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Evolution of Jainism in North America, Achievements and Challenges
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is a historical fact. Are we Jaina thinking and planning to meet their needs?
Our second generation is very well educated, effluent, open minded, liberal professionals who have been raised here in materialistic, scientific, fast changing world. This generation has limited knowledge of their mother tongue, Indian customs, traditions, rituals and religion. These youths do not simply accept our traditions and beliefs on face value. They always ask why and how? Do we have proper answer in a language and style they understand?
Unlike the first generation, in second generation faimily structure, both the spouses are generally professional and both work. Their children in many cases are and will be raised by baby sitters, nurseries, day care centers and not by a looking and caring mother. How we Jains are going to provide Jaina cultural upbringing of these children.
Today, in this world, there are many ethnic and religious strifes and conflicts. There is increasing concern for the earth and the environment and thus the survival of the human race. By being here, our youths - will interact professionally, socially, culturally, academically in business, sports and entertainment with people whose ethnicity, views, life style, upbringing and religious practices and beliefs are mostly different than those of ours. In some cases, our youths will find life partners and marry outside their Jaina community. In fact, it has already started happening here.
In our life time, the distinction between community and planet seem to have appeared. The health of the whole depends than ever on the strength of the unities and their ability to live harmoniously together, conscious of their independence.
Within the Jaina community in India there is no historical tradition of a united Jaina commutity, a national organization to represent and speak for all the Jaina, a vision road map or national agenda. Many of our organizations are regional, sectarian and linguistic in nature. Many times because of this lack of unity and national leadership not only we duplicate or triplicate each others efforts buteven waste our resources. Twelve years ago, a bold step was undertaken here in this country to createnational organization or Federation of Jaina Associations in North America called
Jain Education International
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