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Jainism in a Global Perspective
visualised as a trinity - the creator, the preserver and the destroyer. In the creation, earth is but a tiny place drifting in the cosmic ocean of billions of galaxies and trillions of stars.
Spirituality arouses human consciousness on a higher, wider and ever-enduring perspective of continuity in the midst of ongoing change. It links human effort, achievement and aspirations to the eventual purpose of the transitory passage of human being in this universe.
The Discovery of the Self
Indian philosophy regards happiness as not mere sensual pleasures, emotional joys or intellectual delight. All these are transient joys. Enduring happiness reveals itself in the discovery of the self. In essence, the goal of all religions is the same-to unveil your real self and to draw out the divinity in you.
The message of Upanişads is not to get lost in the glamour and splendour of material comforts but to search for the attainment of enduring bliss :
asto mā sadgamaya "From the unreal Lead me to the real
tamaso mā jyotirgamaya From darkness Lead me to light
mrtyormāmāmstam gamaya. From death Lead me to immortality." -- Brahadārmayakopanişad 1/3/28
Jaina scriptures say that there is no external agency to guide you in your life and life beyond this life. Your soul is your guide and the example to follow is of those human beings who achieved enlightenment through self effort and control. The enlightened ones have removed from their minds all afflicting emotions and mental barriers, acquired all the qualities of wisdom and compassion, grasped the nature of the whole universe, and who have become pure, all accomplished and perfect beyond all differences and dualities, beyond all pleasure and pain.
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