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KUMAR : JAINS AND THEIR RELIGION IN AMERICA: A SOCIAL SURVEY
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-- They like to support mainstream organizations like anima!
rights and vegetarianism movements. On a broader issue of household, Ameri-Jains show that it must be operated on three principles- samyaktva (equanimity), ahimsā (nonviolence) and anekānta (perspectives from different angles), for they are structured to bring about a good working relation among the individual members. On the issue of cultural and linguistic pluralism, they emphasize homogeneity, conformity and assimilation within the larger milieu. but appear to insist on uniqueness of the self while stress the nature of interdependency, speaking metaphorically of water drop on the lotus leaf.
Characteristic Features of Jain Identity
The social and anthropological perspective of Ameri-Jains may be understood by examining its religio-social values and psycho-social attitudes. However, it is essential first to know what a Jain layperson is. Many western scholars like Dr K.R. Norman of Oxford University defines that 'one who is not an ascetic is a Jain person, whether or not that person has taken the vows of the votary.' According to late American scholar Kendall Folkert, the lay do not practice the ascetic model of holiness but rather participates by means of religious and social activities that are often have more visible features.26
The study shows that Ameri-Jain characteristics form two strata: one is, the ecclesiastical custom which forms the code of lay practices, and two is, established moral values conforming sanctioned notion which underlie in the conscience of Jainistic life. The ecclesiastic stratum is found to consist five features, namely-daily prayer; daily essentials which are five in number; fasting; giving or donating and rite of passage. The conscience of Jainistic life stratum, unlike other world religions, takes into consideration that the living pattern must respect all life, the earth and the air, dictating conformity in living the moral goodness. This is featured by such characteristics like-approach to life and liberation; aspect of economic aggregate; feeding the poor and the hungry with strict vegetarian meal; campaign for vegetarianism from both doctrinal and health points; approach toward death (sallekhana), which the West currently debates rigorously.
These characteristics thus define features of Jain identity which may be studied under three broad classifications: One is, Jain conscious which the study focuses on features such as self-definition, idealism, 26. Ibid., pp. 124-126, 132-138, 140-141.
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