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Ambassador to several countries, and in the last two decades since retirement from I.F.S. (Indian Foreign Service) by articulating them at the U.N. and other International Conferences like the U.N. Millenium Spiritual Summit, Parliament of World's Religions, U.N. Earth Summit and global Jain conventions.
A heartening feature of Jain community settled abroad is that they have not only built temples and sthanaks for worship, but are assiduously orienting their younger generation to the Jain way of life, and educating them into the principles and practices of Jain religion. In India as well, with the younger Jain generation turning professional, it is imperative for them to grasp the fundamentals of our religion, and not rest content with remaining vegetarians and observing religious rituals only.
It is a happy augury that Jain community abroad is steadfast in following Jain religious principles and practices. Large number of joint Jain temples representing all the Jain sects under one roof have come up in environmental-friendly ambience in almost all parts of the world ranging from New York to Nairobi, Bangkok to Boston, London to Los Angeles, Kobe to Kuwait, Antwerp to Atlanta, and San Hose to Singapore - to just give a few illustrative examples. Jains have earned great respect abroad by their active pursuit of human welfare projects, environmental initiatives, and inter-faith compassion programs.
A more important fact emerging in today's increasingly shrinking world, is for the Jain religion to make a decisive impact on global ethical thinking for securing stable peace, social harmony, equanimity and tranquility.
The global Jain Diaspora needs to come together and form a united and cohesive group transcending varying practices of different sects. Forging unity in diversity in the Jain community in India and abroad is both a challenge and an opportunity to give the Jain religion a distinct global identity and presence.
Dr. Narendra P. Jain
Jain Education International
(VIII)
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