YJA Convention 2000 07 LA Fourth

SR No.: 527607
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Young Jains of America (YJA)
Publisher: Young Jains of America YJA USA
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 88
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, USA_Convention YJA, & USA
File Size: 9 MB

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DREAMS TO REALITY
presented by Saurin Shah
Does Jainism allow daydreaming and fantasizing about a positive future, or could this be considered a form of delusion? How can a person say he or she is 'grateful' upon accomplishing something if Jainism does not believe in a creator-rewarder-punisher God to be 'grateful' to? At what point does one cross the line between pure ambition and greed?
Abstract. This presentation will discuss how perseverance, key habits, hard work, integrity and Jain principles combine to help one succeed in business. The presenter, Saurin Shah, has experienced great success in starting his own business and making his dream into a reality. He has learned that incorporating Jain principles into business and entrepreneurship goes far beyond just ethics, and he hopes to help inspire and motivate people to not only strive for their dreams but also uphold their beliefs.
We often hear people tell us that if a person wants something baldy enough, he or she can achieve it. However motivation and ambition are not the only factors that contribute to a person's success. The path chosen to reach a person's goals also remain vital. Sometimes people have honorable goals but fail to recognize that an honorable course carries the same importance. Many times people either lack the confidence or enthusiasm to reach for their dreams, or the clarity of thought and mind to realize them effectively and ethically. To put it bluntly, the world is a tough place, and having the ability to follow one's principles can be elusive. In spite of this anyone can turn their dreams into a reality and keep their Jain principles alive and very much a part of their actions. I will explain my views on how a person can accomplish this by discussing my background and experiences, and then relating them to the current and future environments of business.
Every since I discovered the world of music, I knew that I wanted to become an important part of it. However making this happen did not come easily, for it required a lot of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. The dedication and passion came easily, because music spoke to me on an intimate level like nothing else could.
In 1992 I discovered the world of tracking. Possibly the first music community on the Internet, the tracking scene exists as a place where a passion for music (from its production to listening to it) combined to form a devoted group of people who use computers to compose music. One day I had just completed a new song, of which I was extremely proud, and I submitted it to a music site for their acceptance. Unfortunately other people did not agree that my music was great, and they quickly removed the song and me from their site after all, they accepted only talented artists. I did not realize it at the time, but this moment proved to become a turning point in my life. From their rejection I drew energy and the conviction to help other artists like myself -I wanted to create a haven where new, unproven artists could go to learn, grow, and enjoy the gift of music.
So in 1993, I founded the CyberLegion Artist's Network, a large group of computer artists and tracker musicians who used Bulletin Board Systems as a medium for distribution and marketing. Then in 1995, I continued my work in the tracking community by founding Nebula Music Works, a tracker group tha released the First Contact CD (1996) and performed at the Philadelphia Music Conference in 1997. Soon thereafter I successfully evolved Trax In Space (TIS) from Nebula Music Works and launched the site in 1996. Through my expertise and in-depth experience in the tracking scene, I quickly grew the site, finally incorporating the company in 1999 and releasing Interstellar Harmony: Volume One in 1999, and Interstellar Harmony: Volume II in 2000.
Today TIS is an online music community dedicated to promoting, educating, and inspiring musicians in the digital music scene. It serves as both a community for promoting artists and a center for distributing artists' music. The TiS site offers thousands of songs for visitors, available to them for free downloading. TiS brings the digital music community together through a variety of events and features: chat rooms and forums, themed Compos (music competitions), reviews, e-commerce, and the digital distribution of music. An important part of Trax In Space is its unique subculture derived from the Tracking scene (possibly the Net's first music community). Years after its conception, TiS is now the largest, most visited tracking site on the Web, bringing its distinctive artist-first attitude to hundreds of thousands of visitors a month. Trax In Space represents the fusion of music, people, and culture of the tracking music scene and the realization of my vision.
With the success of the site and my becoming a key figure in the tracking world came many responsibilities to the tracking scene, the company, and myself. Often what was best for one group was not best for another, and choosing the right path had its difficulties. The temptation to select the quickest and easiest route sometimes came close to conquering the need to maintain my beliefs and integrity. Greed is a nasty creature, and the call of this Siren pleases the ear, but as a Jain I am equipped with the knowledge and weapons to fight this monster. Of course the ability to abuse my status and power could just have easily have dictated my actions. Achieving success does not come without its evils, and I have experienced many days where the pressure of keeping my principles seemed too great.
Fortunately I have always fervently espoused a peoplefirst attitude, in which I strongly convey that ethics should remain a key factor behind all decisions. I want to help people. As a Jain my life demands this, as a human I crave this. I illustrate my thoughts by being an ethical leader, using myself as a role model for others in the tracking scene and the employees in my company. I believe that motivating others to absorb ethics into their lifestyle would help the company grow on multiple levels and not just the pocketbook. From writing papers discussing the discrimination against women in the tracking scene to speaking about ethics and people to others, I have avidly tried to show that Jainism should be very much a part of business. To me Jainism depicts more than a mere set of thoughts and rules, it presents an ancient, yet new, way of thinking that can lead to personal, corporate, and social success. Now that you know more about who I am, my business, and the role of Jainism in my life, let me explain how anyone can apply the concept of Jainism and success to his or her life.
Today the business world thrives as a combination of vice, ambition, passion, and of course, money. Not all of it is bad.
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