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JANA CONVENTION YOUTH SOUVENIR SECTION
Youths must carry on
by Mihir Meghani, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan Life is a lifelong search for truth. We will always be searching for answers to
"It is the duty of each and every one of us to such things as: our relation to the rest of the universe, the correct morality, and contribute the best aspects of our culture to this what is beyond our consciousness. That mosaic so that each and every person in the is religion and that is philosophy. Those questions have been debated for centu
nation can benefit." ries in Bharat. As times have changed, so have answers to those questions. Should not believe in any theory be- can or Canadian ways of living. We must Jainism has answered many of those cause our parents do or because society contribute our ideas and our beliefs to 'eternal questions and has placed be- has dictated it to us. Rather, the path to the cultures of the land that we inhabit. It fore us suggestions as to how to live. nirvana, moksha, liberation, or whatever is the duty of each and every one of us to
Our relation to the living and non-living name we give, should be a path that we contribute the best aspects of our culbeings in the universe is very significant should follow anyway-without the in- ture to this mosaic so that each and Jainism teaches that we must maintain centive of a happy afterlife. We should every person in the nation can benefit. I an equilibrium with our environment, that not lead a good life just for the hope of urge everyone to be firm in maintaining we must live in harmony with all beings. achieving nirvana. We should lead a our values. I urge each and every one of We are part of the natural order of the good life because it is the right thing to us to understand that we are not followuniverse, and we must allow all the parts do. Nothing more can be expected from ing what can be called a religion in the to function harmoniously. This philoso- us than to lead a good life. No chant or western sense of the word. We are pracphy is both rational and applicable to the ritual will buy this for us.
ticing a way of life that consists of univerworld today. Society has upset the envi- It is these philosophies from Bharat salideas which can save this planet from ronmental equilibrium, and things are that the rational and non-dogmatic ideas suicide. not functioning properly today.
that must be carried on. This century's It is great that JAINA is focusing on In making moral decisions, Jainism long search for TRUTH must continue. youth, as many other Indian groups are. urges self-restraint, non-violence, and No other culture has this scientific ap- We must gain knowledge and undertruth. These values make sense when it proach to religion. We must be firm in standing of our culture, and we must is realized that they contribute to the responding to others about our beliefs. have training in organizational work so proper functioning of relations among What we follow is a result of logical that we can pass on the torch to the next people, and in the case of all life, non- thought, not because something was generation. We must maintain our idenviolence contributes to the harmony written in a book by someone.
tity and the great values of our culture. A among all parts of the universe.
We, the youth must carry this on. It is failure to do so will be a big loss not only The question of what is beyond this life totally wrong that because we live in to us and the next generation, but a loss is perhaps the most difficult to grasp. We North America, we must follow the Ameri- to society at large.
Young Jains of America crucial for future
by Urmila Talsania, Coordinator, Young Jains of America Young Jains of America came into religious heritage. At the same time teer work with the Salvation Army, existence in July 1989 during the Fifth they are ready and prepared for the among other activities. Biennial Convention of JAINA in responsibility that comes with it.
First we have to dream, then Toronto. YJA has made tremendous
At present, many Jain Centers we have to work hard to make our progress by active participation in have their local youth forum and their dream come true. It is my humble reJAINA activities, including summer numbers are increasing over and above quest to all parents to support the accamps.
the number of those entered strictly for tivities of the youth forum and to enOur youths are smart, intelli- religious education. Their youth lead- courage your children to participate gent, energetic, and enthusiastic. They ers have carried out a variety of noble actively. My request also to all Jain are determined to keep our identity activities, such as fundraising, feeding centers to start a youth forum, if this and eager to learn our rich cultural and the hungry, an old clothes drive, volun- hasn't happened already.
• 6TH BIENNIAL JAINA CONVENTION • JULY 1991 · 57
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