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⭑ RELEVANT QUESTIONS ANSWERED (1)
Question: How can Jainism be effectively projected in this part of the world?
Answer: For the first time in the history of Jainism, it appears that so many hundreds of Jain families have made this part of the world (I mean Europe, America and Canada) as their permanent home. Some of them have children born here by wives who have also joined them from India or wives born in countries other than India. Many have wives from these countries too. None of these is ever likely to return to India for permanent residence. Jainism therefore, to be effective as a living and guiding force has to be flexible enough to adjust itself to and also to some extent absorb the elements of life so necessary to be sustained in this part of the world.
First of all, to discover yourself: who you are and what exactly do you want. Why are you here? Superficially looking, it will be evident that you are here to better your social and financial position. But if you give a little thought, it will be clear to you that that is not all. The world has opened up and migrations are taking place on a colossal scale. There are tremendous opportunities for mutual exchange. You suffered from social pressures, you had little money, you did not have freedom you wanted as a result of the education you had because of the impact from the West: what have you to exchange for what you get here? It is certainly your qualities, cultural inheritance, fine-ness of character, outlook and perception of events and towards life in general. As
by the Author during the Third Conference of the JAIN ASSOCIATIONS hosted by the Jain Society of May 25 and 26, 1985.
IN NORTH AMERICA [J. A. I. N. A.] Greater Detroit [U. S. A.] in Detroit on
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