Jain Digest 1999 04

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

Page 29

began in the late 60's and early 70's. After these people had a chance to plant some roots others began to come over in the early 80's. This has created a very diverse and wide spread Jain population, having mass points in most major cities across this continent. While we have only been in this country for a short time, we have developed; however our development can proceed faster after these two obstacles have been eliminated.
PROBLEMS: The problems that we face stem from miscommunication and from a lack of solidarity. The problems that stem from miscommunication often deal with politics. The term that many Jains dislike, and the term that few recognize as commonplace. The problems that stem from a lack of solidarity are lack of a common national vision for the future. I challenge that these difficulties are not anything more than small obstacles in our path to a greater more flourishing subculture within the Americas, and that they can be hurdled over with small effort.
While a few people share a similar vision for the success of the Jain community, unless we all share similar visions it will take us a long time to reach our goal. A few key people within our Jain movement have begun to strive for a simple but noteworthy goal: a pathshala and seniors' center in every major city. This goal represents the beginning of a solid foundation for Jainism as a continent wide movement. Since this is just one view for the future we, the Jain community, need to formulate a single solid plan for the future, that we can all work at to achieve.
The barriers that keep us from having a pathshala in every center, in my opinion, stem from the fact that finding a common syllabus and methodology of teaching has not yet been reached. The pathshala convention will hopefully provide a big step in this process. The barriers keeping us from having a seniors' center are numerous. Reasons stem from the misconception of a retirement center, the biasing based upon, although valid, the negative operation of the "American Retirement Home," the firm belief that what is applicable in other countries is equally applicable here, and many other reasons.
But the effort can not be just from one side; it must not only come down from the leadership but also up from the membership. One of the problems why this is not happening fast enough is that though our leaders have a vision for the future, the role of an individual to accomplish these goals is abstract. The ideas are floating around, with implementations, but without roles for everyone. This leads to the problem we have with communication.
At this stage we do not communicate efficiently nor do we communicate effectively with one another. This stems out from a general lack of patience (which seems to stem from the fact that we lead very busy lives) in both giving and receiving communication, and from not using all tools available to us. This general miscommunication leads to politics as people begin to not explain their full agenda and do not understand the full agendas of others. And once the game of politics is being played the original objectives are lost, and everyone loses.
Education International
Almost any youth group can demonstrate a prime example of how this game of politics does nothing but hinder progress. Money collection is probably to number one way in which every youth group is affected, from YJA, to the Houston YJA Convention Committee on down to local groups. At times, the money that has been pledged to these groups are held back because of petty politics, often by the same people that publicly support these youth groups. The youth are the future, and playing politics does nothing but discourage them. In my opinion, the key reason why these politics arise is a lack of proper communication. I am confident that if everyone is in the loop and offers to help in any way they can, that politics will disappear and that progress will quicken.
PLAN: My plan for the Jain community is comprehensive, placing all stages of life together for a more cohesive society. In order for such a plan to succeed it must not conflict with the greater society, otherwise we will begin to be labeled as outsiders. Therefore, in each stage of life it is imperative that we do not only do Jain things, but that we also take part in the greater society, and thereby keep our own consciousness but do not separate ourselves from Americans.
The first phase of life is from birth to pre-school age. It is in this phase that we acquire rudimentary language skills and the foundations of society. I therefore suggest that we create a pathshala system implemented carefully so that all Jains can attend, not just those in a fortunate city can attend. Preparations are being made as to create pathshalas in more and more cities, but these can not reach to all. The first step in standardizing the curriculum will begin Memorial Day weekend this May, and no doubt will be quite successful. But, it only represents a top down effort. This can either happen in the standard Sunday classes, or it can go to the summer camp format that was done at places like Siddhachalam. However, it is up to the membership to ensure that our linguistic and religious traditions are passed down. I therefore recommend that, in addition to the regular pathshalas, a single center be established for at least four weeks to not only reach our religious and linguistic traditions are preserved by also to teach all youth about our history and culture. If there was a single center established and the necessary funding provided, it would provide numerous benefits, especially to those whose hometowns do not have a regular pathshala. I surmise that this could be accomplished in conjunct with a single seniors' center, as I will discuss below.
The second phase of life is from pre-school to high-school age. It is in this phase that we establish the foundations of our identity, morally and socially. I believe the best way to establish a solid foundation is to be around others that are have similar beliefs, however we must realize that if we socially separate our youth from their American peers that we may risk separating them from the general public. I therefore suggest that there be a Jain camp permanently established to educate our youngsters about Jainism. When I was young, I would spend entire summers with my family in England, where the majority of my extended family lives. This enabled me to form the family ties that were not possible being one
JAIN DIGEST. SUMMER 1999/27