ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 03

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 67

called paramātmā and propagates virtuous life styles. Jain religion is an eternal religion and has been preached by Jinas (conquerors of the sensual pleasures and tendencies). It is neither an offshoot of any other religion nor belongs to a specific community or caste. It is completely an independent philosophy and religion. Omniscient and first tīrthamkara with Mahāvīra being the last and 24th, delivered divine sermons, which were codified in book formed by Ganadharas as Āgamas or religious scriptures.
Based primarily on the principle of non-violence, Jain religion propagates the life style of its followers based on the minimization and control of the five sins like violence etc. To counter these five sins, Jainism talks of five vows namely non-violence, speaking the truth, nonstealing, non-possession and celibacy to be practiced by all. The monks practice these five vows on totality. While the family practices them partially with certain limitations based on their capabilities and desires. Practice of religious ethics with the sole purpose of selfpurification by the monks, and the family members busy in day-to-day life, activities and directly or indirectly in contact with the environment becomes the practice and preservation of Human Rights. Jain religion not only talks of Human Rights but it goes further and talks of the rights of all living beings. The fundamental doctrine of Jainism is that all living beings, be they men or elephants or ants have each a soul of their own. Each soul has the right to exit and live according to its own whishes. Man is not only blessed with the rights to have independent existence but also to live in an environment free of exploitation or suppression where he can become a perfect person as per his own capabilities and efforts. Therefore he should live with others on an equal and brotherly basis. Hence it will not be out of place to call Jainism as human's religion or the religion of all living beings.
Jainism and its philosophy, since ancient times, has preached and explained the human religion or the religion or the religion of all living beings; the same had been orchestrated in the west only recently Europe, United State of America and to some extent Asia are the continent which have made other countries of the world as their dominions and exploited them to their advantage. These same imperialist countries in the last two-three centuries have destroyed fundamental rights of their human beings also. But after the First World War (1914-19180) the same countries started talking of Human Rights when their own independence became in danger.
2 Parasparopagrahojivānām, Tattvāratha-sutra, Umāsvāti, verse V.21
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