Sadhvi Siddhali Shree

Sadhvi Siddhali Shree is a US based Jain monk, film director, author, Iraq War veteran and activist.[1][2][3] She is mostly known for her documentary Stopping Traffic in 2017 which is based on the global problem of human and sex trafficking.[4][5][6][7]

Biography

Sadhvi Siddhali Shree was raised in a Catholic family and she dissociated herself from the Catholic Church after completing her high school education. She enrolled herself as a medic in the US Army as a senior while studying in High School. At the age of 20, she first met with her spiritual guru Acharya Shree Yogeesh. Later she was asked to serve in the Iraq war. She suffered from slight PTSD after her deployment in Iraq as a US Army Combat Medic Sergeant from which she claimed Jain thoughts and guidance from her guru helped her to recover.[8] Sadhvi Siddhali Shree was initiated by Acharya Shree Yogeesh in 2008 at the age of 24 becoming the first non-Indian to take initiation in Jainism outside of India.[9] In the same year she joined Siddhayatan as the spiritual director.[10] She also serves as the director of International Society of Human Unity.[11] She is known to be the first "North American Jain female-monk".[12][13]

Activism for Human Rights

Human/Sex Trafficking

Sadhvi Siddhali Shree suffered from sexual abuse at the age of 6 at her home in Southern California. Siddhali Shree is known for her activism in several forms against human trafficking with an emphasis on the victims of sex trafficking.[14][15] In her works, she collaborated with several international human right activists including Rosi Orozco, Cecilia Oebanda, Agnes De Coll etc.[16] Her documentary Stopping Traffic: The Movement to End Sex-Trafficking[17] exposed the sex trade and human trafficking across the nations which operate not only in Europe, Latin American and Asian countries but also in the United States in its cities of Dallas, New Orleans, Houston, Los Angeles etc.[18][19][20][21] As the aftermath post-publication of the documentary, the then president of United States Donald Trump promised to put "full force and weight" of the United States Government in order to curb the evils of human trafficking which comprises the illicit business worth more than 150 billion USD.[22][23][24]

Gender Equality

Sadhvi Siddhali Shree has been described as one of the few adherents of Jainism who have challenged the traditional custom of positing a monk above a nun. She advocated her position with the challenge to such a hierarchy which in turn has invited welcome, praise and criticism from within the corners of Jain community.[25] Sadhvi Siddhali Shree, while has been portrayed a number of times as an important personality for spreading Jainism in United States, particularly among youths, she said for Jainism to reach to more people, “they need to raise women’s status”.[26][27][28][29]

Books Authored
  • Shree, Sadhvi Siddhali. Shine Through Wisdom. United States: Siddhayatan Tirth, 2015. ISBN 9780984385461
  • Shree, Sadhvi Siddhali. 31 Day Challenge to a Changed You. N.p.: Siddhayatan Tirth, 2009. ISBN 9780984385409
  • Yogeesh, Acharya Shree. Chakra Awakening: The Lost Techniques. United States: SIDDHA SANGH PUBN, 2014. ISBN 9780984385447 (as Editor)

Further Sources
  • CITIZENS VOICES NO. 12 [30]
  • Jainism and Nonviolence: From Mahavira to Modern Times [31]
  • From Influence and Confluence to Difference and Indifference Studies on History of Religions, Mihaela Gligor [32]
  • Yogeesh, A. S. (2016). Soulful Wisdom & Art: 101 Thought-Provoking Quotes for Inspiration and Transformation. (n.p.): Siddhayatan Tirth.
  • Yogeesh, A. S. (2020). Soul Talks: Power of Intention. (n.p.): Siddhayatan Tirth.
  • Webster, R. (2012). Spirit Guides & Angel Guardians: Contact Your Invisible Helpers. United States: Llewellyn Worldwide, Limited.
  • Fiedler, M. E. (2010). Breaking Through the Stained Glass Ceiling: Women Religious Leaders in Their Own Words. United States: Church Publishing Incorporated.
  • Levine, P. A. (2012). Healing Trauma: A Pioneering Program for Restoring the Wisdom of Your Body. United States: Sounds True.

References
  1. "India Herald072617". Issuu. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  2. "मानव जीवन को सार्थक बनाता है पर्युषण". Dainik Bhashkar 17th April 2019.
  3. "IndiaHerald072915". Issuu. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  4. Jenkins, Mark (2017-09-28). "Review | 'Stopping Traffic' takes aim at the abuse and prostitution of children". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-01-10.
  5. "5th Auroville Film Festival - catalogue HU - "films that develop the theme of Human Unity"". Issuu. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  6. "La Jornada, 03/07/2017". Issuu. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  7. "Stopping Traffic: Movement to End Sex-Trafficking". BIFF - Beloit International Film Festival. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  8. Flaccus, Gillian (2013-08-21). "Jainism religion gets updates for modern U.S. fit". SFGATE. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  9. "February 2018". Issuu. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  10. "Meet Acharya Shree Yogeesh, Founder of Siddhayatan Tirth". Siddhayatan Spiritual Retreat. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  11. "31.01.2017 ►Siddhayatan ►Satsang (Spiritual Gathering) Dates Announced @ HereNow4U". HereNow4U: Portal on Jainism and next level consciousness. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  12. "Sadhvi Siddhali Shree: Interview with a filmmaker". Demand Abolition. 2017-04-17. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  13. America (YJA), Young Jains of (2018-01-30). "A Conversation with Sadhvi Siddhali Shree". Medium. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  14. "Grafico sur de chiapas 07 03 17". Issuu. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  15. "Tampa Bay METRO". Issuu. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  16. "UHD Faculty Featured in 'Stopping Traffic' Documentary". UHD Faculty Featured in 'Stopping Traffic' Documentary. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  17. College, Submitted by Oakton Community (2018-01-19). "Oakton to screen documentary on sex trafficking". Daily Herald. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  18. "Review: Filmmaker-monk goes after sex trade in documentary 'Stopping Traffic'". Los Angeles Times. 2017-09-28. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  19. "Jeannie Mai's Fight Against Sex Trafficking". BORGEN. 2020-09-02. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  20. "Saskatchewan woman returns from documenting Philippines sex trade | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  21. "Nursing professor's visit to United Nations leaves indelible mark". UCLA. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  22. "Film spotlights human trafficking as Trump promises action". AP NEWS. 2017-03-06. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  23. Reporter, India-West Staff. "Two U.S.-based Jain Monks' Documentary on Human Trafficking Goes Viral". India West. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  24. Johnson, Ted; Johnson, Ted (2020-09-18). "Alyssa Milano, Jeannie Mai Mobilize For New Project On Sex Trafficking Survivors". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  25. "Veganism to corporate ethics: How young US Jains embrace faith - Living News , Firstpost". Firstpost. 2013-08-19. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  26. "Jainism and Nonviolence: From Mahavira to Modern Times" (PDF). The Downtown Review. 2 (1).
  27. "Diksha Samaroh (Celebration) Of A New Jain Sadhvi - Sadhvi Anubhuti @ HereNow4U". HereNow4U: Portal on Jainism and next level consciousness. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  28. Flaccus, Gillian (2013-08-21). "Jainism religion gets updates for modern U.S. fit". SFGATE. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
  29. 3507694. "Pdc082213". Issuu. Retrieved 2021-01-13.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. Zagorianou, Athanasia. "CITIZENS VOICES NO. 12 (JAN 2019)". Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  31. Sims, Lana (2016-01-02). "Jainism and Nonviolence: From Mahavira to Modern Times". The Downtown Review. 2 (1). ISSN 2381-4292.
  32. "From Influence and Confluence to Difference and Indifference Studies on History of Religions" (PDF). Mihaela Gligor.
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