Jain Digest 2007 04

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

Page 6

EDITORIAL NOTES
Jain Digest summer 2007
Jai Jinendra,
Dear fellow Jain aspirants.
In last two issues Chetanbhai and his guest editing team has implemented many positive changes to this magazine. As your next guest editorial team it is upon us to continue their effort and make Jain Digest a modern spiritual resource, to communicate, educate, unite, involve and inspire Jains throughout North America.
Objectives
- Be a central Communication media between JAINA and of God is written in stone, there is no climate for any change. Jain families in North America He further continued that the world needs change and yet it will not come from the mono-theistic religions. He challenged us
Jains who are philosophically open to change to lead the charge and fascilitate this dire need of the world.
-As an educational media, balancing informed debate on topical issues as well as raising non-news issues that are nevertheless important and relevant to the better understanding of Jain philosophy, culture and values.
- Celebrating diversity within various Jain traditions, promote cooperation and unity among all Jains through inclusive approach.
- Involve special groups including senior citizens, youths, pathshala students, and women by respecting and addressing issues specific to these groups.
-Inspire the readership to understand, practice and promote the Jain Way of life.
Together we can make Jain Digest a calm meeting place for a wide range of ideas and points of views mixed with spiritual, religious and cultural themes.
Jain Digest can be distinguished by keeping a broad and questioning mind on all issues, free of censorship, aware of the changing times in which we live and though nonpolemical, contributions to current debate on matters of faith, philosophy and practice.
We couldn't think of a more appropriate theme than the one chosen. "Managing CHANGE and Continuity" First of all we hope that you can see many possiitive changes in the structure, design, layout and content of this magazine in line with the stated objectives above.
Secondly, we would like to encourage all our readers to actively participate. Tell us what you like and don't like. Tell us what else you would like to see in your magazine. Submit articles, news events, poems, quotes, art work,
cartoons etc...
Lastly support JAINA and and the outstanding work done by it's various committees in keeping alive this great philosophy and culture.
With sincere thanks
Your editorial Team.
Jedation International
Editorial
by Sudhir M. Shah
Last summer, during one of my presentations, titled "The Future of Religion Demands Change" at The Congress of The World's Religions in Montreal Canada, an interesting conversation took place. At the end of my presentation, Rev. Johnson got up and said, that he liked the idea of constant review and change within all religions; however in his religious tradition, where the word
Are we ready to take that responsibility? Are we even ready to bring abour necessary changes in our own tradition? Mahavirswami said, "Vattana Lakkhano kalo" meaning the characteristics of time is change. Jainism accepts change as inevitable and yet in practice, there is a tremendous amount of resistance to change in Jain societies around the world.. "Change difficult because people overvalue their traditional practices and undervalue what they may gain by letting go". Now, you will find many, who will argue that Jainism has been
is
around for thousands of years and will continue to survive forever without any change. This is the kind of thinking that has led to continued decline of Jains, from over 100 million at one time, to now less than 10 million. Even according to the findings of JAINA long range planning committee, we are 'loosing' young Jains in large numbers at an alarming rate. We just cannot deny these facts and remain complacent. We not only need to attract Jain youth but also listen to them and empower them to take leadership in their future. For this to happen, we need to reevaluate our practices as well as the paradigm these practices are based on. Changes and reforms are an inevitable result of such critical but constructive analysis.
There are well meaning individuals who get upset at any critical analysis. They say "Don't talk about negative - keep things positive". A young boy came home and told his mother that he was going to flunk the math test. Mother said "don't be negative son, be positive". The young boy said "I am POSITIVE - I am going to flunk that test"!
When there are weeds in the garden we have two choices.
1. We can be positive thinkers and say "There are no weeds in the garden....there are no weeds in the garden....there are no weeds in the garden" and let the weeds take over the entire garden.
2. Alternatively, we accept the fact that there ARE weeds in the garden, pull these weeds out, take preventive measures and move on to have a beautiful garden.
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