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AN EPITOME OF JAINISM.
karma and being possessed of all those divine qualities which we cannot but revere and admire most, soar high up into a kind spiritual atmosphere where everyone shines forth as an embodiment of Faith, Truth and Culture.
It is not infrequently that we meet with a few criticisms hurled against Jainism by its detractors mainly resting on the erroneous belief that Jainism, instead of helping in the development of personality, furthers its stultification and that it is a mystery how the Siddhas, after becoming free from all bondage of karma, and becoming alike in nature, do not lose their individuality and merge in an all-inclusive One. It is further contended that while Jainism silently accepts the action and influence of Siddhas in an atmosphere wholly spiritual, it excludes that from our earthly or mortal life, precisely the sphere nearest to them. Are we then to find them in a sphere which lies beyond the region of our dream even and to miss them in our thought, our duty and our love?
The evident reply of Jainism would be: "Far from it." For, although the Siddhas
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