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The YJ Shibir Experience
By Priya Kothari
service is more fun than sacrifice is created. It is this spirit, when it has reached young people over the ages, that is behind the success if Young Jains."
he growth and development of Young Jains in the past 20 years has been incredible. It has
changed and evolved to meet the new and varied demands of its members. But one type of event that has remained constant is the organisation's annual shibirs, providing successive committees and active members with a truly unique YJ experience. In the past 20 years, YJ has organised many shibirs for its members, in countless venues across the country. But what is a shibir? And what is the Young Jains shibir experience?
And, 10 years later, Sonal Shah, writing about the 2007 shibir said:
"Truly inspiring...today, I was glad to have just my thoughts, reflecting on the shibir and all the wonderful people"
Shibirs can be l-day events, or more often, 3-4 day residential weekends held in venues against a backdrop of stunning English countryside, to remind participants of the beautiful nature which surrounds us and invoking our respect for it. The overriding theme is an exploration of Jain dharma to create a better understanding of philosophy and practice, but interspersed with these sessions, will be physical activities such as walks and games, personal time for reflection and of course some legendary Jain-style cooking with every participant contributing in some way.
Shibir group photo c. 1996
Legendary Jain-style cooking - Shibir 1995. Pictured is Apul.
We all lead incredibly hectic lives, and juggle daily our work, social and other commitments. Young Jains hosts regular events, to take a small amount of time out to reflect on spirituality, and which are incredibly valuable to its members. But it is easy to switch back into "normal" life almost immediately and the inspiration felt at events is often buried in a pile of other thoughts. So how, asked Young Jains a long time ago, can we really cement spirituality and community into our thinking? How can we explore aspects of Jain dharma to develop our own understanding, and as a result, discover new and interactive ways in which to present these ideas to our members? How can we strengthen the bonds between the Committee members and active Young Jains members? And how can we truly appreciate the beautiful countryside that surrounds London? The answer Young Jains found was the shibir.
Sessions are planned so that participants really feel as if they are going on a spiritual journey, for example, exploring each piece of the Jain Jigsaw in turn. They are intense, as skilled facilitators lead each participant through complex Jain philosophy. But practical sessions towards the end of shibirs means that participants leave with clear, tangible goals to achieve and an understanding of how Jain principles can be applied in the achievement of these goals, to address specific problems which they face in their lives. Shibirs provide an invaluable opportunity to train and develop each participating member, so that they too can confidently and articulately promote Jain dharma. Indeed, whilst external speakers may be invited,
In 1997, Atulbhai Shah, founding President of Young Jains, wrote:
"The shibir...is the backbone of Young Jains, the event where friendships are built, and a feeling that community
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