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JAINA- A 25 YEAR JOURNEY
By Dilip V. Shah Philadelphia, PA
Can you imagine the landscape of Jain community in North America in 2005 if JAINA was not formed 25 years ago? What would have been the state of Jainism here? We can look at Africa and U.K. for some clues. Without JAINA, there would still have been many Jain institutions, Sanghs and Temples but they would have emerged segregated on Sectarian and linguistic basis. The unified temples prevalent in North America, where Jains of all different sects come to pray, is a unique phenomenon that has not been taken up anywhere else in the world. While some still hold to the sectarian views, most of our new generation has paid no attention to the Swetamber, Digamber, Sthanakvasi or Terapanthi labels. They all identify themselves as Jains only.
Have you ever wondered how hundreds of years of segregation by sects or languages have melted away in the span of just one or two generations in North America? The answer is obvious. It is JAINA. This revolutionary institution was the dream of two visionaries: Acharya Shri Sushil Kumarji and Gurudev Shri Chitrabhanuji. They came as messengers of Mahavir and charted a path to bring all the Jains to walk together work together. As a result, today we have common Pathshala books for our kids, a JAINA Calendar, unified pilgrims visiting both Swetamber and Digamber Temples during Teerth yatras, a common journal - JAIN DIGEST. Most Temples in North America cater to the spiritual needs of Jains of all sects. Scholars and monks of all traditions visit most centers and we have national conventions every two years. JAINA has become a role model for many Jain institu
tions around the world and recently there was an announcement of the formation of "Young Jains of India," in the image of our own YJA. There is a robust YJA,UK but
there is no federation like JAINA in the U.K. even though there have been many efforts made since 1991.
One only needs to look at the two youth organizations of JAINA. Both YJA and YJP function without the baggage of sectarian divisions. Dreams and blessings of Acharya Shri Sushilkumarji and Gurudev Shri Chitrabhanuji have instilled a sense of unity that is admired around the world. As JAINA finishes the first 25 years and enters the era of next twenty-five years, the theme of Unity will remain its guiding principle. The history of JAINA is a tribute to all those volunteers who worked so hard to build an institution that will emerge as a beacon for Jains here and everywhere.
Below is a brief description of how JAINA has gotten where it is today. It is not
Jain Education International 2010_03
JAINA
For Private & Personal Use Only
2015
Have you ever
wondered how bundreds of
years of segregation by
sects or
languages have melted away in
the span of just
one or two
generations in North America?
The answer is obvious. It is
JAINA
Extending Jain Heritage in Western Environment
29 www.elibrary.org
