________________
JAINI ERA
part, the scholars are very happy to work with the living community of Jains as it helps them to have a deeper appreciation of the society and its interests and concerns. Such dialogue can also help them make valuable contacts for their research and fieldwork. They are very conscious of not distorting the original truths and beliefs of Jains.
By its very nature, research is a slow process and requires the qualities of patience and perseverance. Also, the impact of research findings is usually not immediate it took over twenty years for the legacy of Professor Jaini's path-breaking book to be measured and fully appreciated. However, the impact of knowledge and research is likely to be more lasting and the Jain tradition is about living a sustainable lifestyle with a positive and lasting impact. Jains living in the West have a strong capability to cooperate with scholars and fund research, with some even directly enrolling on such courses. It seems that these have a particular appeal to women in the community, who traditionally have had much more
Jain Education International
KOVA NEWS FEATURE
Members of the audience at SOAS in London
interest in Jainism than men.
We would like to request people interested in education and scholarship to come forward and participate in this revolution. There will be direct benefits for Jains in doing so it will enhance their knowledge, enable them to engage with like minded people and
Delegates at the 'Celebrating Mahavira's Teachings' conference in Los Angeles (Pomona) in January 2002. The picture includes scholars, nuns, organisers and members of the local Jain community
For Private & Personal Use Only
help raise the profile of Jain culture. The scholars will in turn draw much encouragement from this and continue their research and study of Jainism. After all, they love India! It is possible that with collective effort, we can place Jainism on the map as a distinct. tradition worthy of study and reflection.
June-August 2002 Jain Spirit
5
www.jainelibrary.org
