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Western Perceptions of Jainism : Misconceptions, Achievements and Current Expectations
NOEL Q. KING
Jainism is the religion and way of life of those who follow the Jina, "those who have overcome", "conquered." Whom or what have they overcome? Themselves. According to Jainism in every part of the universe there is life capable of perfection, seckup for perfection, trying to attain to fullness of being, held back by karmic particles which it is attempting to shed. We should not do anything to hinder that process. From these simple basic principles by the use of rational means, the Jains work out an entire way of life. It means positive harmlessness. "Do not kill," not only because divine commandments forbid killing but because killing is not a loving, rational and appropriate approach. The Jaina thought-system does not need the hypothesis of a personal God who created the world. Yet Jains are not atheists, they recognize divinity in every part of the Universe. They insist there may be differing ways of approach, so they do not quarrel with believers of other kinds.
Their basic principles mean that they have to respect others in every way and eliminate injustice, discrimination, inequality and waste. A person must not give in to the lust of possession and use coercion or exploitation. One is permitted to use or consume that which is strictly necessary. Everything has a right to be fully developed itself and live its own life appropriately. It is not for us to take it over. One must not get unreasonably attached to anything and when our time is accomplished, we must be prepared to give up and renounce the life in which we are. A timely and triumphant death is part of the perfection of a conqueror. Clearly this is a holistic system, "totalitarian," in the best sense of the word everything
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