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Chapter IV KNOWLEDGE OF FUNDAMENTALS
Perhaps more than any other religious tradition, Jainism is imbued with its commitment to selfreliance. In the soul's tormented struggle to free itself from its beginningless, and possibly endless, worldly bondage, neither fate nor the gods can be of any help. Even the Jinas cannot relieve him of his karmic debts; however, it is their teaching which facilitates the soul's journey towards perfection.
The soul remains impure as long as it is entangled with the material world. Attachment binds the soul with karmas and a soul, which frees itself from karmas, gets liberated.
Jainism does not believe in creator God. The universe is beginningless and endless. Perfection of human consciousness is godhood. A soul can achieve godhood by making itself perfect and by conquering the senses and passions.
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