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These kinds of situations keep us from being like Hindu teenagers. In the future, we might need courage to follow Jainism, because we would have adapted more to Western culture.
I feel that in times to come Jainism might disintegrate. I am afraid to say that we, the new generation, might have no one to look up to. We go to Jain Center hoping to learn something new, but come back with a disappointment after seeing the way adults argue in general body meetings. We go to Jain Center hoping to volunteer, but are unable to accomplish it because we don't get enough encouragement and support from the adults. I don't know this is the kind of impression they want us to live with.” I can guarantee that if these kinds of immature acts continue in the future, it surely will be the reason for the downfall of Jainism. If the parents are not involved in informing their children about our culture or religion and encourage them to follow Jainism, then the coming generation cannot
understand the difference between the two cultures. And it will be too difficult later to teach them because it will then be too late. They will be gone too far into the Western culture and it would be hard to bring them back.
Living in the Western culture should make us strive to tell others about our culture, our values, and our religion. We should be proud to have been born in this great religion. Instead of making an excuse of living in the Western culture, we should make that a strong point and follow it. We don't need courage to be different, to be Jain, to remain Jain in the Western culture and environment. All we need is the right belief, right view, and support of our parents and Jain society to remain Jain in this Western culture and in today's environment. a Payal Kapadia is a sophomore at University of Houston. She is pursuing career in Genetics. She is a team player and participated at the Jain Academic Bowl in Chicago, 2001.
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