Jain Digest 1993 07

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

Page 12

Jain Digest
Letters
பரபரப்பு
From the Editor:
Our readers are encouraged to send their views on current matters facing the Jain community. We try to publish as much as our space limitations permit. Jain Disgest reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and space. The views expressed in the letters are those of the authors and do not represent views of JAINA.
Will Jainism survive?
Dear Editor
twin brothers of Toronto, Tej and Tarang, joint authors of the book The Case of Vegetarianism (Jain Digest, October 1992, "Youth Corner", page 12), who were born and brought up in Canada, are pure vegetarians, and are very far from alcohol and drugs-thanks to their parents and grandparents.
KNOWLEDGE OF JAINISM AND ROLE OF PARENTS:
The bitterness of two youths, mentioned in your article, who complained that the first generation (parents) are preoccupied with the accumulation of wealth and that they, themselves, do not understand rituals, is quite understandable. When the parents do not understand the Jain traditions, how are they going to teach these to their children? This would mean that our youths have a desire to learn and understand and follow Jainism, but they are devoid of the required guidance.
Our elders, following a routine, just for the sake of doing it, do Samayik, Pratikraman, Pooja, etc., but hardly do they know, in its true sense, what they are doing. They do not even know the meaning of words of our Gathas. They would not be able to respond if we ask them, for instance, the meaning of "NAMO LOE SAVV SAHUNAM" or "LOGUSS UJOAGARE." They attend Vyakhyans, Pravachans of our sadhus and saints, but they are never wiser, and there will be very few who will understand same and put
it into practice.
Every year, on the last day of Paryushan, at the end of Samvatsari Pratikraman, they all will fall-in, and one by one, pass on the line and utter, "Michhami Dukkadm." This just seems superficial. Nothing comes from the depth of the heart. It just becomes routine, and they are satisfied that they have performed their duty and shook their burdens off their shoulders. All rituals performed without understanding their meaning are senseless. OUR YOUTHS:
The youth of our new generation is intent to learn Jain culture, but will refuse to cram Gathas, without knowing the meaning of every word. They would like to know what is meant by Namo Arihantanam, Namo Siddhanam, and would also like to know what is Arihant and what is Siddh, and rightly so!
Because our youth is desirous of learning Jain culture in its true sense, a vacuum of proper guidance has to be filled in. A youth who has then understood Jainism will be able to explain to other youths in the language they can understand.
I am confident, Jainism is not only going to survive, it is going to flourish.
J. N. Sheth Tanzania, East Africa
I read, with interest, your impressive article, "Will Jainism Survive in North America?" (Jain Digest, October 1992). CULTURAL DIFFERENCES:
For our Indian youths born, brought up, and growing up in the U.S.A., UK, or any other Western countries, cultural differences are there to stay. Being under the environmental influence, they tend more towards the Western culture.
PRACTICE OF INDIAN VALUES:
Most of these Jain youths have no knowledge of Indian culture. It is a pity that they can neither write nor read in their own mother tongue. Not only that, some of them would not even converse in their own language. If one speaks to them, say, in Hindi or Gujarati, even though they understand it and are able to speak that language, they would respond in English only. So, the conversation is in two different languages.
It is true that some of our youths are non-vegetarians; they consume alcohol and drugs and have other vices as well. But, whom should we blame? Are the parents not at fault? Some of the parents themselves are not free from these vices.
If the children are given proper education from their tender childhood, they will grow up as true Jains. Itake liberty to cite an example of the
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