Jain Society Lansing MI 2000 05 Pratistha

SR No.: 528511
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Center Lansing MI
Publisher: USA Jain Center Lansing MI
Publication Year: 2000
Total Pages: 108
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, USA_Souvenir Jain Center MI Lansing, & USA
File Size: 4 MB

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neither do they believe in any means of redemption outside themselves. The individual has to achieve his own salvation by right faith, right knowledge and right conduct. Salvation is believed to terminate the cycle of births and deaths and reincarnation, when the soul is finally liberated to eternal bliss and infinite knowledge.
Amongst themselves, there is no single leader such as a "Pope", neither has any person supreme authority. However, there are monks and certain teachers and lay leaders who are given particular respect. There are many scriptures but no single book like the Bible. However, Umasvati's Tattvartha-sutra (second century A.D.) is the most comprehensive single treatise on Jainism. Notwithstanding these aids, however, the individual must ultimately find the truth for himself as no priest or scripture is believed to have all the answers. The principles are intended to be self-verifying so that the follower discovers truths for himself rather like a research worker in a laboratory.
Amongst the Jains, there are a few different schools. The main schools are "Digambara" and "Svetambara". Both believe in idol-worship. However, their idols differ; in Svetambara eyes, lips and torso are marked. The Digambara believe that their monks should renounce everything, even their clothes, whereas Svetambara monks wear white clothes.
The Karmons
Einstein said that
Religion without science is blind, Science without religion is lame.
standing the cosm part of the truth. tes rise to light in
s. Electricity
part of the truth. It explains me entities in it. Modern
Jainism is a religion with science. Every aspect of Jainism is based on understanding the cosmos, and the living and non-living entities in it. Modern science is capable of illuminating part of the truth. It explains matter in terms of forces and small particles. Electricity, through electrons, gives rise to light in the room; radio-waves through electric-magnetic forces, result in sound on a loudspeaker and so on. Jainism explains life through the interaction of such invisible small particles and the soul. The small particles are Karmic Particles or Karmons and they create a Karmic Force. We keep on absorbing these karmons through activity, and throw some out after their effect has taken place. Thus, the soul has a Karmic Computer attached to it. This personal karmic computer keeps all the records - it also dictates some tasks from previous records, i.e. past lives.
Jain Logic
To bring rationality into thinking, Jainism has its own system of logic. Jainism believes in the principle of conditional predication (Syādvāda) so that everything is conditioned by our knowledge at a particular time - and there is nothing absolutely known unless the soul is "perfect" - that is, when the divine quality of Jainness is fully developed. Soul with karmic matter is like crude oil compared with petrol; the more
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