JAIN DATABASE at sunsite.unc.edu Jain Study Center of North Carolina Federation of JAINA Information/comments to: varia@med.unc.edu ============================================================================ bbsupdate JAIN BBS update May, 1994 Computer based Jain Education And Information Bulletin Board Mahesh Varia and Pravin Shah A computer based JAIN Education and Information Bulletin Board System (JAIN BBS) has become available that makes information about Jainism and commentaries on other world religions readily available, practically at finger-tips with the use of computer technology. This computer based electronic system is intended to promote education and provide information about the many aspects of Jainism for youth as well as adults in North America. A personal computer and access to Internet, modem and telephone connect any user to a wealth of information free of charge. Access to the JAIN BBS can be made available worldwide as many universities and corporations in the USA, Canada, Europe and other countries have arrangements for free connection to the telnet/internet system. JAIN Bulletin Board Service is an educational service cosponsored by Federation of JAINA and the Jain Center of North Carolina to provide information and news about many aspects of Jainism utilizing computerized databases. The JAIN BBS master computer database stores information on introductory and indepth topics in Jainism and items of interest to the Jain communities. Currently, the entire JAIN BBS will have the information in English. In the future we will include materials in Indian languages such as Hindi, Gujarati, and other languages as software in these languages is acquired. Access to JAIN BBS Access to JAIN BBS has expanded significantly to make information rapidly available on a wider scale, and as freely and economically as possible taking advantage of the computer and electronic technology. There are now four different ways to receive this information. The original and direct access is via modem connection to the JAIN BBS master database. As this involves long distance phone costs, parts of the database have been made available via Internet. This is through telnet access to the JAIN BBS database on the University of North Carolina Sunsite computer databases. The third method of disseminating JAIN BBS information is through periodic JAIN BBS E-mail Bulletins. Subscription to the email service is free. For those individuals not having email access, a fourth method has now become available. The JAIN BBS E-mail Bulletins will be sent by FAX. Subscription to the FAX service is US $12 per year or US$100 for lifetime subscription. JAIN BBS E-Mail Bulletin Service The JAIN BBS E-mail Bulletins feature articles on the many facets of Jainism. Recent article have included life of Lord Mahavira, interpretation of the Namokar Mantra, introduction to Jain philosophy, a tribute to the remarkable contributions of Shree Sushil Muni, and introductory articles on other world religions. Details of how to access and request further information are provided below. 1. JAIN BBS direct modem connection 919-469-0207 Follow the on-screen directions for login and database access. 2. JAIN BBS E-mail Bulletin For free subscription, send request by email to Parul Shah: phshah@gibbs.oit.unc.edu 3. JAIN BBS Database Access via Internet to University of North Carolina Sunsite Databases. For information send email to Mahesh Varia: varia@med.unc.edu 4. JAIN BBS Bulletins by FAX. Annual Subscription US $12.00 Lifetime subscription US $100.00 Send email to phshah@gibbs.oit.unc.edu or write to Pravin Shah,, Jain Study Center of North Carolina, 401 Farmstead Drive, Cary, N.C. 27511-5631, USA. INFORMATION FROM THE JAIN BBS The first phase of the JAIN BBS was completed and became operational in February 1993. A course on Fundamentals of Jainism in English became available and includes the following topics of interest to youth and adults: * What is Jainism Concept of God in Jain Religion * Jain Ethics Path of LiberationJain Sects * Metaphysics of Jainism * The Six Universal Substance The Nine Essentials (Tatvas) * The Five Principles (MahaVratas) The Ten Virtues (Dushlaxanas) * The Fourteen Stages of Spiritual Development or Gunasthanakas * Aspects of Jain Sacred Literature ( Agam and Non-Agam ) * Other topics The information can be transferred and stored in your computer files and printed. This may then be used for education, information, or distributed freely for non- commercial purposes. We are actively entering information on a variety of subjects to expand the database on Jainism in the JAIN BBS: HOW TO CONNECT TO JAIN BBS ON INTERNET JAIN BBS is now on Internet via connection to UNC's sunsite computer host at sunsite.unc.edu and the access is free from anywhere in the world. To connect to the information on Jainism via telnet/internet follow these steps: 1. Telnet to sunsite.unc.edu from your computer using the following open or connect command. Check your telnet system for specific instructions.: telnet> open sunsite.unc.edu 2. How to log on to the sunsite.unc.edu When you telnet to the sunsite.unc edu, the screen provides you information on how to log onto the system. Jain BBS information database is located in the "swais" databases. The swais system is a collection of over 500 databases. They cover a wide variety of subjects that can be searched by entering keywords. Most of the databases can be accessed freely without a special password and without charge. Type the word swais at the login command. login: swais No password is required. 3. You will be asked to specify the terminal type of your computer. Type in vt100 if you are not sure of your computer's terminal type. You will now have access to over 500 databases !! TERM: vt100 4. How to locate the database on Jainism. Type in the slash key / This helps locate any database by prompting the user to enter the Sourcename. Type in jain. / Sourcename: jain 5. Selecting the Jainist-Texts database Jainist-Texts will be highlighted on the screen. You must hit the spacebar on your computer to select the Jain database. An asterisk(*) will appear on the highlighted line, to confirm that the database has been selected. 6. How to find what is in the Jain database Type the letter w to get to the keyword selection prompt. Then type the word jain. w Keywords: jain The computer will now show the topics available in the Jain database. 7. How to select and look at the information on the available subjects. Use the up/down arrow keys to highlight or select the subject that interest you, then press the return/enter key on your keyboard. You will now be able to read the text on that subject. 8. How to get this information from the database to your computer. You may copy and paste the file onto your word processing program. Check with your telnet program on how to use the ftp command, the file transfer protocol for receiving files over the network from other computers. Once the text is in your computer you can retrieve or print it just like any other file on your computer. You can get the on screen help menu by typing in ? or h during most of the interactions. Expect access to be slow to sunsite between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm. Best time to connect is after 7:00 pm and weekends. Feedback and comments will be very much appreciated to accomplish the objectives of the JAIN BBS.