Pristine Jainism

SR No.: 001662
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: S M Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 2003
Total Pages: 110
Language: English, Sanskrit, Apabhramsha
Classification: Book_English & Religion
File Size: 7 MB

Page 103

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Pristine Jainism
manifesting in present life, an event in the chain of births and rebirths from time without beginning and shall continue till salvation is achieved by personal endeavour and effort. However, efforts should continue to establish entity of soul on scientific basis.
The concept of soul, heaven and hell, graded rebirth in inferior and superior life forms according to bad and good deeds (Karmas), miracles at places of worship and idols have been instrumental to motivate people to follow the prescribed code of conduct which is for the benefit of one and all. Vedic philosophers have argued that even if there is no god, it should be created to discipline people in general. In all religions and faith, the followers are attracted more because of allurements of material gains, heavenly pleasures and miracles than the pure logic of symbiotic good deeds. Fear of hell, doom, incompetence to progress is also inculcated to attract rather enslave devotees. Even most of the educated scientists succumb to the temptations of miracles and fear of bad fate. Instead of one god concept, Jainism subscribes to more logical concept of soul, rebirth and principle of cause and effect (Karma-Sidhanta) as a logical terminus. Human nature as it is, truth in pure form is not generally accepted and digested without palliatives of rituals, temptations and false promises of miracles. Jaina saints and scholars have tried to enact anecdote, stories and rituals to reconcile with powerful external impacts and in the process have thus obliterated the very identity of Jainism. This has done more harms than good. It has only kept to a very little extent the followers in number (quantity) only and not in quality.
However there may be soul or not, heaven or hell are real or imaginary yet by all logical, rational and scientific considerations, there is no doubt that the world can have everlasting peace with sustained happiness for all life forms if forest (Kalpavṛkṣa) based symbiotic, rational, disciplined, simple, non-violent, non consumerist, not promiscuous life style as ordained in Jainism is followed instead of predatory, individualistic and selfish irrational, undisciplined, hypocritic, violent, exploitative,