Jain Digest 1991 01

SR No.: 527041
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA
Publication Year: 1991
Total Pages: 44
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, USA_Jain Digest, & USA
File Size: 7 MB

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JAIN DIGEST
ters were established in the 1970s and 1980s. In 1973 the Jain Center in Boston was established and the founders of that Center, Dr. Vinay Jain, Mrs. Laxmi Jain and Ravi Jain, are here with you today.
Federation of Jain Association in North America, or JAINA for short, was established in 1981 by the foresight, dedication and hard work of a few individuals. Starting with four Jain centers, today JAINA practically represents all Jains and Jain centers in the U.S.A. and Canada. This is a remarkable achievement.
Fortunately so far we are neither Shwetambar, Digambars, Sathanakvasi or Teraparhthi or Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi or Karnataki. We are all followers of Bhagwan Mahavira and Namakar Mantra and Jain is our ONLY IDENTITY.
North America is a large continent and distances are large. In spite of this, we have established a feeling of brotherhood and a very good network. All Jains and Jain organizations work together and collectively towards one goal, that we want to practice our religion and become and remain good and better Jains. During this short span of roughly 20 years, our achievements are many.
We regularly publish three magazines; Jain Study Circular, Jain Digest and Jinamanjiri. We just published the first Reader Book in Jainism and an English
Pratikraman. Jain Center of Boston previously published two Jain directories and are now working on a third
one.
We have established two world class JAINA libraries with more than 5,000 books, magazines, audios and videos. Three years ago we were instrumental in producing one-hour long TV documentary, AHIMSA, which was shown on all public TV stations in North America. Our Toronto Jain Center earlier this year participated in a 14-week long TV program on Jainism. JAINA library is now working on producing professional videotapes using animation on various Jain subjects.
We have a beautiful 108-acre Jain Ashram at Siddhachalam and a magnificent brand new Derasar in Los Angeles. Girish Shah and his wife are here from L.A. in this function.
JAINA has very successfully celebrated five conventions and the sixth one will be held at Stanford University in San Francisco in July next year. This is a gathering of at least 2,000 Jains and scholars, and I extend an invitation to you all to attend the convention as our guests.
Jainism is taught and researched in several universities in the U.S.A. and Canada. Thru the efforts of Jain Vishwa Bharti, Ladnun, Jainism is being taught at Harvard now. This year India Abroad published a special supplement at the time of Lord Mahavira Birthday. To recognize our very best, Jains started and bestowed the first JAINA award to one of our very best; Dr. D.C. Jain.
We have recognized that our future lies in youth. We have started intensive education programs in Jainism via holding annual youth camps. Next year we want to embark on Scholars in Residence Program.
To encourage youth activities, many centers are
forming youth groups. A national organization "Young Jains of America, Y.J.A." has been launched. We invited your Youth Director, Dr. Atul Shah, last year to America. Next year at least 20 youths from U.K. will be visiting the U.S.A. and Canada for a month as our guests as part of the First Youth Exchange Program. Are your sons and daughters included?
Today we have at least 4,000 Jain youths of marriageable age. To keep them Jains, we must assist in finding Jain spouses. To meet this need, JAINA started a marriage information service and matrimonial ads in Jain Digest.
Every year we invite many Jain scholars and monks. This provides us opportunities of education and inspiration. During Paryushan, in addition to Ghee Boli, we also do Tapasacharya Boli. Our youths like it. Fasting for 30 days, 8 days or 1 or 2 days is becoming common now.
We regularly write to airlines to provide vegetarian meals. We work hand-in-hand with many American organizations such as vegetarian societies and animal rights movements. Thanksgiving Day in November has also been chosen by several Jain centers as non-violence day. Our Pravin Bhai Shah from Cincinnati (who is here) has appeared on radio talk shows and helped organize Ahimsa Day.
Shri Roop Lal Jain Trust at the University of Toronto has started yearly lectures on Jainism. We salute L. Hans Raj Jain, Mrs. Sushila Jain and his family for this gesture.
I can go on and on. You got the idea. We Jains in North America are young but very dynamic and vibrant community. But this is just a start. A lot has been achieved and much more needs to be done. We have a long way to go.
How do we do it?
We are living in a very fast changing scientific, materialistic and Judeo Christian world. Our youths don't accept things on faith alone. They ask WHY and HOW COME for everything. They want answers in today's context. They want American answers. Indian answers alone will not do.
You here in the U.K. and we in North America have many similarities such as environment, climate, technology, language and culture. Thus you and us have similar opportunities and problems. If so, our solutions have to be similar too. You and us have a codestiny together. Let us work together as one rather than against each other. Let us work as Jains and nothing else but Jains, the followers of Lord Mahavira.
For about a year, we have been sending signals to work with you and with your Jain Federation. Let your
PRESS COVERAGE OF THE JAIN OF THE JA DECLARATION ON NATURE
This historical event received very wide media coverage in several countries. More than seventy daily and weekly newspapers and magazines, besides radio networks like BBC, in several countries(U.K., U.S.A., Canada, India, etc.) covered this event.
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