Book Title: JAINA Convention 2013 07 Detroit MI
Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

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Page 241
________________ individuality as Jains. They still understand the basic principles, they still follow the basic vows, and they have not completely assimilated into Western society. This is due to the fact that the Jainism that they grew up learning, the principles and ideas they were taught have not changed while everything else in their life has changed. Jains and prepare ourselves for the years to come. But I believe that JAINA must step up even more as a leadership body, and lead Jains. Because most other religions have a hierarchy, and although Jains have one with the Acharyas and Saadhus, there must be another group of people that has the task of spreading the message and being the men and women behind the movement. Jainism growth and acceptance into society as a major religion is key to its future. This future is bright, as courses in Jainism have begun being taught at universities, and attention is being directed towards Jainism. Jainism courses are currently offered at two colleges in the UK, Harvard in the United States, and in other countries such as Malaysia and Singapore. This will benefit the religion as a whole and more and more people will understand it, and Jainism will become a term that a majority of people understand. Organizations such as JAINA help with this tremendously. They spread the news on Jains and help our religion become recognized throughout the United States. Using the latest technology, they have helped spread the message further than ever before, and the biannual conferences help to gather The philosophy of Jainism has a bright future, but we must begin to act together and effectively before it's too late. We must modernize and spread the message of Jainism, get others involved and allow others to understand what we believe in. Our principles are our key, and communication is simply duplicating the key, allowing others to experience what we experience. By giving everyone a key to the house of Jainism, they will all be able to experience what the philosophy has to offer. Jainism as a strong, stable religion, through bodies such as JAINA and websites such as jainuniversity.org will thrive. The principles and virtues we stand upon, our religion as a whole, is strong enough for it to stand on its own, it just needs a push to get it going. And that's where we come in, to ensure the future of Jainism. Group 7 Runners up Essay Prakhar Bhandari Prakhar is group 7 student in study class. He is a senior from International Academy, Troy. Vision of Jainism in the 21st Century We live in an ever changing world, with technology in North America, we have the unique opportunity becoming more and more important to our daily to form communities to foster Jain principles in lives. Tasks that once took months or weeks can young children. We can use the tools of the modern now be completed in mere seconds. But although era to help teach children important Jain values and our lives get easier in some ways, they also get more teachings in Paathshala. complicated in other ways. The world is changing Although even Jainism has different sects, fast- and some of these changes make a Jain lifestyle there are several core teachings that we all believe harder and harder to maintain. So what can we do as in. Mahavir Swami taught us the importance of Jains to adapt to this ever changing world? Instead of following the five vows: nonviolence (ahimsa), viewing technology as a hindrance or impediment, truthfulness (satya), non-stealing (asteya), we can use it effectively and incorporate it into our chastity (brahmacharya), and non-possessiveness lives as Jains. With an increasing amount of Jains (aparigraha). These principles are vital to all Jainism: The Global Impact 239

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