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OCTOBER, 1991
119
The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope, Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope, I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a rope !"
And so these men of Indostan
Disputed loud and long, Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong. Though each was partly in the right
And all were in the wrong !
4.
The Purification Path
In short, according to Jainism, time, space, life, non-life (matter) exist and will exist forever--the universe is self-regulating ; life is mainly regulated by karmons unless these are all removed. How can these be removed? A path of purification is prescribed. It is not easy since Jainism believes existing karmic matter can only be removed (before predetermined duration through austerity, otherwise the personal karmic computer will keep on working. It prescribes self-restraint rather than self indulgence. Einstein, when he tried to define his concept of religion, said
"...a person who is religiously enlightened appears to me to be one who has to the best of his ability, liberated himself from the fetters of his selfish desires."
This is, indeed, a definition of Jainism !
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