YJA Convention 2000 07 LA Fourth

Author(s): Young Jains of America (YJA)
Publisher: Young Jains of America YJA USA

Page 24

Quote sources:
v) Austerities (tapa). vi) Charity (dana).
Quotes:
1. "Not only that one should not follow or urge others to
follow professions wherein violence on a large scale is possibly involved (as for example, manufacturing cloth with the use of machines in mills) but also that one should not use things produced through them, if one wants to remain undefiled by the defect of large scale violence." [1]
[1] Munisri Nyayavijayaji. Jaina Philosophy and Religion. Motilai Banarsidass, Delhi: 1998. [2] How to Start a Small Business. www.inreach.com/sbdc/ book [3] "Economy at a Glance." Bureau of Labor Statistics. http:// stats.bls.gov/eag/eag.us.htm [4] "A Message From the Dean." SP Jain Institute of Management and Research. www.spjimr.org/main.htm
COMMUNICATING WITH PARENTS
presented by Vijay Mehta
"If I want to wear clothes manufactured in mills, to enjoy the things of leather which is [sic] obtained after killing animals, to use clothes and things made of silk which is [sic] produced after having killed the four-sensed silkworms, to put on ornaments of pearls obtained after having killed the five-sensed fish and similarly to use and enjoy other things whose production involve [sic] large scale violence or killing, then for me there is no way out but to register my partnership in that large scale violence."[1]
I don't want to scare my parents with issues they aren't familiar with because our parents were not raised here so how do I bring up certain issues? How do I address various subject matters to my parents who do not themselves talk openly with me? Is it important to communicate with parents?
3. "...man (or society) who indulges in the excessive use
and enjoyment of things has to take recourse to the large scale violence in the mass-production of those things for satisfying his inordinate and limitless desire for the use and enjoyment of those things."[1]
There's a stranger in my house...
4. "... the vow of limiting the quantity of things one uses
consists in renouncing the professions in which large scale violence is involved..."[1]
The closely-knit Indian family starts experiencing stress as the teenager comes of age. As the values at home and school diverge, the child feels caught between a rock and a hard place. While the appearance of normalcy is maintained, something may be happening in the child's head. Graduation is a sign of relief because that allows the youth to move out. But the East vs. West continues and the youth has to finally emerge finding his/her self. And if the youth should fall in love with someone that parents don't approve of, a classic crisis develops.
5. "I would like to reiterate here, our philosophy of management education:
-A synthesis of Western values of efficiency-a concern for ends, and Eastern values and ethos - an equal concern for means. -Co-existence of collaborative and competitive modes. Striving for individual excellence and yet reinforcing the 'group culture' through daily activities. -Commitment to material advancement along with
sensitivity to distributive justice. These seemingly contradictory goals have underscored life at SPJIMR. What has emerged is a vibrant performing and learning organization - a source of profound satisfaction for us." [4]
This seminar will explore the virtues and vices of Indian culture and seek to give us the tools to eventually find a happy medium.
COMPARATIVE RELIGION
presented by Jim Antenore
Discussion questions:
1. What are the motivations behind the job search? Do
these violate Jainism? (See Quotes 3 and 4.) 2. How do the principles of business and/or the methods
of setting up a business conflict with Jain beliefs? Or do
they at all? (See Background Information 2, 3, 4 and 5.) 3. What kinds of businesses don't "violate" Jainism? What
to do about businesses/professions that do? (See
Quotes 1 and 2.) 4. How did Jains over the years spread into regions of
employment that go against Jainism? Does education play a role? (See Quotes 5.)
What similarities exist between Jainism and western religions? What about the extinct and now long-forgotten European sects such as the Cathars (of France), the Bogomils (of Serbia), and the Trappists (of France), whose philosophies and vegetarian practices were very similar to Jainism? Are the similarities between the principles of Jesus Christ's Sermon on the Mount and the principles Ahinsa merely coincidence? Is it possible to create a universal unified religious belief?
We live in an increasingly religiously diverse society, and as time goes by the accompanying challenges and opportunities of that diversity shall increase. How can we, as members of an enlightened society, deal decently with each other across our very real differences? How can we disagree with each other in a
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