Introduction to Jainism

Author(s): Rudi Jansma, Sneh Rani Jain
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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INTRODUCTION TO JAINISM
I will always do everything to prevent environmental pollution, and will not cut down trees or spoil natural resources.
There are also specific focal points for students (e.g. concerning cribbing, use of drugs, and pornography); for teachers, who should pay special attention to the character development of their pupils, and who should set the right example in everything; for businessmen about fair trade; for government officials (e.g. refusing to take bribes); and for election candidates, who are supposed not to gain votes by means of fear or enticement, may not indulge in character assassination of their opponents, and have to shun electoral fraud and dishonest vote counts. The electorate, finally, should not allow itself to be influenced by fear or temptation if and when it occurs.
Everyone will probably agree that thinking about such ideas as well as aspiring to put them into practice could have a great impact on societies in the West and the South. Norms and values need not be enforced, because the Jains as well as the adherents of many other religions are convinced that every living being is an immortal and ever reincarnating soul which is pure by nature and possesses innate noble characteristics. Being a real human being and becoming divine are the same as being oneself - in the deepest sense of the word. To know the self or soul is the primary objective of the Jains. Is that not really the deepest motivation of most of humanity?
Another major aspect of Jainism - both earlier and in modern times, is practical compassion. There are numerous hospitals, animal hospitals and charitable projects initiated and paid for by Jains. Such projects are fuelled by the great Indian mentality of giving - dāna - for the benefit of those who are suffering. Millions upon millions of rupees flow smoothly into such projects. One great example is the Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (known simply as Jaipurfoot), a voluntary and non-religious society started in 1975 for helping the disabled, particularly the destitute. Its main objective is physical, economic and social rehabilitation