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Religious Cartoons and Power Rangers
Religious cartoons for kids are becoming all the more popular. My dad’s side of the family comes from a Hindu background and their children are always watching some new cartoon about Krishna or Hanuman. Not just in India, but also here in the states.
The videos are great productions. The sound, animation and story lines are always stellar. And I know the kids are enjoying them because they are constantly dragging their DVDs every where they go.
As impressive as they are, I also feel that they are spiritually weak. The “bad guys” are always clearly bad. They are always portrayed as demons. The gods or saints always have some special power and are hardly ever shown experiencing any significant human challenges. Everything is black and white - there is no grey room at all.
All the action makes for great entertainment, but I’m wondering if the kids are really learning much. In fact I think they are just left with a more romanticized version of who “bhagwan” is rather than what he/she stood for.
The Jain and Buddhist cartoons I’ve seen are a little bit better. Better as in they aren’t as void of spirituality. And, yes I know these videos are for kids. But I’m thinking, is there any real difference between these videos and turning on Power Rangers? All I’m saying is just because they are tagged “religious” videos doesn’t automatically make them a good thing.
I would say though, if a mother is planning turning on the TV for her child I’d much rather have her pop in one of these videos than the Disney Channel. Although my greatest preference would be to turn the TV off and encourage the kid to play. Same thing goes for the mother. It might do her well to turn off those Indian serials.
With the growth of technology and more individuals getting into animation I’m predicting we’ll see better quality videos coming out soon. Heck, maybe I’ll take on a project myself.
Here’s an example of a Jain cartoon I pulled from youtube.
Video: How to act at a Jain Temple
I’m loving the tunes and the animation style. The lyrics could use some help, but I think that’s how they hold it down in India.
Maybe the adults could learn something from this video too!
Lecture recap: Young Jain taking Diksha
This past weekend YJA Board Member, Parag Parekh, attended Bhavesh Bhai Shah’s lecture in Queens. Bhavesh is a young jain who is taking Diksha very soon.
I asked Parag to share his thoughts on how the lecture went and what he took away from it:
Parag Parekh, Director of Events:
This past Sunday, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to hear Bhavesh Bhai, who is taking Diksha at the young age of 21, speak. Bhavesh Bhai’s discussion included topics such as the meaning of Jainism and being a Jain, the rationale for doing a saymik, and the rationale for the way we do puja, which I had no idea about before. In explaining the rationale behind how we do puja, he discussed, for example, we do puja to the toe as symbol of bowing for atonement. I was able to learn new ideas about Jainism, though that wasn’t the main reason why I went to his discussion. I wanted to know what could have made a 21 year old man want to give up everything and live the life of a monk.Bhavesh Bhai was always a studious scholar of Jainism. When he informed his family of his intentions, his family was naturally surprised and took him out to see what he would miss out on if he followed through. Seeing what he may miss out on just strengthened his intent to take Diksha and this is what got to me. How can a 21 year old, who has his whole life ahead of him, just give up all worldly possessions and his life in order to live the life of a monk? It requires such a strong will and dedication that it makes fasting look like child’s play. Hearing him speak about taking Diksha put many things in perspective. Owning and trying to obtain the latest stuff isn’t much of a priority anymore, especially after you hear someone your age willing to give up everything for the sake of religion. The biggest piece of advice I took back was to stay strong in my beliefs, especially during times when it is rough, because ultimately faith and patience are rewarded.
Well said Parag and thank you for sharing.
Learning Jainism Website
Via Preya Shah:
The Institute of Jainology, based in the UK, has created a great Jain education website called: www.learnjainism.org
The website features everything from interactive games for youth to education guides for teachers.
The thing I like most about the website is that it is designed well and looks clean. I can totally see my younger cousins navigating this site with total ease.
Congrats to everyone involved in the project for building a wonderful foundation. Well done!
Young Jain taking Diksha speaks on Sunday
This great opportunity to hear Bhavesh Bhai Shah speak in New York this weekend comes to us from former YJA Co-Chair, Chintan Shah.
Via JIVA NY Youth Committee:
This Sunday May 20, 2007, the Jain Center of America will be graced by the presence of Bhavesh Bhai Shah, a 21 year old lay person planning to take diksha within the next year! We invite you to attend and encourage you to join us at this wonderful rare event.Bhavesh bhai is here from India for a few months visiting his brother and will be returning to India soon. Upon his return, Bhavesh has made the decision to renounce his life as a Shravak (householder) and take the vows of monkhood. This process is formally known as taking Diksha, where the individual relinquishes all ties to family and homely duties and devotes the entirety of their lives to spiritual pursuits. We are very honored and lucky to have Bhavesh bhai come to our temple and hold a discussion with all young Jains here in the New York area.
We will be touching upon many different topics such as the events which took place leading to his decision, how he will be preparing for his new life, and what he can expect during and after his ceremony. Most importantly, you will be able to ask questions of him that pertain to any topic. He is very excited to speak with a group of young Jains and answer questions that we all may have.
This is an extremely rare opportunity to learn and interact with, on such a personal level, a young and energetic person who will be taking diksha. Please make every possible effort to come this Sunday. We will also be having guest visitors from the Pathshala students at the Jain Center of Connecticut. You will have the opportunity to participate in a phenomenal discussion and meet new friends.
The discussion will take place at 10:30am at the Jain Center of America in Queens in the Youth Cellar/Art Gallery. Please arrive on time and feel free to bring questions that you may have! We look forward to a phenomenal once in a lifetime event this Sunday!Please let us know if you have any questions. Thank you.
JIVA NY Youth Committee
Jain Center of America
Idea: The Official YJA Mixtape
If you’ve been to a YJA Convention, you’ve probably attended a session called “Bajan Nation” by Ameet Shah.
Ameet takes old-school Jain bajans like Chattari Mangalam and speeds them up to a new beat. If he’s feeling a little funky, he might even ask one of his beat boxing buddies, Tarag or Deepen, to drop an ill beat for a particular bajan.
I was thinking about Ameet today, while I was listening to some Jain Bajans on the YJA website, and I thought… “How cool would it be for YJA to release an official mix tape of his tracks?”
We could even get some spoken word artist on the CD and maybe even a few original songs by YJA members.
Who’s down?
I think remixing Mahavir Bolo would be a great start!
Young Jains Malaysia Float Procession
YJA recently got an email from Shameer Bakhda, a young Jain based in Malaysia. Shameer informed us that him and a few of his buddies organized an amazing float procession for Mahavir Jayanti and they’d be delighted if we shared the photos with youth in America.
More photos from the float procession here
Love from India
YJA makes dharma cool and gets love from India:
Hi Dhrumil,
I just happened to visit yr site, and was overwhelmed by the fact that u people try to be in touch with Jainism and follow our religion as much as possible.. I even down loaded the Tirthankars bhagwan’s snaps.In Bombay and India, many people call them selves modern and don’t follow our Dharma, they look down on people who are religious.
In today’s world u can be most modern and advanced in yr thoughts, lifestyles and at the same time one should be proud of their Dharma and follow it.
Thanks & Bye.Deep
Peace Through Friendship
Nitin Talsania, YJA mentor and adviser, forwarded me this great article by Father Carlos G. Valles. Father Valles is a writer, change agent and also a dear friend to many Jains around the world. When I heard him speak for the first time, at the a past JAINA Convention, I remember getting goosebumps from his touching speech on Anekantavada.
Peace Through Friendship, by Father Carlos G. Valles
Chesterton tells the story of a Catholic family that came to live in a Protestant neighborhood. The Protestant neighbors frowned when passing in front of their house and said under their breath, “God knows what they must be eating in there!” One morning a Protestant boy had to knock at their door to retrieve a ball that had strayed inside. He saw the family at the breakfast table eating, came out clutching the ball and shouting through the street, “They are eating porridge! They are eating porridge!” He was excited and happy that just like any other British family they too were eating porridge.
Prejudices grow through lack of contact. We may live in the same neighborhood, but if we don’t mingle we don’t know each other, and we nurse all kinds of fantasies and falsities and distortions of reality about each other. In India I heard this phrase from Hindu friends referring to some fine Muslim acquaintance of theirs: “He is such a good person that he couldn’t possibly be a Muslim!” That is a compliment for that Muslim person, and a slur on their religion. I also remember what was lovingly said to me in playful jest: “You are such a nice person that you couldn’t possibly be a Christian!” I had smiled. I knew that it is only when we meet face to face that prejudices can be dissolved and friendship born.
I count myself fortunate that, my first Indian friend in Vallabh Vidyanagar University (Anand) where I went to learn the Gujarati language, was a Jain. A fellow student and fellow boarder in the hostel,he was Harkishan Becharlal Shah from Khambhat. Thus my first contact with Jainism was through a person, not through a book. That made all the difference. Harkishanbhai brought to me the living practice of Jainism from the direct, simple, devout, standpoint of a Jain lay person. He didn’t prefer go to the cinema. I asked him why. He answered, giving me his life principle I have remembered to this day: “If I can do without something, I don’t go for it.” Jain wisdom in a nutshell. He explained to me the idea of Paryushan, as he was observing fast those holy days. At that time I had no idea I would be giving talks to Jains at the Paryushan in Mumbai in the years to come. My first talk in Mumbai was presided over by the then member of the Indian delegation to the UN, Chimanbhai Chakubhai Shah. It was later explained to me that he had been chosen for my talk so that with his knowledge, his wisdom, and his diplomacy he could correct any errors I might make being new to Jainism. We became lifelong friends.
Official dialogue between followers of different religions is fundamental for mutual understanding and for world peace it has to flower into personal friendship. That is the message.
“O, East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet,
till earth and sky stand presently at God’s great judgement seat.
But there is neither East nor West nor border, breed or birth
when two brave men stand face to face though, they come from the ends of the earth.”
(Rudyard Kipling).
Jaina Yatra Photos
As mentioned in previous blog post, I was invited on a Jain Yatra by Pujyashri Rakeshbhai Jhaveri and his team at the Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram in Dharampur, Gujarat.
Here are some select photos from that trip:
About Jain Diaries
Jain Diaries is a blog by YJA about Peace, Compassion, and having a good time. Written and edited by youth just like you. Enjoy!