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to suggest the existence of any other religion, that might be deemed to have taught the doctrine of Nirvāņa.
When we study Jainism, we find a complete explanation of the theory of Karma, a detailed description of soul-nature, and likewise of the state of Nirvāņa. In addition, the biographies of & very large number of men who have actually attained the Summum Bonum are also given. But this is not go with any other of the religions we have just named. In no other religion do we find these three features. In other creeds, the description of soul-nature is hazy and vague, either misunderstood or only half-comprehended. In the same way, any account they give of Karma is unscientific, and inadequate. Furthermore, there are no biographies of men who attained Nirvāṇa, as are possessed by Jainism. In fact, no other religion can lay claim that any of its adherents bave ever attained that Blessed State.
What however, is most significent and to be carefully borno in mind, when we study Jainism as a possible source of Religion is the fact that it is the only non-allegorical religion-the only creed that is a purely scientific system of religion which insistas upon and displays a thorough understanding of the problem af life or soul. No other religion can lay claim to this distinotioa. All others are unscientific, dressed up in the garments of allege ry, and myth, and metaphor, yet daring to masquerade as Truth. Certainly those artistio dabblers in Truth-the people who composed the allegories-must have been acquainted with the principles which they personified as gods and goddesses For fact must always precede allegory. But olearly they were not omnis cient men. Had they been, they would have foreseen the disastrous outoome of their pastime of allegorising-the shedding of blood, the bitter feuds that have arisen from the conoealment of Truth, in a misconceived, misleading garb that hides effectively its real nature.
The conolusion to be reached from a study of Comparative Religion is that the only thoroughly practical oreed is Jainism.
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| SR No. | 008001 |
| Book Title | Shraman Bhagvana Mahavira Part 1 |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Ratnaprabhvijay, D P Thaker |
| Publisher | Parimal Publication |
| Publication Year | 1989 |
| Total Pages | 650 |
| Language | English, Sanskrit |
| Classification | Book_English, Biography, History, & Religion |
| File Size | 15 MB |