Gems of Jainism

SR No.: 001803
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hemant Shah
Publisher: Academy of Philosophy
Publication Year: 2008
Total Pages: 142
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Articles, & Religion
File Size: 8 MB

Page 13

Gems of Jainism
for the house holder as well as for the ascetic i.e. Ethics. Moreover, one of the unique contribution of Jain philosophy is its Nayavada - its Dialectics (Logic) explaining the Truth of an object which is always relative and never Absolute. The non absolutism or anékantvada is one of the profoundest approaches to reality and a sound solution to world peace. (Read Jain theory and practice of anékantvada' in this book). Again Jainism accepts the existence of Soul and its very rational, very scientific and very logical explanation of the soul in state of bondage and in state of liberation makes it very convincing to intellectuals. Here Jainism's explanation of Karma and Law of Karma, which is in great details and vividly precise, establishes the reincarnation theory on scientific arguments. Besides the Jain philosophy deals with astronomy and cosmology. Jainism has its own philosophy about the universe. Jainism does not believe in Creator- God i.e. the world, according to Jainism, is not created by God. It is since beginningless of time i.e. anādi. It has its own concept of Time and the measurement of time into ages i.e. yugas. Thus in many ways the Jaina Philosophy is complete and is quite competent enough to give explanations and solutions to mysteries of life and problems of the world at large.
In India, unlike in the West, we have philosophy and religion always going together. Here in India Philosophy is not isolated from religion, from God, from ethics and morality. And so is the case of Jaina philosophy. The religion of Jainas or very popularly we say Jaina Religion is also a religion with its unique features. According to E.Kant the three basics postulates of any system of religion are Freedom of Will, Immortality of Soul and God. Jainism satisfies these norms perfectly. Here also both the philosophy of soul and the concept of God in Jainism are unique and independent (Read the author's 'Jain Theism for details). Many scholars have misunderstood Jainism as Atheism in the sense that it does not believe in God. In reality Jainism believes in Godhood which is attained by the perfect practice of the religion. The soul in its total purity i.e. without any impurity of karma is in possession of infinite