“Ahimsa Paramo Dharma”,”Parasparopagraho Jīvānām” and “Aprigraha” the timeless teachings of Bhagwan Mahavira are not merely philosophical ideals—they are the foundation of Jain civilization. Every religious activity, every institution, and every person should measure success against these eternal principles.

An Editorial Perspective – Thank you to Las Vegan Dr. Sulekh Jain, Ph.D. for an excellent and thought-provoking article below on an ongoing debate within the Indian diaspora in the United States. The article raises important questions about our continued pursuit of the “greenback,” even in the later stages of life; our attachment to wealth and material success; and whether we are truly following the basic teachings and values of our respective religions.

Religious institutions should bring people together, not become arenas for personal conflicts and competing interests. We do not even have to look beyond our own community in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Hindu Temple & Jain Center provides an example of the challenges that can arise when effective leadership and governance are lacking. Donor resources were consumed by prolonged disputes and legal battles without producing meaningful operational results.

Although Dr. Jain’s article below focuses primarily on the prosperous Jain community around the world, its deeper message extends well beyond Jainism. It speaks to all of the world religions —Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Muslims, and others.

“Ahimsa Paramo Dharma”,”Parasparopagraho Jīvānām” and “Aprigraha” the timeless teachings of Bhagwan Mahavira are not merely philosophical ideals—they are the foundation of Jain civilization. Every religious activity, every institution, and every person should measure success against these eternal principles.

A Personal Reflection

I was born in India. Although America has become my karma bhūmi (land of work) for the last 60 years, India will forever remain my janma bhūmi (birthplace). My heart remains deeply connected to its sacred soil.

Whenever I visit India, undertake pilgrimages, or spend time in the company of Jain monks and nuns, I experience profound inner peace. These visits are not simply religious journeys—they are opportunities for introspection and spiritual renewal.

Over the past four decades, I have observed the remarkable transformation of the Jain community. Economically, socially, and materially, our community has progressed beyond anything previous generations could have imagined. Magnificent temples have been built across India and abroad. Beautiful dharmashalas, hospitals, and community centers have emerged. Religious gatherings have become larger, more organized, and more impressive. This progress deserves appreciation. Yet alongside this satisfaction, a quiet concern continues to trouble my mind.

Are We Building Temples—or Building Jain Society?

Across India, temples worth hundreds of crores of rupees have been constructed with extraordinary devotion and generosity. Many are architectural masterpieces. Yet in numerous places, very few Jain families live nearby. Some temples receive only occasional visitors.

This compels us to ask an uncomfortable but necessary question:

Have we become more successful in constructing temples than in nurturing Jain families, Jain scholarship, Jain ethics, and Jain values?

Bhagwan Mahavira never measured piety by the height of buildings. He preached and valued empathy, the depth of compassion over towering temples. Stone temples inspire us. But compassionate human beings are abode of Jain values. Perhaps today both deserve equal attention.

When Celebration Becomes Display

During Chaturmas, we often witness enormous religious processions. Camels, horses, bullock carts, elaborate decorations, loud music, and competitive displays have become increasingly common. Thousands gather to celebrate.

When celebration descend to display, sanctity and piety vanish one question repeatedly arises in my heart. Can celebrations that cause discomfort or suffering to animals and human beings truly honor the greatest teacher of nonviolence the world has ever known?

Bhagwan Mahavira taught compassion not only toward human beings but toward every form of life—from one-sensed organisms to five-sensed creatures.

Every Jain child learns that even the smallest living being deserves kindness. If that is so, should animals become instruments of prestige in our religious celebrations? True devotion never requires another living being to suffer.

Prosperity is a Blessing—Not a Destination

Prosperity is one of the great achievements of the Jain community. There is absolutely nothing wrong with becoming successful. Bhagwan Mahavira never condemned wealth. He cautioned against attachment to wealth.

The principle of Aparigraha teaches us that possessions should remain our servants—not become our masters.

• When wealth begins to seek prestige…
• When charity becomes competition…
• When religious functions become opportunities for public recognition…
• When donors seek applause more than inner transformation…
• Religion quietly loses its soul.
• The danger is not prosperity.
• The danger is pride.

The Urgent Need for Financial Transparency

Jainism stands upon the pillars of Satya (Truth) and Achaurya (Non-stealing). Therefore, every Jain institution should become a model of honesty and accountability.

• Every donation should be properly recorded. Every expenditure should be transparent.
• Every financial transaction should fully comply with the laws of the land.
• Unaccounted cash/black money transactions have no place in religious institutions dedicated to truth.
• Tainted wealth should never enter the hallowed precinct of the temples or holy sthanaks.

Our revered monks and nuns also have an important moral responsibility. They should encourage complete transparency and discourage any financial practices that lack accountability. True religion can never flourish where transparency is absent.

Let Us Return to Bhagwan Mahavira

This article is not written to criticize anyone. It is written out of love.

The Jain community has given me immeasurable joy throughout my life. Precisely because I love this community, I believe we must occasionally pause and ask ourselves difficult questions.

Bhagwan Mahavira did not ask us to become the wealthiest community. He asked us to become the most compassionate and characteristic. He did not ask us to build the  temples. He asked us to build noble character. He did not ask us to seek prestige. He asked us to conquer ego. As the Daśavaikālika Sūtra teaches: “Dhammo Maṅgala Mukkittham.” Dharma is the highest auspiciousness.

Real Dharma is reflected in humility, compassion, forgiveness, honesty, simplicity, and service—not merely in impressive buildings or elaborate ceremonies.

A Call to Action

I respectfully appeal to our revered monks and nuns, trustees, community leaders, scholars, youth organizations, philanthropists, and every Jain family to begin a new movement of introspection. Let us build temples—but let us also build compassionate communities.

Let humility, piety, compassion, empathy, service to humanity decorate our temples and be a lasting symbol of harmony and joy.

• Let us organize grand religious events—but let them be completely free from cruelty, extravagance, and unnecessary competition.
• Let us donate generously—but with humility rather than publicity.
• Let us make every Jain institution a model of transparency, accountability, and ethical governance.
• Let us become known not merely as a prosperous community, but as the world’s most compassionate community.

That would be the greatest tribute we could ever offer to Bhagwan Mahavira.

Final Reflection

History will not judge us by the number of temples we built. History will judge us by whether those temples inspired humanity to become more compassionate, more truthful, humbler, and more nonviolent. May we never allow prosperity to distance us from the path of Bhagwan Mahavira.

MAY OUR WEALTH STRENGTHEN OUR VALUES—NOT REPLACE THEM.

Only then will future generations inherit not only magnificent temples, but also the living spirit of Jain Darshan.

Micchāmi Dukkaḍaṃ – May all the evil [or bad deeds] that have been done be in vain.

Dr. Sulekh C. Jain lives in Henderson, NV and is the cofounder of International School for Jain Studies. Previously, he served as President of the Federation of Jain Associations in North America (JAINA). He can be reached at scjainphd@gmail.com

Dr. Jain also authored the book An Ahimsa Crisis: You Decide, which can be accessed free at www.isjs.in

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the above article solely belong to author Sulekh Jain, Ph.D., and are not an endorsement by vegasdesi.com. The editor is pleased to provide vegasdesi.com as a platform for the community members to engage in intellectual debates, opinions, constructive criticisms, and discussions.