Jain Digest 1993 01 Vol 20 No 01

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

Page 19

Jain Digest
useful suggestions in writing. Please make sure to attend this convention with copies of your well drafted biodata and good full figure picture, and do not miss a great opportunity.
Letters
Let the light of Jainism shine
Dear Editor:
6. Communication, Bio-Data and a Picture: I have been observing that many parents and/or candidates do not prepare themselves, by clearly talking over the matrimonial matters within the family, and by drafting a good biodata and having a good full figure picture ready. In the absence of these very useful basic prerequisites, many a well intentioned efforts and time, of all concerned, get wasted.
7. Judgment and Decision: 1 have also been observing that a number of parents and/or candidates receiving large number of responses, sit on them, waiting for something (?) to happen. I can not understand this 'do nothing' approach. People should be in a position to rate the responses against their realistic expectations, in a reasonable time of not more than 30 days and decide finally, one way or the other. I fear that an unduly long wait in a false hope, may affect them adversely and hurt them in the long run. Does this mean that people need counselling? I feel, we better seek and/or provide this urgently needed service of 'Family Counselling'
Yes, Jainism will survive in North America and all over the world Dear Editor:
Reading our president's present put-up problem in the October 1992 issue of Jain Digest, I have to assure you that the future of Jainism is nicely encouraged as I could see everywhere in North America and Canada.
Here, amongst the Christian culture, Jains have cultivated the ancient Indian culture. We should observe the slow but steady progress in this direction. The active leaders have now reached old age and they feel afraid of what will happen now. Jainism is a religion that considers quality and not quantity.
There is one lion in the jungle. Faith may be in few but it is firm. It is all of our elders' duty to see that this is an ultimate truth.
Youths are to handle and expand these activities. Let us all decide immediately to call them for early discussions and know their problems. When we have built up such a solid unity for several years, how can it vanish? Problems will be solved by putting more and more effort as per demands.
The International Mahavir Jain Mission, JAINA and several Jain centers and societies have been founded are active. The generation gap is always there, but can be bridged when unity prevails. Jainam Jayate Shashnam.
Kanti Salot Jain-Sangh Navrangpura, Ahmedabad
Although Americans take pride in being a "melting pot," this does not mean that each ethnic group should lose its identity. The reason that America is so wonderful is that we consist of so many nationalities, and our culture has the decided advantage of adopting the best of each nationality that arrives on our shores.
Each nationality or religion should have pride in its own customs, and take pleasure out of sharing them with others.
Jains are, to me, the most special people to arrive in America. No other group in the world has this history of concern for our planet and for the others with whom we share it. Not only has learning about what the term "Jain" stood for, made me wish that I had grown up a Jain, but it has even made me like my own name (no small task, having grown up with "plain Jayn" as a taunt rather than an appellation.
But, there are two concerns that I have, making me wish that the Jains were more prone to hold onto their tenable position in one respect, and less prone in regard to another.
I am envious of those who grew up with a religion whose concepts are those that the rest of us are having to learn as adults, viz., respect for the earth and its other inhabitants. "Animal rights" is basically a new theory to the rest of us; I was 38 years old before I even heard the term. By then, it is true, I had been a vegetarian for almost ten years, but it was without any support group whatsoever. Jains have this sociality as a distinct advantage.
Jains can and do, by example, show other alternatives to exploitative life-styles. Sometimes, however, perhaps, in an effort to blend in, you give in. One example that comes to mind is dissection in the schools.
Many non-Jain kids have re
8. Even now, many candidates and/or parents, do not care to inform MIS when their matrimonials get settled. When shall we learn to be courteous to call or drop a line and encourage voluntary community service work?
9. Married/Engaged: M003, F035, MO36, M078, F122, & F178.
Let us proudly say our Temples in North
America are non-sectarian. -Dr. Mahendra Pandya, Staten Island, NY
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ain Education International 2010_02