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JAIN DIGEST.. May 2011
generation Jains, many of them being agnostic to traditions we will find some individuals who if inspired would decide to give up material world and prefer to live a life of sainthood. The abstract of Vinit Talsania (included in this magazine) is a living example.
When we asked Acharya Yashovijay Maharaj. about ways to inspire spirituality among the NA population, he responded saying the most important thing was sanskar. The surrounding, the day-to-day interaction with parents, interactions with other family members and family associates, friends, and the overall social environment
influences the value systems of a child. Sanskar is somewhat deeper. Some portions of Sanskar are innate, while some portions of it are a result of the parents and the elders influence. Sanskar starts by setting an example, the child is constantly noticing his/her elders. The second part of sanskar is encouraging the goodness of a child, something that is inborn in all humans, but not allowed to bloom. The third part is discussing the family values and let the child absorb them as he or she grows. If somebody does things out of fear of parents, elders, or society it is not sanskar. If a child grows with proper sanskar, spiritual feeling is bound to arise during the course of his life.
From as early as I can remember, I have always wanted happiness.
I spent most of my youth like most normal American kids do in search for happiness - chasing the opposite sex, money, material things, popularity, etc. I never thought of myself as religious since I only went to the deraser on the "big" days like Mahavir Jayanti and during Paryushan, and even then the main reason for going was to socialize. Having been born in a Jain family, I was naturally raised as a vegetarian. And I knew I was a vegetarian because of the key principle in Jainism called Ahimsa. I knew the Navkar Mantra. I did Athai (8 days of only water) during Paryushan when I was a sophomore in high school, mainly since my Dad kept telling me I wouldn't be able to do it. And after I successfully completed the 8 day fast, loads of family and
Jain Education International
Studies done on close-knit Jewish families show that children of these families invariably return back to their family roots. It is not a surprise then that Jainism pays tremendous weightage to their traditional sanskar when bringing up a child. Guru in Jain dharma occupies the highest position. It is the guru that nurtures the practice of veetrag in an individual. Jain scriptures clearly state that the path of a soul to moksha is only through the guiding hand of a guru. Will the nextgeneration youth have to rely on finding their guru, who predominantly resides in India, or the Jains of North America will produce their own spiritual practitioners of the religion who will help adapt the message to the local area's dravya, kshetra, bhaav and kaal while maintaining the core message of Bhagwan Mahavir? Other religions like Buddhism have succeeded in adapting and prospering in their new environments even after moving away from their native regions. Can Jains of North America rise to that challenge?
If we rise to the challenges in front of us, the Jain community of North America will not only be unique but will start a trend that can bring about a fundamental change in our larger society.
In Search for Happiness
Vinit Talsania
Vinit.talsania@gmail.com
friends came to see me and gave me cash and gifts amounting to over $2000. I was pretty skied to say the least!
Happiness was always directed outward. Even while I was at Rutgers University and was more interested in studying personal development, the focus was to improve myself so that I could create the best possible outcome in my relationships, business, social circle, etc. I wanted to eat healthy and have a nice body so I could impress people (mainly girls). I wanted to do something great for the world so that I could, as a by-product, become super wealthy, be somewhat of a celebrity, and known for how I was such a "good" person. I was persistent in this belief because I really did want this amazing happiness that I did not have and could only dream of.
Possibly because of my strong commitment to search for true happiness, I was fortunate enough
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