World Jain Conference 1995 6th Conference

Author(s): Satish Jain
Publisher: Ahimsa International

Page 63

As the Jain activities in North America needed to be expanded with a proper central co-ordination and guidance the need was felt by a few concerned and far sighted Jains to create an umbrella organisation to provide leadership to Jain Centres and Associations and to help create more organisations and promote Jainism in the wider world.
The establishment of Federation of Jain Associations of North America (JAINA) in 1981, by holding its first convention in Los Angeles is indeed a great achievement towards globalisation of Jainism. It started by representing four local Jain Centres. Today JAINA represents 54 Jain Centres and Associations of U.S.A. and Canada, which are affiliated to it. Being an umbrella organisation, its objective is to provide a forum to foster fellowship and unity among numerous Jain Associations and Centres and to take up religious causes and issues that will benefit its member associations. The Federation has been publishing its quarterly journal "Jain Digest" since 1985 and distributing it to about 5500 families. JAINA bas established two libraries in Lubbock, Texas and in Toronto. Young Jains of America, a National Organisation, has also been founded to encourage Jain youth to participate in the religious activities, seminars and conventions. The Federation sponsors monks, nuns, Bhattarakas, Shramans, Shramanis and scholars from India to lecture in U.S.A. and Canada. There are several other activities sponsored by JAINA such as publication of Jain literature, a youth exchange programme between U.K. and North America, contacts with Jain and non-Jain scholars and social figures in North America and other coutnries and promotion through news media. It is mainly by the enthusiasm generated by the JAINA that these 54 Centres have come into being in almost all principal cities of U.S.A. and Canada, besides some others which are not yet affiliated to JAINA.
JAINA holds a biennial Convention after every two years in some city of U.S.A. or Canada. At each of these conventions thousands of Jains participate, majority being from North America, including participation from India and other countries. New time needed themes are picked up at each of the conventions. The invitations are wide based, even calling non-Jain scholars and social workers to attend and express their view.It gives them a proper opportunity to understand Jainism, which was not attempted before.
The vision of the convention organisers is highly commendable in involving every class of Jains, including women, youth and children. At the Conventions, the hope is increasing that the youth will continue to take active interest in Jain activities, and a big fear about their indifference to Jaina thought and activities is allayed. I am amazed to see the involvement of people of all ages in the big JAINA Conventions which I usually attend in U.S.A. Role of World Jain Conferences and Conventions organised by Ahimsa International, World Jain Congress and JAINA.
The World Jain Corferences organised in New York, London, Delbi and Siddhachalam and the regional Conferences in cities of Asia like Bangkok and Singapore by Ahimsa International and World Jain Congress, and the JAINA Conventions in U.S.A. and Canada are much instrumental in dissemination of Jain information and doing publicity on global basis. The Jain concepts are communicated on a wider scale through deliberations, descussions, speeches and literature published at these conferences and conventions and thereafter. Jainism is now better known to the people of the world.