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Jain
RS Sunny Jain is a Write-Off Analyst working in the Energy Sector in Houston, TX, and a lifetime member
of the Jain Society of Houston. Described by his peers as diligent, compassionate, and a team-player, Sunny attests his spiritual growth and development through practice of Jainism.
Being an Agent of Change By Sunny Jain
As we dive deeper into the 5th ara of the cosmic wheel, a world where qualities such as compassion, trust, and faith are overpowered by the four passions of anger, greed, ego, and deceit, the importance of unified and tightly knit Jain communities around the world is more apparent than ever. As a Jain born in the Manushya Gati, we have been bestowed with the knowledge and human capability to facilitate meaningful change and help others around us. Just as Newton's third law states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction, even the smallest act of kindness can significantly impact someone's life, and in turn even create more agents of change.
My story follows the footsteps of an archetypal American born Jain, who halfheartedly participated in Jain youth events and community functions before completely disconnecting from the community upon entering college life. Of course, this was not something I was particularly proud of. Every week would be a reiteration of the previous week, in which I would resolve to get more involved at Derasar, only for it to backfire, whether it be an upcoming exam or the sudden need for more sleep on a Sunday. Visiting Derasar once a week would evolve into once a month, until it conceded to "showing face" on Mahavir Jayanti and randomly selected Sundays where I would "get my Darshan in" before making my swift escape. Sadly, I wasn't the only one.
What makes so many of this generation disconnect from the Jain community like I had done their age? Is it the absence of English-oriented lectures and events, creating a major communication barrier for American born and English speaking Jains? Is it the lack of Jain Fellowship and Youth Group activities in their community? In the pursuit of catering to the needs of the general Derasar population, is there a lack of focus on this often forgotten demographic of Jains between the ages 18 to 30? It may very well be all of the above reasons and more; however one thing is certain, there is a missing sense of community.
Building a sense of community is the string that unites Jains of different ages, interests, and backgrounds towards a common goal, our Derasar. Without a sense of community, people are less motivated to get involved, cliques begin to form among different age groups, and more troublingly, people feel lost and are not able to find their place in the group. Their Derasar does not feel like "home", as it should. It was not until many years later when I realized that
even someone like myself could be an agent of change, through something as little as supporting our local Young Jain Association (YJA) and Jain Fellowship events and encouraging others to get involved, whether it be Ultimate Frisbee and the YJA Regional Retreat, or religious oriented events such as Chaitya Pariparti. By setting an example for the next generation, I disregard the norm that life after high school necessitates disengaging from the community like I had done at that age.
No matter what one's age or background be, every Jain has a role to play in building this sense of community, just as I have done through something as little as getting more involved and encouraging others to do the same. As agents of change, we are the ones who can facilitate real change and build a foundation for our youth, those who represent the future of our Derasar, community, and religion.
The next time you see a new face at Derasar, whether adult or child, actively go out the way to make the new person feel welcome, feel valued; even if it requires breaking out of your own comfort zone. Build a genuine relationship with this person, and perhaps exchange contact information, so that they will return and one day do the same for someone else. As an introvert, I know all too well how difficult it can be to meet new people and assimilate into a group of people you do not know, especially if they are not your age.
As Jains living in an era shaped by forward thinking and progressive ideals, we must collectively rethink the way our communities are socially structured and how we can create an environment that is more welcoming and inclusive for Jains of all ages especially the youth. I call on all my fellow agents of change to lead by example, to break this pattern that is disconnecting our generation, and to encourage others to do the same. The appropriate role of concerned adults will be to serve as a resource and facilitate a process over which youth themselves will have ultimate control. The strength and stability of the youths' relationship to parents, other involved adults, and peers motivates them to participate in religious events. This helps them begin or strengthen their devotion to God and higher powers to which they are introduced to in such events. Such relationships and devotion then become their main motivation to stay connected and continue to receive its benefits across major life transitions, such as going to college. Together, we are the future of Jainism.
