Essence and Spirit of Jainism

Author(s): Chitrabhanu
Publisher: Divine Knowledge Society

Page 8

with the same querulousness and the same conviction. The storm in the tea cup was quelled by another patient who explained to them that the panes were multi-coloured, much to the amusement of everybody.
A trivial quarrel, no doubt, and perhaps a trivial incident to be related here. But I ask you, have not men of different religions argued with the same triviality, the same intolerance and the same vehemence, over the centuries ? Each has the conviction that what he was told by someone who could see clearly must be true. One cannot blame him for his absolute faith in his mentor, but surely there was room for others to be true ? And what is the result of this dogmatism ? Chaos and conflict, discord and disillusion. You will all share my feelings when I say with the poet :
And much it grieves my heart to think What, man has made of man,
Jainisim is not a sect or just one more conflicting ideology-it is a way of thinking and living.
The greatness of Jain philosophy lies in the fact that its teachings assure “the greatest happiness of the greatest number,” not only