Jain Spirit 2001 12 No 09

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

Page 48

WORSHIP
CHILDREN, OUR GURUS
44
Trushna and Divyen at the time of Veer's birth in Sydney
W
THEN WE WENT OUT TO SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA IN September 1999 for a work secondment we had images and fantasies of blue skies, the Great Barrier Reef and seeing the new millennium in by the Sydney Opera House. The last thing we expected was to be immersed in Jainism and Jain culture. However, this is exactly what happened. One sunny day, we contacted a member of the Sydney Jain community having seen their web page on
"For us it was a real
the Net. We were invited to the meeting priviledge to be invited
which takes place every last Sunday of the month.
into a different Jain household each month and experience the warm hospitality."
For us it was a real privilege to be invited into a different Jain household each month and experience the warm hospitality. Each meeting commenced with the children singing hymns (bhajans). What impressed us most about the Sydney Jain community was that at the heart of their philosophy the greatest importance was attached to the education and nurturing of the children.
At the meetings the children were encouraged to sing and recite prayers. Children as young as three years of age would join in. At the very least they would say the Namaskar Mantra. If they had difficulty, then the adults helped. They were
Jain Spirit December 2001 - February 2002
Veer, Trushna and Divyen Shah recall their experience of meeting the Jains
in Sydney where children were encouraged to take the lead every time
and
encouraged to learn in a non-threatening environment. The meetings provided the showcase for some of the children's talents. It gave them the incentive to practise at home to perform at the next meeting.
There were at least twenty very active Jain families who met up in this way each month. Most of the Jains we met at these meetings. consist of young professional families who have migrated to Australia recently - mainly over the last ten years, if not the last five. Most are professionals in the IT industry. There are probably many more Jain families in Sydney, but many are businessmen who have other weekend commitments, although they do manage to attend the larger functions. such as Diwali and Mahavir Jayanti.
Only after all the children had finished do the adults sing. A parent would then take the children aside to teach them about Jainism. Many of the youngsters are proud to be vegetarian in front of their friends at school. They have a stronger sense of cultural identity and belonging.
The repertoire of bhajans we sang was different from
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