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mindedpeopleandpassitontoouryoungergeneration.
2. Explain true meaning of“Jain”: Any person who Isinterested in
Jain philosophy-literature-principles (vegetarianism, non violence,
purifying soul etc.) would be called “Jain”. Jain is not definedstrictly by
being born in traditional Jain family. This definition also applies to people
borninatraditionalJainfamily.
3. Promote Jain Atmosphere: It was recognizedthat in light ofthe
above definition of the word “Jain”, we assimilated the atmosphere
prevailing at the time ofMahavir Swami desna (mass preaching) period. At
that time every person listening to desna was equal. There was no king, no
low cast, no Shwetamber, no Digamber, no Sthanakwasi, no Terapanthietc.
EveryonewasjustJain.
This theme became a common ground for promoting ideals of
Jainism. We embarked upon conveying the meaning ofJain to our children
and friends who were Vaishnavs, Swaminarayans, other Indians and
Americans. Werecognizedthatourchildren maymarry intoanyofthe above
groupsandcould have spouseswhomayget interested inJainismbyvirtueof
being married to one. It would be difficult to identify a newly interested
person as Shwetamberor Digamberetc. Living in this country, we neededto
have an expanded view ofJainism ratherthanrestricting it to small sects that
would confuseourchildren into ultimatelyrejectingthe whole religion. The
above theme wasthe basis for holding theJain convention ofNorthAmerica
in LosAngeles.
4, PromoteJain Unity: There were notmanyJain Centers/Societies in
US/Canadaatthetime ofJainconvention in 1981. We did notwantto create
India-like divisive situation based on birth as Shwetamber or Digamber or
Sthanakwasi etc. We received spiritual guidance, blessings and valuable
suggestions from Pujya Acharya Sushil Kumarji and Pujya Gurudev
Chitrabhanujiforpromotingthese ideals.
The idea ofhaving apermanentplace forourJain Center forpractice
andadvancementofJainismforus and ourchildren took hold in the minds of
community and Executive Committee members.It was also recognizedthat
the feeling of unity was more important than the building that we were
going to create. We can have a building that could be a state ofthe art
building, but ifthere is no unity then that building is equivalent to a useless
khander.
| SR No. | 528142 |
| Book Title | Jain Center Los Angeles CA 2009 07 Historical Perspectives of JAINA |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Jain Center So CA Los Angeles |
| Publisher | USA Jain Center Southern California |
| Publication Year | 2009 |
| Total Pages | 28 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Magazine, USA_Souvenir Jain Center CA So Los Angeles, & USA |
| File Size | 2 MB |