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A poster, created by the Dallas Jain Youth Group, urges to take diksha—the Jain monastic vows. |
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An educational poster created by one of the youth groups, listing the mahavrats—the five great vows of conduct in Jainism. The poster also describes the different types of possible action and the extent to which it contributes to the accumulation of karmic residue that burdens the human soul, preventing it from ultimate liberation—moksha. |
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One of the most popular speakers at the convention was Rina Shah, a well–known designer of footwear and accessories from Bombay. Rina is a pioneer of design and production of shoes and accessories made from non–animal–derived materials such as leather and silk. Her high–end boutique "Rinaldi Designs" in Mumbai is popular among the stars of Bollywood and Hollywood. Rina spoke about her initial predicament of footwear manufacture and about the possibilities of incorporating of the core Jain principle of ahimsa (nonviolence) into life today. |
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Rina Shah, a Mumbai based Jain designer of non–animal–derived shoes and accessories, spoke about non–violent living. She distributed brochures on vegetarian cuisine, a list of non–animal–derived cosmetics, and wrote down a list of websites of animal rights organizations. |
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Under the guidance of Rakhi Jain, a group of students representing the pathshala (Sunday school) of the Jain Center of Greater Boston presented a skit based on the popular television show "Saved by the Bell." The presentation addressed the difficulty of moral decision making in light of the Jain values of non–violence, non–attachment to material possession, and acceptance of multiple viewpoints. The JCGB pathshala has been one of the most active Jain youth groups in the country. |
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Substance Seven, a Jain musical band with members from Boston and Chicago performed traditional Jain songs to rock songs composed in traditional Indian musical modes. As Shrenik Shah, the leader of the band explained, "The group tried to make Jain songs available to the modern youth who often find traditional chants quite foreign and monotonous." The group, which includes violin, electric guitar, bass guitar, and keyboards, hopes to rekindle enthusiasm about Jain devotional music among America's young Jains. |
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The older attendees of the convention—college graduates and young professionals—had a separate set of activities. The convention held discussion this age category, whose professional attachments have scattered them across the country, the convention provided an important opportunity for social interaction, professional networking and perhaps for the meeting a potential spouse. The Young Jain Professionals (YJP), a group that organizes social events geared toward the needs of the college graduate Jains, was founded in 1997 and follows the YJA organizational model. |
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To a great extent the convention was a social event. Although some attendees complained that more focus was directed toward social functions rather than religious educational activities, for many the convention was a rare opportunity to mingle with other Jains, make friends and potential spouses. |
