Jain Digest 1997 06 Vol 13 No 02

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

Page 31

Young Jains Respond to JAINA '97 That were you doing on the weekend of July 4ch, gated the purpose and politics surrounding the building of
1997? Were you celebrating the anniversary of Jain Temples in North America. The Boston Youth per
V America's Independence? Well, I, as well as formed specific rituals with a step by step explanation of how thousands of other Jains, was at the 9th biennial JAINA to conduct each, since rituals are losing their allure amongst Convention held in Toronto, Canada. It was a 4 day the new generation of Jains in North America, despite its convention beginning on the evening of Thursday, July 3d importance in the Jain religion. and ending at noon on Sunday, July 6h. The convention The evenings were filled with music and fun. After a day began with an icebreaker for the youth where we had the of classes and learning, everyone was ready to kick back and chance to meet youth our age from all over the US, Canada, relax with the new friends they had made! On the second and the UK
evening there were two activities that took place—a cruise In getting to meet other people we played many fun for those who were 19 and older or a garba/raas where you games. In one game we played, for each gum ball we'd taken, could wear your traditional Indian clothes and dance the we had to tell our group something about ourselves, so by night away. We all enjoyed to do garba even though it was the end of the night we all had multi-colored tongues. extremely crowded—but that only made it more fun! On
The first day began at 6AM where people could wake up the last evening of the convention, there was a cultural show early and practice yoga or meditation. Classes began at where youth from all over the US, Canada, and the UK around 8am. There were a large variety of classes that we performed dances, skits, and plays and showed off their could attend that were offered everyday. There was an talents. Afterwards, was an American dance party where Opening Ceremony, where people performed dances and everyone could spend the last night together having fun. explained what the convention was about and what we On the last day of the convention, there were some could gain from it. The convention gave all Jains the classes that you could attend and then the closing ceremoopportunity to meet with each other, to listen and learn the nies, but not that many youth had made it there because various aspects of the Jain philosophy and it provided us they'd left that morning or were still sleeping because of all with a common platform from where we could exchange the fun they'd had the night before! The majority of us just views on Jainism with each other. The theme was, “Jainism barely made it for lunch! in Practice ... the New Age” where it targeted the youth in Overall, the JAINA Convention was a lot of fun for me. North America who face the conflict of growing up in a dual It gave me the chance to visit new places and see new faces. culture. All the classes revolved around that theme. Some of I had the opportunity to learn more about our religion and the various classes included: workshops on Vegetarianism, how it is practiced in the present day. All in all, I had an Ahimsa and Aparigraha, Theory of Karma, and Jainism in awesome time, and really learned a lot about my religion. Theory and Practice. A Temple Politics Seminar investi
Email YJA To Reach The Executive Committee:
yja-excom-list@pantheon.yale.edu
To Reach The Co-Chairs
yja-cc-list@pantheon.yale.edu
To Reach The Advisory Board
yja-ad-list@pantheon.yale.edu
To Reach Your Regional Co-ordinators
yja-xx-list@pantheon.yale.edu (Replace xx with ma,we,se,so, ne,or mw.depending on your region.)
JAIN DIGEST FALL 1997/29
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