Jain Digest 2007 11 1

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

Page 51

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JAIN DIGEST• Winter 2007
Young Voices
young Voiceg
So you send your children to the Pathshala, teach them the basics
have a desire to give back to the Jain community in various of Jainism, celebrate the various religious occasions, with the
ways. I am among five young adults that I know of who have hope that the children will carry forward the tradition of the
grown up attending classes at the temple, and have now returned religion along with the spiritual aspect of it. And then they go
to help teach. This is now my third year of being an assistant off to college, and the detachment from that umbilical cord
teacher, and I still attend Pathshala classes afterwards every other begins. And you wonder, how will they fare, out in the real world,
Sunday. I have also started a Jain Club at UC Irvine this year away from the influence of home, and pathshala and the things
(with over 20 members), with two of my friends from the temple.
Since it is such a big part of my life, people around me have that ground them.
expressed curiosity in the religion as well. Almost all of my friends Well, we asked some of these youngsters about the impact of from high school and college (both non-Indian and Indian) have Jainism in their daily life, its influence on their outlook and asked about Jainism, and why I do certain things like maintain decisions they have to make, and the message they pass to others a strict vegetarian dict, or avoid walking on grass. I usually reply in deeds or words. Some of them are past pathshala students, to them with only the basics (since I myself am not an authority and others who did not attend the pathshala, but they all practice on the religion), but direct them to sources of more information Jainism in their own way. Here is what they have to say: by inviting them to the temple. (In fact, a friend of mine is
actually planning to make a trip to the temple during one of the Shanehi Shah, University of California, Irvine. classes). Many times, they research Jainism on the internet and 3rd year JCSC
ask me questions about it. And a close friend of mine actually
became vegetarian after learning about cruelty to animals, which We have been taught, numerous times, that Jainism is a way of is extremely rare, coming from a Filipino background. Their life, and I could not agree more. The values that we genuinely interest in Jainism causes me to research it as well, and it becomes gain from this religion, that we exhibit through our lives as part a win-win situation. The benefits of Jainism and the Jain of our character; and the way we truly practice it, is through our community are tremendous, and I must have acquired a great day-to-day activities, rather than our bi-weekly trips to the local deal of punya, because I am truly lucky to have had so much temple. This is not to say that I personally consider myself an
exposure to it. exceedingly virtuous person - I try to do what I can, and will never stop learning. I would like to think however, that I have Ahimsa on the Lab Bench by: Jayodita Sanghvi, matured a lot -made quite a bit of progress in my own, individual
MIT Senior Year, JCNC growth; and most of the credit for this goes to my parents, my learning about Jainism, and my participation in the jain temple. As a college student, I have often been asked, "Is it hard to be It has taught me a lot about the importance of patience, respect, Jain?" And my answer to the question is a definite "no." My truthfulness, responsibility, understanding, and control of belief system is a part of who I am, it is not something I am passions. Principles like Anekantvada (multiplicity of viewpoints) forced to uphold or even something I have to struggle to and the karma theory, along with many other virtues, are qualities maintain. Having never knowingly eaten meat, I am never that I try to acquire, and work hard to integrate into my thought tempted to try. I have even convinced the cooks at my dorm to process. I feel like they have made me a much more amiable use separate pans and spoons when they stir-fry my food. While person as a result. Even in simple, everyday activities, such as my roommates squeal at the sight of spiders, for me its second living and studying with roommates, these qualities have proven nature to grab a piece of toilet paper and take the spider outside. to be useful - especially patience, anger control, and considering Being Jain is not something we try to do, but is what we are. Yet cach others' perspectives, and have helped to reduce conflict, there are times when the beliefs have a significant impact on the and increase peace of mind.
decisions we make. Rather than worrying about how easy or
hard it is to be Jain, I think that it is important to realize the I am incredibly grateful to the temple as well, because thanks to
influence that our values have on our daily lives. My name is the well-organized Pathshala system, as well as the vast amount
Jayodita Sanghvi, and I am a senior at MIT. Below is an example of time and dedication put forth by the amazing teachers and volunteers, so many of us children and young adults are given
of how Jain ideals have played a role in my career decisions. the rare opportunity to learn about our religion and our heritage. An estimated three million animals are used in biological and Along with this, many of us have made many lasting bonds and medical rescarch cach year. This includes a wide spectrum of friendships with peers - other young people just like ourselves, species including mammals such as dogs, cats, sheep, rabbits, who experience the same obstacles we do, as we are all among and primates. Due to the high cost of maintaining animals as the first generation to grow up Jain in America. These well as the high severity of the procedures performed, just about relationships have helped us build a unique support system, all the experimental animals are sacrificed or die due to the which for me, consists of a majority of my closest friends, and procedure. This means that over eight thousand animals are killed which I personally rely on quite heavily. All together, we grow each day by researchers in the field of biology. As an up to become more confident and conscientious people who undergraduate, studying in the field of Biomedical Engineering,
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