Jain Digest 1992 04

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

Page 4

any bias of sect, sex, caste, language, profession and place of origin.
Eleven years ago, Jains here established a national organization of all Jains called the Federation of JAINA. This again was a major step in unifying all Jains.
• Every year we invite Sadhus, Sadhvis, Pandits, scholars, Bhattaraks, and Samanis without consideration of sect. It has become a common sight here to see all these people visiting many Jain Centers and using one common platform. • Several Jain Centers and JAINA libraries contain books about Jainism and not of one particular sect alone.
All the publications including three regular magazines, Jain Digest, Jain Study Circular, and Jinamanjiri are non-sectarian in nature and content.
• Our unique and major Tirtha Siddhachalam is non-sectarian and belongs to all Jains.
⚫ Songs, Satawans, Poojas, rituals, etc. more and more are now being conducted for all Jains.
• Several Jain temples and their layout and design are completely
non-sectarian. JAINA's Temple
Guideline Committee is also busy in spreading this non-sectarian outlook in the establishment of new temples. Not only is this a right thing to do, but also Jains here (due to our circumstances and numbers) in several cities have installed Jain ideals in Hindu temples as well. This definitely is a much broader vision.
• In several places, Paryushan Parva is now being celebrated for 18 days (Paryushan and Das Laxan). Over time we will see more such trends.
• Youth camps, Pathshadras, curriculum, essays, essay competitions, Pratikraman, Aloyanas, etc. are being conducted with a non-sec
tarian outlook in mind. Very earnestly we are trying to become just Jains. We may speak any language, eat any food, come
Jain Digest
Seventh Biennial JAINA Convention Monroeville (Pittsburgh),PA July 2-4, 1993
Site: Expo-Mart, Monroeville, PA Theme: Jainism: Past, Present, and Future
Program plans are being finalized. If you planto volunteer or seek information related to the convention, please contact:
Vinod Doshi, 140 Penn Lear Dr., Monroeville, PA 15146, (412) 856-0235, or Dr. Surendra K. Sethi, Program Committee Chair, (412) 283-8822.
Various dignitaries, Jain monks, scholars, and young Jains from around the world are expected to attend..
All are cordially invited.
from any part of India, been born and raised in any sectarian tradition, our last names may be Shahs, Mehtas, Dalals, Parikhs, Gandhis, Nayaks, or Salgias, but we are all
I
Jains; followers of Jinas and believers and practitioners of Ahimsa. am not saying this task of molding and unifying this kind of Jain community has been easy but we have been trying. Our next generation growing up here does not and will not know our differences of the past.
This is what I told our Jain friend. In summary, we may not be fully Jains yet but we surely are trying. This is our plan, vision and future. I hope you agree. Jai Jinendra.
I wish to thank Steve Jain,
P.B. Bhattacharya, Sam McCoy, and John Zimmerer for their help in producing this issue. S.K. Jain
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News and Announcements
Jain Center of Buffalo
NEW JAIN CALENDAR
Dr. Jagat Jain, of the Jain Community of Buffalo, has received a letter from the New York National office of the National Conference of Christians and Jews requesting information about the holidays of the Jain religion for inclusion in the NCCJ Calendar of Religious Holidays and Ethnic Festivals for 1992 - 1994. In 1988, the Jain symbol was included among the symbols of the major religions of the world. Mahaveer's birthday was also included in the religious holidays and the "Jains" associated with the festivals of Deepavali, Dusshera, Holi, Rakhi and Vasant Panchmi. Other Jain Holidays are also planned to be