Dharma in America by Pankaj Jain;

Author:Pankaj Jain;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Taylor & Francis (CAM)
Published: 2020-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

1980–1981

With the sizable number of Jain immigrants from India, in 1981, in Los Angeles, JAINA, the Federation of Jain Associations in North America, was founded, inspired by the two Jain gurus, Chitrabhanu and Sushil Muni. As of 2019, more than 70 Jain organizations across North America are affiliated with JAINA, including Jain temples, societies, and centers. More than 110 directors of such local and regional Jain centers elect the JAINA Executive Committee and 30 other working committees biannually. JAINA publishes a quarterly magazine, called Jain Digest and its headquarters is in California. JAINA regularly participates at major interfaith events, such as the Parliament of World Religions.

In 1980, the International Mahavir Jain Mission (IMJM) was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, with Sushil Muni as the chairperson and Tansukh Salgia as its President. Also in 1980, the Jain Center of Connecticut, the Jain Society of Metropolitan Washington, the Jain Sangha of New Jersey (Cherry Hill), and the Jain Meditation Center of Toronto were established.

In 1981, the first International Jain Conference was organized at the UN Plaza in New York City under the leadership of Sushil Muni. Also in 1981, the Jain Group of Atlanta was established. In 1981, Sulekh Jain, who had co-founded the Jain Center in Boston in 1973, led the efforts to develop the Jain Society in Ohio and served as the founding president till 1984. Also in the early 1980s, the Jain Society of Cincinnati and Dayton was established.

In line with American Hindu temples (Narayanan 2007), the non-sectarian Jain temples prevalent in North America, where Jains of all different sects come to pray, is a unique phenomenon that has not been taken up in India. While some still hold to the sectarian views, most of the Jains born in North America have remained non-sectarians (Mehta, 2017). In North America, JAINA and all the dozens of Jain temples that are affiliated with it, have successfully kept this ecumenical focus in all their activities despite some sectarian tendencies within American Jainism, such as the International Digamber Jain Organization and Guru-led movements, e.g., Shrimad Rajchandra Mission. Also, even the non-sectarian temples deal with different sects in ways such as keeping the Śvetāmbara and Digambara statues in two separate temple rooms, teaching children both versions of rituals, and alternating sectarian practice at festivals, such as Paryushana.

As mentioned earlier, this revolutionary institution was the dream of two visionaries, Sushil Muni and Gurudev Chitrabhanu. JAINA continues to publish standard Pathshala books for children, an annual JAINA calendar, the quarterly magazine, Jain Digest, and organizes unified pilgrimages to both Śvetāmbara and Digambara temples in India. Most North American Jain temples cater to the spiritual needs of Jains of all sects. Indian scholars and monks of all Jain sects visit most of these centers periodically. Similarly, Jains of all denominations from across North America participate in JAINA’s biannual national conventions held in different cities. The two Jain youth organizations for students and professionals, Young Jains of America and Young Jain Professionals, respectively, also function in a similar ecumenical spirit.

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