Jainism Jainism is one of the World’s oldest religions, followed by several million people in India, and by a sizeable Jain diaspora in UK, USA and other overseas countries. Jain community consists of monks and nuns (who travel on foot) and lay men and women. Jain values are based on:
- Non-violence and reverence for all life (ahimsa)
- Non-attachment to the material world (aparigraha)
- Pluralism (anekantavad) and introspection
- Peace, calmness of self and spiritual liberation by self-effort
Jainism believes in friendship for all and malice towards none, as well as improvement of quality of life, compassion, equality, animal welfare, environment preservation and peace. Its motto is “Live and Help to Live”. Its values are summed up in three phrases: the art of love to all living beings: the art of living with human, national, social and spiritual responsibilities, and the art of leaving power, position, material objects and attachment to living beings.
Jain Network was launched in London on 9th of March 2007 as a result of deliberation over series of meetings of the Trustees of Jain Sangha of Europe, Jain Academy, Ahimsa for Quality of Life, and Jain leaders, organisations and other communities.
The Jain Network is a registered charity (No: 1131386) and a non-profit company (No: 06752627) in England and Wales. It has also registered a Community Interest Company (CIC) for its planned social enterprise work.
Under vision and leadership of Dr Natubhai Shah MBE (instrumental in creating the (Jain Centre Leicester) and the Jain Network Trustees. we have gone from strength to strength, in achieving our mission to improve the spiritual and physical quality of life for Jains and wider community. Through its spiritual, academic, philanthropic, interfaith work and public services, the Jain Network is hailed as a key Jain organisation in the UK.
Jain Network supports other organisations and forums by allowing the use of office facilities and space; currently this includes Art of Living, Council of Dharmic Faiths, Barnet Hindu Forum, National Council of Gujarati Organisations, JNHA Social Enterprise and many other activities such as yoga, meditation and community welfare services of all ages.