Jain Study Center NC Raleigh 1999 08 Twenty Years

Author(s): Jain Study Center NC Raleigh
Publisher: USA Jain Study Center NC Raleigh

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information as possible into the minds of the youth. Learning was based on memorization of facts. During the first years, pathshala was held every other week to tell stories to the children. Philosophy was given in a lecture-based approach to the older youth. In essence, the entire Jain religion was strictly compounded into fables and homilies with very little, if any, meaningful communication ensuing. Little recognition was given to the practical pressures that incessantly face Jain youth in America. Interracial dating and marriage, politics, and cultural unrest, and other social and moral issues of concern confront us all. Under the old method of teaching, Jain youth were unable to feel confident about whether their behavior was correct under religious guidelines. They did not know how to properly react to problematic situations that confronted them daily. Fortunately, the approach to teaching Jain culture and religion has been changing over the recent years.
As a result of the improving communication and recognition regarding real-world concerns facing Jainism, understanding and appreciation of the religion has grown among the youth. In Jain study centers now, religious instruction is based more interaction and exchange of ideas, bringing Jains of all ages into a forum for discussion. The JSCNC focuses more on addressing issues of concern in the modern West and suggesting a religiously correct response to societal problems.
Simply, meaningful communication about the real world application of Jainism results in a much more appreciable outcome. By having discussion groups and question-and-answer forums that address the problems of modern society, Jain youths are more confident of their religious correctness when reacting to modern society's problems. And it is through the teachings of the JSCNC that I have learned a great deal in the practical application of Jainism.
The following serves as testament to the JSCNC's positive effects upon its youth members. When I went away to school in 1998, I was concerned about whether the teachings I had received provided me enough knowledge about confronting various social and moral issues. I didn't know what to expect from new school, i.e. what pressures I would be forced to face. Would I know enough about Jainism to "do the right thing"?
Because of the guidance I received from the JSCNC, I was able to maintain a religiously correct lifestyle in the face of the usual daily pressures. In fact, students around me became interested in the virtues of Jain philosophy because of its common sense and practical applications for the modem world.
One of my good friends showed a genuine interest in Jain philosophy. Quite often, he would ask me questions about Jainism and how a Jain would react to a given situation. For example, in light of the social conflicts existing worldwide, he would ask questions about self-defense and what a Jain would have to do with regard to violence. I was able to answer him, using the passivity of Mahavira and the vow of ahimsa as examples.
However, I was also able to address the problems that now face Jains in America regarding such issues as violence. The fundamental principles of Jainism can be used to address the social problems here. What would I do if I were attacked on the street? Would it be ethically and morally right to defend myself against someone who was trying to take my wallet or car, mere
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