Jain Digest 1993 07

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

Page 13

Jain Digest
Monks must not collect money
Dear Editor,
opportunistic and materialistic world then let us not make Jainism an opportunistic religion. To do this, we will have to maintain the purity of Jain Sangh. This means let householders do what they are supposed to do, that is looking after socioeconomic affairs of our society, and let monks and nuns do what they are supposed to do, that is following and practicing their righteous and spiritual path. An example is always better than advice. Jaijinendra
Jeetendra Shah Lubbock, TX
Jainism: Our problems, resources and potential
Dear Editor,
We have been hearing that some of our visiting monks were collecting funds by telling people that their donation is tax-deductible. But when some people were getting ready to file tax returns, they found out that there was actually no non-profit organization and checks were already cashed. Some of them felt deceived. There are stories that during the process of collecting these funds, some unethical techniques were applied which also created ill feelings among faithful Jains. I have heard that one Jain person felt so bad that he does not want to do anything with monks anymore.
This reminds me to share a story with you. Once there was a king and he decided to offer gold coins to monks in town. So he called on one of his confidential ministers and gave him a bag of golden coins and instructed him to distribute the coins among the monks. The minister went all over the town, met many monks, and came back. He gave the bag back to the king and said that he could not find any monk for these coins. The king got very upset and said that there were so many monks and asked why the advisor could not find anyone. The advisor politely said that he had found many monks, but those who were real or true monks did not want the gold coins, and those who were greedy for the coins were not real monks in the true sense. Hence, he could not offer coins to anyone. The king realized what the minister said. He felt very proud of him and offered the advisor 100 coins as a reward for good thinking
I wish we all could have the wisdom of the minister. I am sure most of us know this but I would like to bring this to your attention that when a person renounces worldly affairs and becomes a monk or nun, he or she gives up all ties with family
and socioeconomic affairs, and takes an oath to follow five major vows. Among them, one is the Vow of Aparigraha. This means not only do they not keep any money or ties with any property or any materialistic matter in any way, but they also should not directly or indirectly encourage anyone to collect them either. He or she becomes a monk or nun for upliftment of the Soul in the spiritual aspect and not the socioeconomic or political aspect, and also to lead householders on a spiritual path.
But what we have been seeing is so different here that it is unreal for a true monk or nun. People say things should change as the time and place change, but they are forgetting that monkhood is not the same as social work or buying a house or car. We, the householders, are the ones who should be doing the social work. By degrading monkhood, we are destroying the identity, serenity, and purity of monkhood and ultimately Jainism as a whole. If those monks or nuns who come here and cannot or do not want to abide by the monkhood rules as prescribed in their vows, then rather than letting monkhood go down the drain, they should be given a different title with less-restricted vows as suggested by Mr. Dalal in the Jain Digest issue of April '93. I think that is a very bold suggestion which many of us under the influence of blind hero worshiping may not like. By giving a different designation with liberal vows, this different category of Jains can do more than what we do as householders, and at the same time would be able to maintain their distinct status. This way, they may be allowed to do a few more things which they otherwise cannot do as a monk or nun, including collecting money.
Our youths are already confused with many other paradoxical things happening around us in the society and this problem adds one more to that list. If we want to maintain Jainism in pure form in this
Jainism is an ancient Indian religious and philosophical tradition followed by several million Jains in India, with sizeable numbers in Europe, East Africa and North America. Many Jains are in business or professions. The cardinal principle is non-violence and reverence for life of all living beings.
Recently myself and Dr. Paul Marett visited India on a fact finding tour. We visited Bombay, Navsari, Surat, Ahmedabad, Palitana, Delhi, Calcutta, Rajgir, Madras, Bangalore, Mysore, Shravan Belgola, and other places.
We were welcomed by Jain Leaders/Scholars and met more than 700 people during our fact finding tour. The enthusiasm for the Jain Academy and Career Base B.A. in Jain Studies was overwhelming. We have been successful in motivating various people to think about such courses in India. We had meetings with Vice-Chancellors/Registrars of Madras University, Mysore University, Bombay University and S.N.D.T. University Bombay.
All the Universities concerned have expressed their desire to have co-operation with the De Montfort University in the Department of
Jain Education Intemational
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