Ethnicity and Religious Heritage

Author(s): T U Mehta
Publisher: T U Mehta

Page 98

Chapter - 7 Jainism and Buddhism
It is first necessary to explain how the expression Jainism came into existence and what it actually means. It has its origin in the Sankrit word "Ji-Jaya" which means "to conquer". But to conquer what? It says that one should conquer his enemies. But who are your real enemies? Answer is that your real enemies are not out side yourself as your passions such as anger, avarice, attachments, prejudices, hatred etc. are your real enemies and once you conquer these enemies you will not find any enemy outside yourself. There are two ways to conquer-one is by physical fight and the other is by mental or psychological process. Jainism discards the former and prefers the later one.