________________
2. Jainism
Jainism and Renunciation
Jainism believes in sacrifice and renunciation. It does not exhort its devotees to burn themselves in fire or to drown in rivers or to jump down from the peaks of mountains or to melt themselves in snow. It is no renunciation to endure hunger, thirst, cold or heat. If this were real sacrifice and renunciation, then the prisoners always practise them. But real renunciation means getting liberated from the fetters of desires. An ascetic gives no importance to life or death. What is really important for him is to get liberated from the prison-house of desires.
Jain Sanskriti and Humanity
Jain Sanskriti is the Sanskriti of humanity. The highest aim of Jain Sanskriti is to reach to the climax of spirtual development for the good of all. This is why every word in Jain philosophy and literature is touched and electrified with the urge to make life holy and good.
Jainism and Casteism
Jainism is not the religion of any particular man, or caste or sect. It belongs to him, who is prepared to adopt
89
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org