World Jain Conference 1995 6th Conference

Author(s): Satish Jain
Publisher: Ahimsa International

Page 89

La Voie Jaina, Histoire, Spiritualite, Vie des ascetes pelerines de l'nde (1985) by N. Shanta is a field-work of total immersion.
Harvard Pluralism Project supervised by Prof. Diane Eck has a number of papers on the Jain side of the research prepared by Holly Seeley.
Structural Development in Jaina Diaspora
Emergence into self-consciousness of the world-wide Jaina diaspora people of Jain faith domiciled overseas calls for their strict retention not only to discover ways of retaining them in modern environment but demands to think of the laity and the house-holders,' their strengths and what they can do. It is they who are the mainstream and backbone of Jainism in the west. In this sense, a house-holder is a person in his or her own right, not just a deficient monk or nun. The fluidity and interdependence with elements recognized as specific, pointing to a certain primordiality of Jain features, may or may not present with a positive change for the fullest development of the community as in the case of Jaina diaspora. They demand a new and tightly defined, but to work within the present condition a structural development in social, psychological and physical contexts, both of the individual and of the institutions. It is to emerge fresh and new in the choosen environment taken for granted on the good promise and premise.
The organizational structures through the establishment of societies and associations in North America began in the early 1960s as the Jaina community grew numerically. Following is the list of some organizations:
Jain Centre of New York (1966) changed to Jain Society of America at Queens. It has temple building with community oriented activities.
Jain Centre of Boston (1973) has temple with Community oriented activities. It pioneered the publication of Jain Directory of North America, and regularly brings out updated editions.
Jain Meditation International Centre (1975) founded by Gurudev Chitrabhanu. Meetings and lectures on meditation etc., caters mainly for westerners.
Siddhachalam (1983) founded by Acarya Sushil Kumarji. It is Jain ashram and resident community of monks and nun, laymen and laywomen on 108 acres of hill top near Pocono mountains in Blairstown, New Jersey.
Jain Study Circular (1980), Queens, NY. Publishes a quarterly of the same name for free distribution within North America. The editor is Dr. Duli Chandra Jain.
Jain Society of Chicago, IL. It built America's largest Jain temple complex in 1993.
Jain Society of Washington D.C. It acquired property and established Jain temple in 1987. Dr. Manoj Dharamsi was its active President till 1993.
Jain Society of South California, CA. It established a Jain temple and library in 1986.
Jain Society of New Jersey, NJ. It has established Jain temple.
Jain Society of Northern Texas, TX. It has established temple in Richardson.
Jain Society of Toronto (1981) has the largest temple building in Canada, and has community. oriented activities to observe Jaina festivals and pravacans.