Atmanandji Jainacharya Janmashatabdi Smarakgranth

Author(s): Mohanlal Dalichand Desai
Publisher: Atmanand Janma Shatabdi Smarak Trust

Page 131

Jainism a Universal Religion
The Jainism occupies an important place among the ancient religions of the world. Its philosophical tenets, ethical rules and theories of logic hava a peculiar aspect of their own, which speak its antiquity and universality. In theory as well as in practice, Jainism maintains a broad angle of vision and embraces in its fold all the living creatures dasiring to attain emancipation. It lays down rules for the upliftment of all the living beings, from the smallest insect down to the highly developed man. For the plain fact is that the gospel of Bhagwan Mahavira was expounded equally for all people without any distinction of caste or cread. In this sense Jainism can wall claim to become a Universal religion. Its message of Ahimsa Parmodharma (non--violence) is a recognition of Universal brotherhood of not only man, but also living creaturas. The oft-repeated phrase "fara sa mg" in the Jain Shastras, is the guiding maxim for the Jain world, and clears all our doubts rəgarding the Universal brotherhood preached by Lord Mahavira.
It is admitted on all hands that man is a social being and that religion is one of the greatest concerns of mankind. Religion has swayed and even now sways, the lives of millions of human beings. It has influenced for botter or for worse, the aspirations and activities of countless man and woman, from the primitive down to our present aga. Such a phenomenon requirəs a serious and earnest consideration.
Jainism shows that each soul possesses within itself the capacity of attaining the highest perfection through self-realisation. Soul is under bondage of matter from eternity, due to its karmas, which have crippled its natura. And every moment the soul is being heaped up by new karmas. In its true nature the soul is an all-seeing, all-knowing, and all-blissful being. But all these qualities can display themselves only, if the Soul is free from heterogeneous matter. As such the great aim and object of the embodied Soul is to get itself separated from combination of matter to attain complete freedom and perfect happiness. It is only by realising and improving the soul alone, one can proceed towards the altar of emancipation. In short, according to Jain philosophy, one reaches Godhood from manhood, as was practically demonstrated by Lord Mahavira himself.
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[ Shree Atmaramji