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Jainism: A Personal View
By Vinodbhai Kapashi
invalid animals are looked after until their natural death.
Within all ideologies and religions there are divisions and hypocrisy. Jainism cannot claim to be an exception. But it is a religion that has an assured future. Although one of the oldest religions, Jainism has a startling modernity and a wealth of concepts and ideas which have transcended time.
As time marches on and humankind continues to scar the earth, surely a religion which taught of a Green Movement more than 2000 years ago will retain its foothold as a world religion. Maybe today's computer kids will show the world that Jainism is a user-friendly religion after all.■
On the 20th Anniversary of Young Jains, seventeen years after he wrote the article that has been printed here, we asked Vinodbhai if the computer generation has indeed made Jainism a user-friendly religion. This is what he said:
"Today's young generation has tried to understand the philosophy from a different angle. Young people use modern techniques and try to bring the precious gems from the bottom of the ocean - which is Jainism. They use computers for learning and teaching. They will definitely put everything in front of us in a new light. This new light surely will guide the future generations." January 2008.
ALTHOUGH SMALL IN NUMBERS, JAINS HAVE A LOT TO GIVE TO THIS COUNTRY
During a trip to Kenya a few years ago, I asked the following question at a Jain gathering in Mombasa: Jains have been in Mombasa for at least 100 years - how many Africans have heard the word Jain? The answer is hardly anyone. In this country we have been around for almost 30 years - how many English people have heard the word Jain? The answer is very few. As inheritors of Lord Mahavir's teachings we have so much to offer and share with others. Let us look at the concept of Abhay Daan, which means giving someone protection from fear - fear of death. This is the highest form of charity for Jains. Compassion towards all living beings, vegetarianism, animal welfare, serving the needy, feeding the hungry - all these fall under the concept of Abhay Daan.
Article first published in YJ Newsletter, April - August 1991 Issue.
The question people normally ask is how do we practically inculcate Abhay Daan in our daily lives? In our personal lives we have to ensure that we are not involved, knowingly or unknowingly, in any hinsa or violence. An example I always give is that you are sitting in your bath and you see an insect at the other end. There is a race to shut the water tap and gently move the insect to a safe place. We can further practice ahimsa by avoiding meat restaurants, avoiding wearing leather shoes, not buying shares in companies which exploit animals and not buying goods which have animal ingredients like tooth paste and soap. We should strive to protect trees and forests and to grab the opportunity if it came along to feed or give water to animals or birds - this could be anywhere home or abroad on holiday. This is how we can practically live by the principles of Abhay Daan. Sometimes there is dharam sankat. For example you are in a place where you can't find anything to eat - one has to try his or her best to come out of this 'test' successfully. The Lord always comes to your assistance, you just have to stand firm on your principles!
Nitin Mehta MBE
Founder President of the Young Indian Vegetarians 9th, Sept. 2002
Jan Education International
There are tens of thousands of Englishmen and women who are strict vegetarians, who run animal sanctuaries, who protest against companies which carry out cruel experiments on animals, who go and stop fox hunting, who expose the cruelties perpetuated on animals in slaughterhouses and chicken farms. For me they are all Jains! Indeed we have given Mahaveer Awards to many of these individuals and organisations. We should build strong links with all these groups. We should open our homes and community centres and invite them to enjoy Indian vegetarian food.
The key word is generosity - generosity of the mind and spirit. Let's do it! Let's make our presence felt. Let us preach Lord Mahavir's teachings and make Britain a truly compassionate nation - a nation in which every one will have heard of Jains! Jains living in different parts of the world can do the same in their respective countries. Ahimsa is the very root of our very existence - nurture it well!
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