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Happy Diwali - Oshwal News
JAINISM IN A NUTSHELL
A WAY OF LIFE, NEITHER A DOGMA,
NOR A BELIEF
The Fundamental Concept: Ahimsa
Paramo Dharma, Non-Violence
(Harmlessness) is the foremost Religion.
Ahimsa, a nebulous term, includes Satya
(Truth), Asteya (Non-Stealing),
Brahmacharya (Celibacy, Restraint), and
Aparigraha (Non-Possession, Detachment).
The Goal : The ultimate purpose of life is
to purify the immortal Soul to Perfection
such that the cycle of birth and death is
ended.
The Path : “Live and Let Live”. It is the
Practise of Non-Violence in daily life at
every step of the way.
The Basis :
1. It is a logical, scientific, rational and
natural way of life for every Living
Being.
2. Every Living Being has an
Indestructible Soul that can be
perfected. Soul has no distinction of
sex. Status or form. Only the Body
that every soul takes is different.
3. Theory of Karma: Actions
(Purushartha) are the basis of
attachments to soul. “As you sow, so
you reap”.
4. Theory of Reincarnation: Soul
takes different bodies of one to five
Senses, such as human beings,
animal, bird, insect, plant etc based
on Karma attached to it.
5. Universe is Beginning less and
Endless. It transforms and
perpetuates. “Matter is
indestructible”. Otherwise, “who
created the Universe And who
created the creator of the Universe
6. The God is neither the Creator, nor
the Sustainer, nor the Destroyer.
Otherwise, “Who created God”
Temples, Idol Worship, Rituals etc
are extensions of the Belief in God as
Trinity/Trimurti on other Religions.
7. Some violence is inevitable for
Survival of Life. This violence can be
reduced infinitely through Restraint.
The ultimate Goal is Perfect
Purification of the Soul totally
detached from all Karmas.
8. Dogmas/Scriptures (Shastras and
Sutras) are written by People in the
Name of Gods, perfectly purified
Souls, whose lives are the basis of
their Philosophy. This, in turn,
propounds Theories and Principles.
When Formalised, Dogmas form the
basis of Structured religions that
emphasise and prioritise them. When
proved outdated, they need to be
revised.
9. Anekant (Multiplicity of Views)
and Syadvad (Relativeness of the
Truth): Practice of Principles of any
Religion is purely a Personal Matter.
Therefore, there is no need to
Convert any one. Each one practises
according to its abilities (Yatha
Shakti). These practices have various
different facets, aspects and angles
that need not be the cause or ground
for Conflict.
10. Religion and Science are inherently
the different phases of unfolding and
evolving universal Realities, The
Truth. They are neither against nor
contradictory to each other.
11. Traditions are Practices prevalent at
certain times in the Past. There
cannot be any Sacrosanct about
them. Today’s practices will become
tomorrow’s Traditions. Nothing
remains constant, except Change.
Meaningless and Wasteful Past
Traditions, Celebrations and Rituals
(ceremonies) are not the Religion.
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By F J Dalal
“It ’s the special gifts that
have no price,
Our family, friends and health”
Young Readers Section
F