Jainism In America

One of the most ancient religious traditions of India, Jainism is believed to be more than 5000 years old. Credited as being the religion that influenced Mahatma Ghandi, Jainism has demonstrated a remarkable tenacity and endurance, and continues to flourish as one of the most important religions on earth.

Jainism traces its roots to a succession of 24 Jinas ("those who overcome," or "conquerors") in ancient East India. The first Jina is traditionally believed to have been a giant who lived 8.4 million years ago. The most recent and last Jina was Vardhamana (a.k.a. Mahavira, "The Great Hero"). He was born in 550 BCE and is considered to be the founder of the modern-day Jain community.

Although there are millions of followers and thousands of monks of the Jain faith living in India, there are only two monks in America. Followers of Jainism in the States consist of social groups, often called "societies." Leaders of these societies are "presidents" or "directors."

Mahavira was a high-born member of a warrior caste who renounced the world when he was thirty to pursue a life as an ascetic. He is known as the 24th Tirthankara and has been the last to appear.

Mahavira's moment of enlightenment came after twelve years of spiritual pursuit. He then gathered twelve disciples around him, and it was through these disciples that his teachings were eventually documented and disseminated.

Jainism itself was actually practiced for thousands of years before that, but after Mahavira preached, the religion spread and gained popularity.

The Tirthankaras are ordinary people, just like you and me. But by practicing the principles of Jainism, becoming enlightened and getting rid of all karma, eventually they attained omniscience: the final pure natural state of existence in everlasting spiritual bliss.

The sacred texts of the Jains are called Agamas. Most authorities agree that most of the ancient texts derive from Mahavira, who was in turn enunciating sacred truths that the Tirthankaras before him had taught. Handed down orally in the monastic communities, the sacred literature was not written down until about 500 CE.

There are five main principles to Jainism: Non-violence; Speaking the truth; Non-possession; Celibacy; and Never stealing. By following those five principles, one will be rid of karma. The most important principle is non-violence: Do no harm to any living thing. This practice is called Ahimsa, of which one aspect is vegetarianism. It is important to live your life in awareness of how others want to live. Other living things want to live, too.

Jainism is one of the oldest religions, maybe even the oldest. The reason it has lasted so long is because people believe in its principles -- in particular, for its approach to non-violence. Jainism also brings responsibility to all people for their own peace and enlightenment. You don't have to depend on any higher power. You believe in the principles, you follow them, and you attain enlightenment. It's a matter of how you lives your life.

People believe that Jainism is practiced differently in America then it is in India, but that is not true entirely. The religious principles of Jainism are followed much in the same way in the States as they are in India. However, there are more rituals in India. It also can be much harder to practice Jainism in America.

Gurudev Chitrabhanu is the present spiritual leader of Jainism. He was born in 1922 in India, and was a monk for twenty-eight years, spending the first five years in silence and meditation. He realized that the ultimate purpose of all life was to expand one's awareness and liberate the consciousness from attachment and aversion. With this experience, Chitrabhanu emerged as an enlightened spirit. With his wisdom, lucid language and eloquent speech, he made a home within the hearts of millions all over India.

Although he is not considered a Tirthankara, he is respected as the founder and spiritual adviser to the Jain Meditation International Center in New York City, as well as many Jain centers in the United States and other centers in England, Africa, Canada, Japan, Singapore, and India. He is a world-renowned author of over twenty-five books that reflect his philosophy and his message of world peace and nonviolence, amplifying the need to appreciate the sanctity of all life and to build solidarity in the larger family of mankind.

There are thousands of monks in India. There are only one or two in the States. One is in New Jersey, where there is a large temple and quarters for anyone who wants to be on retreat. Most believe believe that to be a successful monk one must live in India. In actuality, the reason is that the cultural lifestyle here is more difficult. No one wants to be a monk here: It's much harder. Being a monk is to live a very restrictive lifestyle. A monk of the Jain faith is not permitted to travel, to ride in a vehicle, and is not encouraged to participate in the secular world. There are also rituals performed every day. A Jain monk has no home of his own. He moves from village to village on bare feet. He accepts only small morsels of food from families for sustenance. It is a very difficult life. The Jain monk has a great deal of aspiration and strength: The higher the aspiration, the higher the flow of strength. Right Faith is the aspiration, which is the highest in the case of Jain monks, and Right Conduct is born out of aspiration and is also the highest. Therefore, Jainism puts all its stress on Right Faith. Right Knowledge is a bridge between Right Faith and Right Conduct.

Jain emigration from India to other countries began with Jains migrating to Britain and British colonies. At the beginning of this century, a number of Gujarati Jains migrated to coastal towns of East Africa and later moved inland, particularly to Kenya, to open businesses. The Jain community in America, however, began only in the late 1960s as a response to the Immigration Act of 1965, which opened the door to wider immigration from Asia and especially encouraged the immigration of "members of the professions of exceptional ability and their spouses and children." In addition to direct immigration from India to the U.S., there were many young people who had planned only temporary residency for study at American universities but decided to stay permanently. In addition, political turmoil in the East African states forced a second migration of a number of Indians--to the U.K., Canada, and America. In the early 1990s the World Jain Congress estimated that there are approximately 25,000 Jains in the United Kingdom, 25,000 in the U.S. and 10,000 in Canada.

The Jain community in India