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socialites attended. The attendance ranged from twenty-five to hundred.
Thehighlightsandissuesarebrieflynotedbelow.
Everybody felt and agreed on the need to organize the Jain
community, to help our generation to perform our Jain rituals as well as to
pass the heritage to the next generation. It was general consensus to broad
basethe organization, hence“Southern California” insteadof“LosAngeles”
in the name, Also, it was thought that “Center” would connote the
community breadth, avoid any hint of sectarianism, imply an invitation to
local non-Jain community (Indians and otherwise) to visit & participate and
possibly lend a soft touch of academics. So, the name of “Jain Center of
SouthernCalifornia”wasevolved.
Although Gujarati Jains were in amajority, itwas decided aftersome
discussion, to make special effort to seek, invite and assimilate the non-
Gujarati Jains. In the following years, many were in our Executive
Committees. The language will be English in all written, formal,
constitutional and financial matters. However, public lectures could be in
English, Gujarati or Hindi depending on the speaker, audience andtopic.
There wasalengthydiscussion ofsects andrituals. Although the majorityof
the Jains in LA area are Murtipujak Shvetamber (Derawasi), it was felt that
the sectarian views and differences prevailing in India should not be
imported here. To follow the sectarian ritualsstrictly (based on one's family
traditions and Sanskar) in the family is one thing, but in public and in our
organizationalaffairs itwill be corrosive and divisive. Areasonable balance
will be kept in public events to respect all sects. Minority will be heard,
respectedandaccommodatedwherepractical,whilemajoritywillprevail.
Thegoverning bodywill be simple:five officersand fourmembersat
large, each for a two year term, with the election ofboth groupsin turn in
alternate years. The service and work will be strictly voluntary and
qualifications will be JCSC life member and willing-able-available to serve
the Jain community. There will be one and two year membership for
newcomers and life membership for the rest. The constitution will be
simple, embodying the aboveideas with the purposeofperformingJain
rituals, continuity of Jain religio-cultural heritage, assimilation in
American mainstream bylocal community service, academic awareness
and in consonancewithJain scripturalguidelines.
aa,{althougheverybodydesiredto haveaplaceofourownfortheJai
| 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 |