The Commonwealth Service, a celebration of the Commonwealth in its 75th anniversary year took place on Monday 11th March 2024, at Westminster Abbey. The Commonwealth Service is held on the second Monday of March each year and celebrates the people and cultures of all the Commonwealth nations.
The service was attended by The Queen, The Prince of Wales and other members of the Royal Family. A message from His Majesty King Charles was played during the Service.
Guests of honour among the 2,000 strong congregation included the President of Malta, Foreign Ministers, High Commissioners, senior politicians, and dignitaries from UK and across the Commonwealth, faith leaders, school children and young people from throughout the UK.
Present at the Service were representatives from eleven UK faith communities, of which four were requested to recite words of blessings. The four were: –
Jain Community – Mr Vinay Shah (IOJ Director)
Jewish Reform Synagogue – Rabbi Debbie Young-Somers
Hindu community – Mrs Trupti Patel
Shi’a Muslim community – Maulana Sayed Ali Abbas Razawi
Representing the Jain Community and Faith, Mr Vinay Shah recited blessing from the fifth century Jain scripture – Tattvartha Sutra by Acharya Umasvati.
In it verse 5.21 is the aphorism PARASPAROPAGRAHO JIVANAM
This is translated as Souls render service to one another, which means all life is bound together by mutual support and independence. Jains believe that every living being, from a plant to human, has a soul and we cannot live Independently of other souls.
On behalf of the Institute of Jainology and the UK Jain community may the commonwealth be blessed.
Posted By Kishor B Shah on 8 May 2024
