Issues for Jains in America

The distinguishing feature of American Jainism is the relative lack of close lay-monastic interactions that categorizes the Jain tradition in India. The sectarian nature of Jain monasticism in India gives way to an overarching sense of unity and...

Without a strong monastic presence, the American Jain scene has been the focus of innovation, such as the movements of Muni Chitrabhanu and Acharya Sushil Kumar. Download (PDF) Additional Content On December 18, 1973, the New York Times carried an article...

As with any immigrant community, questions of marriage are central. For the small Jain community in the United States, both the younger and older generations are dealing with important questions of tradition and identity as they pertain to choosing a...

Without the rich lay-monastic interactions available in the Indian Jain context, Jain practitioners in America have invented new ways to preserve their traditions. Throughout North America Jains have formed svadhyaya (study groups) and invited scholars...

American Jain communities have invested in religious education, training the next generation with Jain schools called pathshalas (places of learning). Download (PDF) Additional Content A college-aged Jain has said this: “Like any immigrant community, we...