Book Title: Basic Jain Culture Non Possession
Author(s): Padamchand Shastri, N L Jain
Publisher: Veer Seva Mandir Trust

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Page 9
________________ Those, who developed this culture, are (externally and internally) non-possessed Jinas who are the fundamentally beginningless form of pure soul. Of course, the term 'Culture' can also be used to other refined systems like 'Human Culture' etc. It is alright to state the terms 'Jain culture', 'hunan-culture', 'self-culture' and so on, as they are beginningless and endless and they do not differentiate between oneanother because of their innate unifying nature. In contrast, Hindu will be differentiated from Hindu and the Muslim from Muslim and so on. It must be noted that any so-called culture based on sects or denominations will be divided in many forms depending on their followers. i.e. Digambar, Svetambar, Terapanthi, Bispanthi among the Jains, Shia and Sunni in Muslims and the like. But this division does not exist in soul, human or Jinas. All of them are characterised through their attributes and are integrated. There will be no difference in their attributes. If there seems to be some difference, it will not be innate, but will be due to defiled or unrefined modes. We expect the word 'Culture' to represent the stream of basic nature. The Jain culture indicates the solitary pure form of soul or Jina. That is why, it has given prominence to be away from alien or possession which is instrumental in basic development of the wordly soul. The renunciation from the internal possession like attachment, aversion, delusion etc. and the external possessions like all worldly possessions are the basic means to acquire the basic nature of soul. All the spiritual practices like non-violence etc. are based on negation of possession. Thus, the basic Jain culture is the concept and practice of non-possession and non-possessiveness of any kind of inner or outer nature presents the pure 'Jina' state. This Jain culture has flourished and has been brought to light by the Jains and is called as 'Jain Culture'. The slogans like 'Non-violence is the Supreme Religion' and 'Live Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only www.jainelibrary.org

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