Jain Digest 1990 11

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

Page 16

Jain Fellowship of Youth
JAIN DIGEST and have transplanted them here. Further, we have picked
Youth Exchange Program up some of the fads and idiosyncracies and have lost sight of our priorities. In my view, establishing a genuine unified Jain system should be our top priority.
youth exchange program has been organized by the
Jain Community in North America for three weeks in July 1991. Up to twenty young Jains from the UK have been invited on a tour of the major US centers where they will stay
with host families and mingle with their counterparts in the Youth Column
US sub-continent. The cities to be visited include: Toronto, Detroit, Windsor, Chicago, San Francisco, St. Louis, Los Angeles, Ontario and New York. Participants will attend the
sixth conference of JAINA (Jain Association in North AmerAt Houston
ica) to be held at San Francisco on July 4-6, 1991. From Jai Jinendra, Houston
The interested persons should contact Priti Shah Secretary,
Young Jains at 081-202-9462 (UK). Contact Urmila Talsania The Jain Fellowship of Youth was started in 1987. The at (708) 969-8845 and S.A.b. Kumar for information of arfirst general elections were held in 1988. Kalpesh
rangements in USA (416) 890-3367. The last date to receive Shah was elected as the first President of the Jain Fellowship. During that year, the Jain Fellowship students were involved
completed application form is January 31, 1991. in religious studies as well as other activities.
The following year, Danny Mehta was elected as its President. During the Thanksgiving holidays in 1989, Jain youths
The NEED from Dallas visited Houston. This meeting provided an
For Youth Organizations opportunity to meet people of the same age, who have similar aspirations. One of the activities of this fellowship is by Rita Morbia to conduct pathshala (religious school) for two different age Windsor, Ontario, Canada groups; one between 13-15 and others 15 and up. Ujjwal Shingavi has been a tremendous help in organizing
There seems to be no doubt in most minds that the Jain these schools. Dr. Urmila Talsania, chairperson of youth
Youth of North America need to become more orprograms of JAINA, has been leading efforts to increase
ganized. But perhaps as a prerequisite to organization, there
is a need to become consciously interested in the Jain religion. communications with young Jains across the continent.
Although most of us in our teens or twenties have the desire to know more about the Jain tradition, we lack adequate knowledge on how to attain this goal. And those of us who
have some vague notion on how to go about learning more, The Need for Y.J.A.
lack the commitment to follow through. Our present knowl
edge consists of bits and pieces that we've picked up through by Navita Kumar, Toronto
being surrounded by a Jaina environment, the extent of
which depends on how strong that influence has been while T eading our lives as young adults, especially being growing up
Lyoung Jains in this American society is very difficult. On our journey through life, it is inevitable that we come to We are trapped in between two worlds: the world of our a point where we ask ourselves who we are and where we've culture, traditions, and religion, and the world we face come from. We question our beliefs and challenge our everyday in school, social events, and the job market. We values. For most of us, the answers and resolutions will need to be well adapted to the American society, alongside determine our attitudes and perceptions of the world; what our culture and Jain religion.
we as adults will support and stand for. Remember, you are not alone. We all feel the pressures. It's definitely time that the youth of North America come That is the reason for Y.J.A., or Young Jains of America. It is together in various ways and strengthen our identities, as one way of uniting all young Jains in America. Y.J.A. will Jain individuals and as members of a common religion. give us a sense of identity and a chance to experience Jainism Jainism will survive throughout eternity whether or not we in our own manner; such as having speakers who are di- embrace it, but to let it die in North America would be to our rected to the youth with a good command of the English grave disadvantage. There is much information untapped language, youth exchange programs, needy causes, etc. that we need to know about. There are Jain youth groups Y.J.A. will operate and promote views as a unit, thus elimi- popping up all over the continent. Jain scholars, monks and nating the isolation of the youth.
nuns have been publishing more and more in English are Being young Jains, practicing vegetarianism, and ahimsa being held, and camps are being held in many different Jain (non-violence), we should be compelled to believe in our centers. This is not to say that becoming a distinct society in selves and assist one another. Please consider being a part of North America will be easy, but if we are ever to face the Y.J.A. It will make a difference to all of us.
future with certainty, we have to understand our past.
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