect is the employment training for livelihood[38].
They eschewed violence and pledged to refrain from killing innocent creatures. Political leaders, social workers and spiritual leaders came to him for advice[39]. He took his Yatra from Gujarat to Maharashtra, Daman, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, some parts of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Chandigarh[40]. He passed through 87 districts of the country, and covered more than 2400 villages, towns and cities, where he held meetings with many spiritual and political leaders and appealed for communal harmony. 40,000 voluntary hands were associated with the various responsibilities in their local areas.
This Yatra allowed him to come in direct contact with farmers, common and poor people of villages. He stopped at the every small villages that came on route and held open mass meeting. Through this public speaking, Acharyaji created awareness on the broad perspective of nonviolence, unemployment eradication, leading a life free from drug addiction, bad habits, communal harmony, living healthy and harmonious social and personal life. Side by side volunteers spread into different directions and establish personal contact with the families afflicted with drug addictions, unemployment and stressful life. They stay behind and solve their problems. Verily the villages and towns trekked by the Acharya become centres of training in ahimsa.
The Yatra concluded 4 January 2009 at Sujangarh, the same place where it started[41].

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acharya_Mahapragya

FUREC

President of India, Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam's vision for a fully developed beautiful India with prosperous and harmonious life for its citizens, especially the youth, motivated enlightened spiritual and religious leaders who organized a Conclave under the aegis of Acharya Mahapragya at Surat on 15th October 2003, also the birthday of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam^[42]. The Action Plan discussed during the Conclave was documented and is known as 'Surat Spiritual Declaration' (SSD).

The SSD Action Plan envisages Five Garland Projects. The emphasis of four projects was on celebration of inter religious festivals, multi religious projects, healthcare and employment, imbibing value based education in schools and encouraging interfaith dialogue among religious/spiritual heads^[43]. In order to pursue these in sustained manner and to coordinate all activities, a national level independent and autonomous organization managed by religious/ spiritual leaders as well as scholars and Enlightened Citizens was set up. This organization was named "Foundation for Unity of Religious and Enlightened Citizenship' (FUREC). FUREC was launched by the President Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam on the birthday of Acharya Mahaprajna, the 15th June 2004 at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi^[44].

FUREC combines the objectives of the Surat Spiritual Declaration and President Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam's Vision 2020 and is a Non-profit organization set up by 15 spiritual leaders

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acharya_Mahapragya

Successor-designate to Acharya Tulsi

Acharya Tulsi impressed with Muni Nathmal's (later Mahapragya) vision, intellect and genius honored him with the qualitative epithet of Mahapragya (highly knowledged) on 12th November 1978[30]. On 4th February 1979, his appellation ‘Mahapragya’ was converted into his new name by Acharya Tulsi and he was also made ‘Yuvacharya’, successor designate to the present Acharya[31], the second highest position after the Acharya himself. With this event, he was now referred as Yuvacharya Mahapragya. As a Yuvacharya , Mahapragya became a close associate of Acharya Tulsi in all the major decisions and activities related to the sect.
In a mammoth public meeting on 18th February 1994, Acharya Tulsi declared that Mahapragya would now have the title of ‘Acharya’ also and that the former was renouncing this position forthwith. Subsequently, on 5th February 1995, Mahapragya was formally consecrated as the 10th Acharya – the supreme head – of Terapanth religious order in a big public meeting in Delhi[32]. Mahapragya having taken over the reins of Terapanth, is now endowed with many responsibilities. Further intensification of the movements of Anuvrat, Preksha dhyan and Jeevan Vigyan now became his primary concern. A Vikash Parishad – development council – has been constituted by Mahapragya to give further fillip to all these movements and underline their importance[33]. The forum of Terapanth is now actively involved in propagating these movements.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acharya_Mahapragya

Jain Vishva Bharati UniversityJain Vishva Bharati University

Acharya Mahapragya is the mastermind behind the conception of Jain Vishva Bharati University, Ladnun, Rajasthan. It was established under the spiritual patronage of Acharya Tulsi in 1991^[34]. Acharya Mahapragya is the Anushashta of this deemed University since 1995. The Anushasta is a statutory post of the Institute, empowered to discipline the Institute spiritually and morally. University's objective is to revive truths and values hidden in the ancient Indian traditions in general and in the Jain tradition in particular. It provides platforms and infrastructures for doing the research in various subjects and pursuing for Doctorate Degrees. One of the prime objectives of this University is to spread the literacy in subjects like Non-Violence and Peace, Jainology, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Yoga, Meditation, Literature, etc. Regular Degree Courses leading to Bachelors and Masters Degrees are being conducted^[35].

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acharya_Mahapragya

Agam research and editing

Acharya Tulsi after consulting Mahapragya decided to start research, translation and annotation of the Jain Agamas[19]. The work started in 1955 in Ujjain under the leadership of Acharya Tulsi with Mahapragya being the editorial director[20]. Joint activity of Acharya Tulsi, Mahapragya and other intellectual monk and nuns began to facilitate the permanent preservation of many thousand years old canonical scriptures and embellished them with a scientific outlook acceptable to the people. Mahapragya edited and critically annotated the agamas. This old literature is in Prakrit language and its commentaries are either available in Prakrit or Prakrit mixed with Sanskrit[21]. Mahapragya first undertook their deep, sustained study and started editing them and provided their new meanings and interpretations. Through strenuous work day and night for many years continuously, the original text of the thirty-two Agam scriptures was determined and their Hindi translation also completed[22]. Detailed commentaries thereon made them more interesting and comprehensible. This task carried out in accordance with the verbal renderings by Acharya Tulsi was guided by an entirely non-sectarian and open mind and is therefore viewed with respect by the heads of other sects as well as intellectual and oriental scholars of the East and the West. Acharang Bhasyam is Mahapragya's commentary for Acharang in sanskrit. He uncovered many Agam mysteries, presented root philosophies and Mahavir's philosophy and vision in this commentary[23].