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Sectarian feelings do not prevail among Jains in foreign countries. They without regard to their sects freely mingle in the religious celebrations organised by any sect. Mostly there are centers where the Jains of all sects celebrate Paryushan, Deepawali and some such festivals jointly. All of them, idol worshippers or not, meet together, exchange greetings and take food together.
Most of the Jains living abroad perform rituals, observe Vratas and undertake fasting and perform other religious rites. There are also some who follow the preachings of shrimad Raichandra, late Kanji Swami and of Acharya KundKund and Amritchandra,
About three decades before, Jainism was virutally unknown in Europe and America but with the increased contacts of the Jains there with the Europeans and Americans and supplying them to some extent the literature and calling them to their functions, the Europeans and Americans are also getting interested in Jain religion. They appreciate the principles of this scientific religion and even praise compassion and non-violence feelings of the Jains for all living beings including human, animals, birds and even plant life.
Taere is need to know more about the Jain Centers, Societies and Associations which exist in many parts of the world. There is also need to bring out a large Directory which may give information on Jain temples, Centers, Societies and Associations which have been established in each country of the world, citywise. It is no doubt a big task, But nothing is bigger than the resolve to undertake and complete the work howsoever big it may be.
The efforts of Jain Center of Greater Boston, USA in bringing out the first edition of Jain Directory of North America in 1979 and much bigger revised second edition of the Jain Directory of North America brought out in 1986 are praisewourtly. The Directory gives a fairly large number of names and addresses of the Jains living in various cities of Amerca and Canada. This will help in maintaining contacts with the Jains of America and Canada.
Jain religion is amongst the oldest religions of the world. Its high principles and their scientific analysis attract the researcher. It is the need of the time that suitable books on Jain literature are placed in every library, research center, univer. sity and Jain Center and Association of the world.
Many foreign scholars are keen to know and write about Jainsim but they do not get suitable material in their countries. It is a field which needs attention of the Jain community particularly residing in India to come forward and collect
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