Gems of Jainism

Author(s): Hemant Shah
Publisher: Academy of Philosophy

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Gems of Jainism
What are its dangerous consequences and whether there is any way out to save the humanity and re-establish peace and humanity and unite all with cordial relations ? In short, we will see the relevance of 'Jain Values' for the Modern World, in this last lecture.
PART - I
UNDERSTANDING RELIGION
There are five vital questions about the creation of the universe. The first one is who created this universe ? Religion says that God created but science hasn't fully accepted it. The second question is, why has this universe been created ? No one can answer this question. The third one is, when was this universe created ? Again the answer is a big 'we don't know'. The fourth question is, out of what has this universe been created ? No answer again. The fifth and the final question is what is our role in the creation ? Four vital questions have remained unanswered till now. The fifth and the last vital question has a rational answer. We are unique beings and have a unique role to play in creation. That unique role is to know. We humans alone can know. How to know ? There are two methods : one of science and the other of religion. Science is the study of external; religion is the study of the internal. The first is objective, the second, subjective.
Religion is the study of man - an indepth study. This study leads to supreme knowledge of everything. Religion should also be understood as a bond between man and nature. Religion teaches us to love pature, and “it helps us to maintain a harmonious relationship between human beings, between the individuals and society, and between man and nature"? "More than the knowledge of modern science it is the deeper understanding that religion provides of the Truth of Oneness of all creation”. Religion is inside of a civilization, the soul of social organization. It is not only “life transcending but also life transforming”. Religion does not consist so much in dogmas, theories and rituals, as much as it consists in