Jain Digest 1993 07

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

Page 14

Jainology and other courses.
During our visit we had blessings of Padma Sagar Suri, Chandroday Suri, AshokVijay Suri, Vijay BhuvanBhanusuri, Yasho Vijay Suri, Jayanand Suri, Vidyanandji, Sthul Bhadra Suri, Chandra Sekhar Vijay, Ratna Sagar Suri, Arun Vijay, Hemratna Vijay, and also various Swetamber Sadhvis and Mahasatis. They all appreciated our efforts to promote Jainism and the message of Bhagwan Mahavir.
We found that all are committed in promoting Jainism and the Jain Way of Life to the wider world. Jainism is less known in the West and surprisingly even in the East. Inspite of the desire, the act does not click together. I may summarize problems, resources and action as follows:
Problems
1. We talk about Jainism and the Jain Way of Life mainly within the community and to the ones who have adopted Jainism.
2. Whenever we meet a lot of words are spoken about the things to be done, but action in the right direction is lacking.
3. We duplicate each others efforts rather than acting as a unified group in the most professional way to promote Jainism.
4. Our aims are clear but to achieve the objectives the path to be followed is not clear and also there is hardly any action after the meetings.
5. Lack of academic teachings makes Jainism mostly unknown in the academic world and less interesting to our own educated and professional people in different fields for example, Doctors, Engineers, Accountants etc.
6. Lack of proper infrastructure at National and International level makes voluntary work to be carried out difficult.
7. Lack of publicity and control over press and our own press makes promotion difficult. The successful faiths have their own publicity machinery.
Jain Digest
8. Lack of publicizing the material for the benefit of wider audiences and our own young and educated people in the language that they can understand and relate them to the problems within the modern world and way of life.
Resources in the Community
1. Dedicated workers, Philanthropists ready to donate for the cause and will to promote Jainism, our philosophy and the way of life of the Chaturvidha Sangha. Our Monks and Nuns are selfless and dedicated to promote the teachings of Bhagwan Mahavir, but for some reason things do not click together in a business fashion to achieve our objectives.
•There is a need for a Jain Secretariat with efficient staff.
⚫Generally our people donate for places of worship, and devotional activities. We cannot change the people and we should always respect the donor's wishes. We should convince them about the change of direction with concerted efforts and explain them the advantages both for promotion of Jainism and to their day-to-day lives and businesses.
Positive Action
1. To create an International Jain Secretariat which can represent academic, business, cultural, religious, social and political interests to the International World and give information on Jainism and also can act as a co-ordinating body for various Jain Institutions. The Head Quarters of such Secretariat has to be in New Delhi and have branches in London and New York or Washington. It has to be manned by efficient staff. If there is a will, it is not difficult to find resources for such Secretariat.
2. Academic training, keeping professional careers in mind. If there are no careers at the end of the studies, our young people will not be interested in learning Jainism. Career based courses as suggested, when we met, make the Graduates better people in whatever business or profession they are working in, and such education will create well
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informed Jain Leaders in the future.
3. Information and facilities for academic training to the wider world will make other communities to have sympathy and understanding for the Jain Way of Life. This indirectly will help our own community and businesses. Some of the people from the wider world may adopt the Jain Way of Life.
4. Our workers have to work with dedication and zeal. Bhagwan Mahavir's teachings and Navkar Manta teach us to forget our egoism, and self interest; encourage us to work with single mindedness.
5. We must have an understanding and be prepared to learn about other faiths, their infrastructure and their experience e.g. Swami Narayan, Christians, Jews, Islam, Quakers, Bahais and others.
Time of talking has gone now and it is now time for action. Time will not wait for anyone. We cannot please everyone and satisfy their egoism, if we want to march forward.
May we request the Jain Leaders and Jain community to act together in the most professional way to promote the teachings of Bhagwan Mahavir, not only in the Jain community, but also to the world at large. This will create sympathy and understanding among other faiths and communities and ultimately it will help us indirectly in businesses, professions and other dealings.
Jainism forms a unitary and coherent system. The Jain community and tradition can be seen as a microcosm of Indian society and ways of thought. Jain theories of life and the universe interestingly to modern science Jain ethical concepts have a direct relevance to many current world issues.
Let us take the challenge of the time and make Jainism a true world religion and help all living beings have prosperity and global peace. Dr. Natubhai Shah President, Jain Samaj Europe Leicester, U.K.