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 23

JAIN THEISM
JAIN THEISM (Concept of God in Jainism)
Jainism is the religion as well as one of the nine main systems of the Indian Philosophy. It is the religion of Jina, a path practised and preached by Jains. "Jaina" means the follower of 'Jina', which is a generic term applied to those persons (men and women) that have conquered the lower nature - passion, hatred, and the like - and bought into prominence the highest. “The Jaina philosophy, therefore bases its doctrines on the absolute necessity (for the realization of truth) of conquering the lower nature. To the underdeveloped or insufficiently developed observer, it is the conquering of the lower nature; to the developed, it is the realization of the perfect.." Jainism is no more considered as one founded by Lord Mahavira. There lived many such Jains in the past, before even Lord Mahavira, and many will doubtless yet be born. Jainism "is an important, fully developed and well established religions and cultural system.” As a religion Jainism is an original system “existing from beginningless time." I restrain myself in talking to you about Jain metaphysics, Jain ethics, Jain logic and its philosophy of nonabsolutisim as these topics are not directly related to our topic. What I would examine, here in this paper, is whether Jainism as a religion and as a system of Indian Philosophy believes in God ? Is it a religion without God ? If it believes in God, what is the concept and nature of God in Janism ? In short, whether Jainism, as traditionally is believed to be so, is Atheistic or is Theistic ?