Book Title: Jain Digest 2007 11 2
Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

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Page 34
________________ Jain Digest. Winter 2007 Unity Paradigm: United in Independence United in Spirit VIEW POINT " Completely autonomously run groups serving a shared community of people with different needs and expectations. Each group, while united at a fundamental level in some core spiritual beliefs, still works under its own vision and objectives to serve its larget group's needs. Core idea: United Under One Complete integration of all sub-groups into one organization. Elected board maintains final authority and oversight over everything under the banner of Jain Center sponsored activities. Individual committees are responsible for and empowered to manage specitic areas to some degree. but remain wholly accountable to the executive board of the Jain Center. Resources and scale. Operational control. No individual or group operates above or outside the elected "rule of law." Needs of minority interests are comprised to suit the majority. No target group is served as well. Risk of bureaucratic inefficiencies. More time Spent talking than doing, Basic unifying foundation for the community to serve a similar-minded majority, but failing to deliver effectively to individual needs. Jain Center serves as the primary organization for loosely uniting the community for all things Jain. Satellite groups operate independently, with their own vision and objectives, not constrained by nor accountable to the Center with respect to their activities and participants. Groups maintain a non-binding mechanism for encouraging communication, cooperation, coordination, and participation with each other to come together, create synergy and share resources. • The peaceful co-existence of independent, self-managed individuals /groups and the retention of diversity, talent and fresh thinking. • Some scale/synergy benefits. • Unknown. Relatively unprecedented in the experience of Jain organizations. • Possible fragmentation - too many good choices. Advantages • Each group works optimally to serve its needs effectively, 1. No group is accountable to or constrained by others in any way. Limitations: . lacks the resources, stability, and financial operational Synergies and scale benefits of a larger organization. . May he challenging to replicate and sustain success. Result: . Mutually respectful and synergistic co-existence of highly talented and effective individuals/ groups from which community members benefit through activities of their choice, with effective unity between groups. Mutually respectful co-existence in which community members take part in each organization's activities as they choose, but without any explicit goal of unity The traditional approach of united under one" is the standard practice familiar to many Jain organizations. It's good but not great; it has failed to truly unite Jains effectively, and is inadequate to meet the demands of today's Jains who want it all - choice, freedom and quality. The other, less common but equally extreme approach of united in spirit provides an alternative, but it too has limitations. The proposed middle path borrows from the strengths of both approaches to bring forth a new concept of "unity in independence". Adopting this kind of progressive approach to Jain organizations will require compromise, change, and courage, but the rewards are well worth it if it allows our children to carry the torch of Jain spirituality forward. Advocates of religion often suffer from dogmatism. They may agree that what - 24they have known is not absolute truth, but they insist that what others believe Afis absolutely wrong. hele - Acharya Mahapragyaji - kare S BENGUES en SERGADO PESSET . lucation Intemational For Private & Personal Use Only 321 For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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