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Jainism in a Global Perspective
stature provided to the movement by Late H.H. Acharya Shri Tulsi. Flowing from the basic teachings of Lord Mahāvīra laying down a code of conduct for houosholders, the movement has emerged as a global movement, non-sectarian in nature, seeking reconciliation and promoting interfaith harmony. Its basic nucleus is practice of non-violence through non attachment self-restraint and abstinence.
In his paper on "Evolution of Jainism in North America", Dr. Sulekh C. Jain has given a very interesting historic account of Jainas reaching North America from the time Virchand Gandhi came there in 1893 to attend the first Parliament of World Religions at Chicago. Since 1965 Jaina community in USA and Canada started getting organised with the setting up of first Jaina Centre in New York. Coming of Gurudeva Chitrabhanu and Acharya Sushil Kumarji in early 70s provided a catalytic impulse. Now there are about 50,000 Jains living in USA and Canada and the Federation of Jaina Associations in North America has provided a dynamic and imaginative leadership. Challenges lie ahead as the younger generation growing up is exposed to local culture and way of life.
Ms. Meera Shah in her paper on "Can Jainism Survive in the 21st century", alerted the Jaina community not to take it for granted that Jaina religion could survive in the midst of tremendous changes, because it prescribes lofty principles as well as a code of conduct to follow them. Jainas settled abroad are exposed to such a different environment that may have even little knowledge of Jainism. It is only dedicated youths who could take Jainism into the 21st century. It is our duty to teach them, remove their misconceptions and mould them persuasively into Jaina way of life. Jaina religion can emerge in the 21st century as a hope of mankind. Let us therefore put the Jaina philosophy into practice in day to day life and not merely claim to be Jains, but become true Jains.
Dr. Jagdish Sheth in his slide presentation on "Jainism and Religious tolerance" took changing global political and economic scenario as a backdrop. He maintained that there was the inevitability of North-South integration because inputs for further global economic growth could in 21st century mostly come from developing countries like India, China and Mexico and a interdependent and non-colonial approach to economic
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