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JAIN VALUES NEED TO BE PROMOTED WORLDWIDE
A PERSONAL VIEW BY BENJAMIN ZEPHANIAH
One of the most popular speakers at the UK and North American conventions was Benjamin Zephaniah, a poet, actor, musician and artist extraordinaire. He appears regularly on radio and television. Benjamin is a real champion of the underprivileged and victims of any kind of discrimination. He regularly visits inner cities, prisons and street children, trying to instill hope into their lives. In this article he speaks straight from his heart about his views on Jainism, His books include "Talking Turkeys' and 'Funky Chicken' published by Penguin.
forward I have more time for the Jains than any political party or royal household. I really don't want to sound confrontational or simplistically anti-authoritarian but let's face it, there is a crisis of leadership in Britain and many parts of the world today. Young people have very few role models to look up to. In many ways young people are way ahead of politicians when it comes to issues concerning the environment, animal welfare and human rights, young people have to think ahead of themselves. it's called their lives. Politicians think that the most important thing is to stay in office, in planning a future you cannot be limited to a 4 or 5 year term of political office.
"Young people have very few role models
to look upto"
Vou ARE NOW READING the words of
I someone who is very suspicious of religions, many of my friends who work in community care and community politics find it hard to believe that I have any time at all for a religion. They know that I am a firm believer of God but they also know that much of the suffering I see is caused by religious intolerance or peoples' misuse of religion. So here I am, a person of African descent, whose family is half Christian and half Muslim telling the masses to beware of organised religions, but I see no contradiction in the promotion of Jain values. In fact when I was introduced to Jainism I was surprised at how many of its values I aspire to. Jains have always made me feel welcome, they have always had time to listen to the sometimes controversial things I've had to say but that alone does not win my respect.
I say that Jainism itself has many pointers to the way forward, some of your age old principles have stood the test of time and are now being re-visited by intellectuals and scientists. Doctors are now prescribing yoga and meditation, nutritionists are advocating more vegetarianism and many scientists are now saying that the human race will never be victorious if it fights against nature and that working with nature is the most progressive way forward.
written about such matters but I do see women very active in Jain organisations, women who can be independent and strong without finding the need to grow a beard and wear boots as a sign of equality.
I am not advocating that Jains go out trying to turn everyone into Jains, but the Jain message is for everyone, it loses nothing if its language is adapted for modern times. From the day I met my first Jain I said we need more of this, a community that can be successful without being greedy and godly without being dogmatic is a community that can inspire us all. My question is, Why should you respect or look for leadership from people who are easily corrupted by power and wealth when you have the principles of great leadership within you? I say you can inspire leaders.
If I walked into a meeting of the Young Jains to find a section of the community armed with guns and a large portion of the members money being used to buy more arms, I would have to ask why a group of people who wish to promote peace need such an army. Ask yourself as a Jain, could you really respond by saying that you are keeping the peace? Would you be surprised if I went away and came back with my gun and my little army to keep my little peace? I think you would want to lead by example and that is why when it comes to 'reviving the community spirit' (and I mean world community) or making an environmentally friendly way
The reasons why I have such respect for Jains are simple: they do not want to invade or physically conquer any people, they do not tell all non-Jains that they are doomed to brimstone and fire, Jain principles all seem to stem from compassion, be that for the earth, the environment or all living things and in practice' I see equality of the sexes. I say 'in practice because I am not sure what is
My dear Jains, your message is for Europeans, Americans, Australians and Africans too. B. Z.
July - September 1999. Jain Spirit
15
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