JAINA

[JAINA]

Which is Real Path? New Temples or Save Jain Institutions or Help Jain Community

Jai Jinendra

Dear Sadharmiks,

I have come to know that most of our Institutions offering studies in
Jainism and having Archives of ancient, rare, unique Jain Literature
in India are in very poor/bad financial shape. As they do not have
enough funds to run/maintain Institutions, time will come one day
when Education in Jainism in those Institutions will become
unavailable and this rare Literature which is in almost in ruin
status/stage, will decay completely.

I have seen in India, many new temples are coming up at every few
Kilometers in the cities, in our native villages where there is
hardly any Jain family living and at every 25-50 Kilometers on
Highways. I am not against the construction of these new temples
coming up but I am against when they are coming up with AHAM of some
of our Sadharmiks and our Sadhus/Monks who are competing to have new
temples in their name fames! and when millions of Rupees are spent
after new temples for their glory/fame. My suggestion is that instead
of spending millions in temples, we shall spend part of that money
for uplift of our community and coming generations for their better
living, good education including religious and proper health care.

When we are talking and staring Jain Chairs in North American
Universities, we shall also look simultaneously of existing
Jain/Jainism Institutions which are in dying and in ruin stage at our
home.

We have to change our thinking and modify our ways/paths for
betterment of our community and coming generations also."

Pravin C. Shah
New York