Development And Impact Of Jainism In India And Abroad

Author(s): Gunvant Barvalia
Publisher: Arham Spiritual Center

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Development & Impact of Jainism in India & Abroad
religion, with its global vision, can play an important role and contribute significantly to saving the world from imminent disaster and theresponsibility rests on the Jains wherever they reside.
The future generations will not forgive us if we abdicate our responsibility. The Jain society is progressive and Jainism is, therefore, found in countries outside India. But it is divided in sects, Gaccha etc and the need of the hour is to get united. Let us remember the dictum "Kaliyuge Sanghsakti" that is in kaliyug, unity is the real strength. There are forces which are a threat to our unity. There are differences with respect to pilgrim centre's, observance of rituals and religious texts. Such differences do exist in other religions too and these external differences often lead to conflicts and dissensions among the members of the same sect or with other sects, resulting in court cases, or physical violence. What this means is - we are becoming narrow-minded, while in fact, our outlook should be broad and catholic. How can we be narrow-minded when we believe in 'Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam'? In the present time, the need of the hour is to adhere to our basic principles, develop a cosmic vision and strengthen our belief in the philosophy of Anekant. Jain diaspora must unite the fragmented groups and find solutions to the problems besetting our society. We talk of a global village but our minds remains narrow and we skim on the surface.
The Jain community believes in unity. Mahavir's non-violence is not confined only to human beings but it embraces the animal kingdom too. It believes in unity of life and hence unity in Jain community must be our prime consideration. Our unity will lead to harmony in the world based on the principle of Parasparopgraho Jivanam.
The main aim of this organization would be to ensure that the Jains all over the world speak with one voice on the principles and tenets of Jain religion. Such organizations do exist on a global scale among the Patidar community and the Oswal community. The Vishwa Gujarati Samaj, which is striving to serve the Gujarati community, is conducting various activities in this regards in different parts of the world.
The major problem we are facing today is the one that most of the people have been divided and subdivided into groups and into various religious sects. In such a situation, even if we want to raise our voice against any problem which harms our cause, there is no single world-wide central platform or a body through which we can raise our voice against such divisive tendencies. For instance, when the Gujarat government ordained that the Jain religion is part or a branch of the Hindu religion, we needed to have a global organization to deal with the problem and solve it amicably.
If there is a central world-wide body, it could act as a representative body to raise our collective voice at world religion conferences, as and when they are held, and articulate appropriate views of the Jains in an appropriate manner.
Such a central body should have a federal structure and there should be co-ordination in each of the countries of the world. The proposed Central body may have two offices, one in India and the other in the US.
The Jain Diaspora be divided into different wings. Jain religion emphasis three tenets - Gyan, Darshan and Charitra.
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