JAINA Convention 1993 07 Pittusburgh

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

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chand Jain is the editor of the magazine.
Federation of JAINA
did they come? What did they find here, how did they with such slender resources soon start providing jobs for others? What did the principles of religion teach them in factory, shop, Col. lege, home, lab and office? Did they learn it from their parents, fellows, monks, nuns or books?" Hundreds of other good questions come to mind.
from the U.S. and Canada to make a contribution in a contemporary environ ment to the study and promotion of Jain reflection in the West. It has begun the publication of Jinamanjari, a semi- annual journal, with the first issue in October, 1990. Mr. S.A.B. Kumar of Toronto is the founder and editor-inchief of the journal.
These organizations and associations are important indeed, but at the same time the onus falls squarely upon ordinary Jain men and women who live the life of the American way - "the laity." In Christian parlance "laity" means those not ordained priests, or dea- con or minister. Strictly speaking, Chris tian monks and nuns are laity. Accurate use in Jain terms yields a very different meaning. In Jain terms it means those
Conclusion
The Federation of Jain Associations In North America (JAINA) was founded in 1981, representing four local Jain centers. Today JAINA represents about 60 Jain centers. Being an umbrella organization, its objective is to provide a forum to foster fellowship and unity among numerous Jain associations and to take up religious causes and issues that will benefit its member associations. The Federation has been publish ing a quarterly Jain Digest since 1985 and distributing to about 5500 families at no cost. The editor-in-chief is Dr. Surinder Jain of Athens, Ohio. It organizes a biennial convention in July and the 7th convention will be organized in Pittsburgh in 1993. Two Jain libraries have been established in Lubbock, Texas (under the leadership of Dr. Prem Gada) with about 5000 books and jour- nals, and in Toronto with more than 500 books. Young Jains of America, a national organization, has been founded under the leadership of Dr. Urmila Talsania to encourage Jain youth to participate in the religious activities. The Federation sponsors scholars, monks, nuns, Bhattaraks, shramans and shramnis from India to lecture in North Amer- ica. Dr. Nathmal Tatiya of Ladnu, India was a visiting professor at Harvard University and taught courses on Jainology during 1990-91. There are a lot of other activities sponsored by JAINA such as publication of Jain literature, a youth exchange program between the U.K. and North America, contacts with Jains in other countries and promotion through news media. Dr. Sulekh Jain is the President of the Federation (198993) and has devoted a lot of his time to achieving the objectives.
of an intimate symbiosis (dwelling together, inter-living as well as living with) of four orders, namely, female and male renunciates, women and men. In the American situation the onus of being Jain and bringing Jain truth to the world around inevitably falls on the later two. Similarly the matter of keeping up the symbiosis with the ascetics is largely their task.
Ordinary Jain people in North America and Britain do not understand their own importance as propagators of Jain principles and in history. They are pioneers. Recently one of the authors wrote to a number of Jain organizations asking for back copies of the material they published and other historical material. Most did not reply. The Secretary of one organization wrote back to say "Our publications consist only of opinions on religious questions, letters and questions from readers and some notices of members comings and goings and of meetings. We have no historical material to send". But that is exactly the kind of thing of which grass-roots, floor-level history consists. People in 2060 will be asking "Where were those Jains of 1960-1990? Whence and why
This leads on to our conclusion. The world of today is in desperate need of at least four teachings to which the Jains have unflinchingly witnessed: codependence as part of an organically interrelated universe, positive non-violence in all its aspects, the realization that there are various paths to the truth and the importance of the feminine. No one can teach these better than Jain householders dwelling in the modern cosmopolitan world. The educational task of the Association is enormous. One of the writers had the privilege to remark half-jokingly to Acharyaji Muniji Tulsi: "When people of nonIndian descent have these principles put before them in terms they can understand and appreciate, you will have thousands upon thousands wanting to join you. How will you deal with such an influx?" He accepted the laughter in the remark and replied: "Our aim has never been to increase the numbers of our community but to help every human to discover what it is to be truly human."
For References, conract Dr. Singhvi or Dr. Noel at (513) 885-7414.
Bramhi Society
Bramhi Society was established in 1989 by a group of twelve individuals
"The diseases of the liver, kidneys and all other internal organs are
mostly cured by vegetarian diet."
yor
- Dr. Neiscence
- 7TH BIENNIAL JAINA CONVENTION - JULY 1993 –