JAINA Convention 2005 07 JCNC

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

Page 86

TOT
there is a fortune of new knowledge to be gained from those who have a different perspective to our own. This open minded approach is necessary for a society to flourish.
lai
The best hope for attad
Certain traditional practices and rituals accompanied by stronger feelings of attachment to ethnic roots, often cause conflicts among and within different groups. When the open acceptance of diversity is perceived as a threat to the preservation of
one's own traditions, tension can develop and conflicts arise. When disharmony accommodation among individuals arises as a result of adherence to traditional expressions of culture
(including religion), perhaps it is time to examine those traditions in light of a changof rich diversity
ing world. Blind faith should be replaced by logic and evidence as suggested by of social,
Acharya Siddhasen in the 5th century. It is possible that in some cases leaders and
members of the Jain community are not intentionally being "non-inclusive" but just religious and their lack of awareness and knowledge of other Jain practices poses a barrier to unity.
The minority Jains are highly sensitive to the 'non-inclusiveness' and shy away even
more and take a back seat and eventually disengage. of all Jains.
The history of Jain society has show that whenever there was a rise of fundamentalist views and practices, there was fission in the community and a new sect or sub
sect arose. Rigidity in the name of preserving a tradition has divided the community maintaining this
time and again. vital diversity is
The fundamentalist uprising in Jain societies after Hemchandracharya (end of
12th century) all the way to Dharmasagarji in 16th century led to many divisions and essential for subdivisions resulting in closed, intolerant societies. It took over a century and
Yeshovijayji's more accommodating approach in the 18th century, for Jain societies indefinite
to flourish again. survival and
On the other hand, Openness and accommodation of diversity led to thriving
Jain community in Mathura from 3rd century BC to 3rd century AD. During this growth of Jain pluralistic period, not only Jain but also Buddhist and Vedic cultures flourished hand
in hand with Jainism. communities
The best hope for Jain unity is the accommodation of rich diversity of social, religious and cultural practices of all Jains. Accepting and maintaining this vital diversity is essential for indefinite survival and growth of Jain communities. Without openness and a desire to experiment, there is no growth, without respect for the views of others, there is no unity. ACTION PLAN TO ACHIEVE UNITY IN DIVERSITY 1. We should be willing to accept that we have been wrong about things at least
some of the times and take steps to correct it. 2. We should recall our fundamental principle of Anekant and respect views of
the other. 3. We should accommodate thoughts and practices of even a minority.
ain Heritage in Westeri
Extending Jain Herit.
80 Jain Education Intemational 2010_03
nternational 2010_03