Book Title: ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 03
Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

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Page 263
________________ weakness. In fact ahiṁsā is a very potent arm/weapon and can never be a possession of weak. A man is born as a human being due to his auspicious deed/karma in the previous life. Religion is perhaps a faith which individual adopts according to his own beliefs and personality. It is but natural to have different ways of performing devotion based on individual's capabilities, situation, inclination, rights etc. In fact the true religion is one which, based on ahiṁsā teaches us to love and serve not only every human being but all the living beings also as well as tolerance for those who are against our religion or our opponents also. Besides these, it should also teach us about our soul, body, reality of existence of this world and the path which frees us from pains and pleasures of this world of trans-migratory world and these endow us with eternal happiness. From earlier time in India, holy teachers, monks and ascetics, preceptors, thinkers and philosophers, social reformists and scholars have shown us the path of ahiṁsā to remove social evils, discrimination amongst individuals and extend love, compassion, forgiveness and universal brotherhood. Even during modern times, social reforms and holy teachers like Rām Kệsņa Paramhaṁs, Svāmī Vivekānand, Svāmī Dayā Nand Sarasvati, Sāim Bābā of Shirdi, Gurudev Tagore, Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa, Rājā Rām Mohan Rai, Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Mohd. Yunus, Kenneth Kaunda etc. have all tried to reemphasize ahimsā in their own ways. Even today all scholars and holy teachers have tried to show the path of human welfare in all religions of the world. Similarly preachers and saints and great persons like Śri Sudhānśū jī Maharāj, Śri Śri Ravi Shankar jī, Āsā Rāma Bāpu, Murārī Bāpu, Ammā, Bābā Jaygurūdev, Ośo, Svāmi Śraddhā Nandji, Kiriț Bhāi and other eloquent speakers are establishing the path of human welfare through their preaching and religious discourses. Foundation of all cultures is that one should understand the good of other human beings and without any selfish motives, respect their feelings and understand the importance of their feelings. It is these feelings of human welfare that gives rise to different religions. Aim of all religions is to establish the human rights. The path that is benefactor or the cause of welfare of all living beings in this world is called religion. If the people start becoming selfish and not Page 250 of 273 STUDY NOTES version 5.0

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