Jains Today in World

SR No.: 001794
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Pirre Paul AMIEL
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith
Publication Year: 2008
Total Pages: 360
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, History, Religion, E000, & E005
File Size: 24 MB

Page 303

CONCLUSION
We have tried in these ten chapters to depict Jains today in India and outside with their diversity, traditions and practices. We have briefly exposed their great principles referring back to Vilas Sangave's excellent work "Aspects of Jaina Religion" we translated into French in 1999 under the title "Le Jainisme Philosophie et Religion de l'Inde". In writing the present book in French and in making it translated into English, our aim was not to relate in details their theories about the universe and its changes, about space, time, relativity of points of view, "karma", "ahimsā” and numerous other interesting themes that influenced the Indian thought in different ways. We have only tried to present, as clearly as possible, Jains with their long history, their doctrinal differences, their sacred literature, their worships, etc. We have listed for the first time in a methodical mood their main beautiful temples throughout the world and their sacred places in India to help travellers to identify and visit them. We have summed up the essential rules of life of Jain laity and ascetics to not confound them with Hindus or Buddhists. We have exposed some of their typical rituals, festivals and religious ceremonies. We have seen how, after a great success in India, they are now very few but desirous to survive and to promote their tenets. Those who have leaved India try to unite and to preserve their faith, to make efforts to be known and their values be preserved by their children. They try to preach in a world of wars, of violence what is their most precious heritage: non-violence, self-control, peace, equality, etc. But they remain always too discreet and concerned by the future of their individual soul in a world that needs more audience, more public debates, more active and visible actions. They should also extend various practices of some of their sections more in tune with the modern mood of living. We hope all that we have written will permit to better know them and to consider their ideas about the destiny of humanity, in a period of great tumult and disorder in so many domains.
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