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Gandhi's Teachers : Rajchandra Ravjibhai Mehta
divided into Hinayana and Mahayana branches, Jainism also got divided into digambarus and shvetambaras with separate philosophies and practices of each branch.*?
The core concept in Jainism is ahimisu in thought, word, and deed, in all aspects of life, and under all circumstances. Ahinsa applies not only to the living beings (jivas), but also to non-living beings (ajivus) from the largest to the tiniest Creations and Jainism believes that even a stone is a living heing with a soul and one-sensed life based on the feeling of touch. The there are two-sensed, three-sensed, four-sensed, and five-sensed beings and ahimsa is to be observed in relation to all of them. The concept of ahimsa also includes the concepts of karuna or all-inclusive mercifulness and kshama or unconditional forgiveness.
Entangled state of soul in Jainism is due to the wrappings of karmic matter and to be free and end cycles of birth and chith soul must shed all karmic matter. In its original form, soul is eternal, free, pure, and self-enlightened, but due to impacts of karmas it becomes vulnerable to desires, passions, ignorance and gets wrapped with karmic matter. After karmic matter is gradually shed off by following Jain principles, soul literally rises into the perfect state of kevalva and enjoys infinite knowledge, perception, power, and bliss. Right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct are the three "jewels".!5 for liberation of soul. Enlightened self-interest, freedom from emotions and desires, freedom from dependence on others, being neither pleased nor annoyed with worldly life, lack of possessions, voluntary rejection of Lasures, and physical/
in austerities also help in the shedding of karmic matter. ne ideal is of a passionless person who voluntarily inquishes wealth, position, power, family, and friends to
Dentrate on liberation of soul. This struggle is hard and continuous and no external help is available either from a guru or a Super Power. Only Jain principles and path shown by the tirthankars help and are to be followed most earnestly and wompletely. Self-restraint, self-discipline, mental/physical austerities are essential to inverse the flow of karmas and to
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