Jain Spirit 2001 06 No 08

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 17

MAILBOX
ARTICLE INSPIRES
INCLUSIVE NOT EXCUSIVE Hitesh Mehta,
Brad Pouleson, Iowa City, Iowa, USA, writes: Ft Lauderdale, writes:
Let me first say that I enjoy your magazine very much I have just finished reading your most
Mailbox
and greatly appreciate the contributions all involved are current issue (Issue 7) of "Jain Spirit" and
Jain Spirit
making. Having said that, I also must say that I was would like to congratulate you and your team editors@jainspirit.org
disappointed with a few small news items in the for a job well done. Your editorial was
March-May issue. Most notably the item on page 10 excellent and has inspired me to write an
under #5 (Students of Indian origin are outperforming article for a future issue. Please allow me to
their peers, Issue 7, page 10). While I realise that introduce myself. I am an adjunct Professor at Florida Jainism is a religion born in India and that people often feel proud of International University and two months away from Publishing themselves as a group, the news reported in the above mentioned section a book on my specialization, Ecolodges. I am also a Landscape regarding student performance in UK schools smacks of racial Architect, Architect and Environmental Planner and in my superiority. Needless to say we all know the depths to which this notion work, I continually seem to be using the Jain philosophies that has taken the world in history. As a non-Indian Jain I personally regard I grew up with. It is in this light that I must mention the Jainism as a religion of wonderful significance and feel that for too long inspiring article written by Rita Morbia (Issue 7, page 28-30). it has been restricted to the borders of its homeland. In order to foster its She seems to be doing the same in her work.
growth and the growth of the beautiful ideals Jainism contains perhaps
we need to be aware of our own pride and how this can be seen by IS IT OUR PLACE TO CRITICISE?
others as a wall of exclusion. If we are to make statements of our pride Amit Gudka, aged 16, London, writes:
let us present them not in negative contrast to other individuals but rather I read the short news items on boxing and fox-hunting (Issue as ideals or achievements towards which all may strive. There were other 7, page 8 and 9 respectively). The points raised were fair such anecdotes contained in the issue which follow in a similar vein. 1 enough, I mean from a Jain perspective both these pursuits are suggest that these should be avoided and Jain Spirit should be inclusive wrong but whilst I don't support fox-hunting, surely it is not up and not exclusive. to us as Jains to judge what is a tradition that has gone back for hundreds of years. As a Jain I don't think it is right for us to say JAIN BOOKS HARD TO FIND that "it is hard to imagine how these people are the fabric of Sobhag (Raju) Shah, London, writes: middle-England". We don't protest for meat eating to be Recently I have been to a few bookshops but there are hardly if any banned, for alcohol to be banned, or leather to be banned, so books on Jainism on their shelves. There are books on Sikhism so why why the sudden outrage at fox-hunting? I very much doubt not on Jainism? In fact when I went to the British Library to get the that they set out wanting to be as cruel and inhumane as library ticket to see some of their Jain manuscripts, the receptionist asked possible. I agree on the topic of boxing to a certain extent. As me what they were and I had to explain to him a bit about our religion. sports go, this is one of the most brutal ones out there. Boxing We must endeavour to spread awareness about our ancient tradition. is most definitely anti-Jain, but the boxers choose to climb into Perhaps Jain Spirit could publish a list of books or start a Jain book club! the ring together and take on the risk of getting brain damage. Boxers such as Mike Tyson bring to the sport bad press by WAKE UP! being so savage, but the majority of boxers test their bodies Mr Kishore Shah of London, writes: when fighting, then hug their opponent and go home satisfied I really enjoyed reading Ciaran Reilly's article in Issue 7 entitled that they have given it their best. When practised properly, "Science Needs Compassion". Young people who have a negative boxing really is a sport, a test of human
perception of Jainism should be encouraged to read endurance. Even fasting causes health
JAIN SPIRIT - ISSUE 7
such material. It is peculiar that people not bom in problems from time to time, doesn't it?
the Jain tradition sometimes appreciate it more than The image of a grown man crying (Issue
us Jains! I think Jain Spirit should be promoted 7, page 5) as a result of the earthquake
worldwide, with special effort devoted to vegetariwas one of the most moving images I
ans, environmentalists, animal rights activists and have seen relating to the tragic disaster.
lovers of Indian culture. We cannot afford to wait Please let things improve in Gujarat.
Giving is for the Jains to wake up to their own tradition!
Receiving NOW I UNDERSTAND
MODERNISE JAINISM? Viral Shah, London, writes:
Ninna M. Shah from I read Hema Pokharna's article in Issue 6
Cheshunt, writes: entitled: "Navkar Mantra - A recipe for
There is an urgent need to modernise the Jain inner peace". For a long time, I had been
tradition and make it accessible. As a mother of two, reciting this mantra, but this is the first
I long to get information which I can convey to my time that I understood it. As a result of
children. There should be a children's section in the article, my prayers are now more
Jain Spirit so that they can also read and enjoy it. meaningful. Congratulations to Jain
I am grateful that we now have a vehicle for Spirit and let us encourage everyone to
MAHAVIR'S LEGACY
international communication which has the subscribe to this excellent magazine.
capability of uniting us spiritually.
JAIN SPIRIT
INTO THE FUTURE
16
Jain Spirit . June - August 2001
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