Introduction to Jainsim

Author(s): Dewan Bahadur A B Lathe
Publisher: Jain Mitra Mandal

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JAINISM
a
the Dharma comes to its help. But it may delude itself and covet what drives it in and in. The Dharma is potential steam. which has to be worked by the internal drive of the engine to cover the distance between Sansar and unending felicity. Jainism is thus the most libertarian ethies possible. No one could for moment say that moral freedom consists in total irresponsibility. And so, if Jainism makes men suffer long series of troubles and difficulties for sins committed in present or past lives, it makes its ethics no less libertarian. But at any moment, the teachings of the liberted may take effect and from that point of time, the Jain Dharm launches the soul upon its slow voyage to freedom. The choice is not instantaneously full with its distant results; for the Karmas may not be at that moment fully exhausted. But the ball has nevertheless been set in motion and the force must transmit itself to the end in spite of resistance. Instant escape is impossible. Even the soul may have advanced too far to be influenced by the holy teaching. The old hag who was carried by force to the presence of lord Mahavir, tore open her eyes to avoid even. the sight of the Teacher. But there is nothing incompatible with morality in this necessary determinism inseparable with human nature, a determinism which is the condition of freedom with responsibility.
We have hitherto ontlined the most salient features of Jainism with necessary brevity. But we cannot conclude our review without noticing some of the charges to which it is said to be open. Mr. Apte's* able paper tries to account for the later insignificance of the Jains as a martial race by ascribing the supposed weakness of the Jains to their principle of non-killing.
* This reference is to a lecture by Mr. V. G. Apte, B. A. Editor 'Gayan Prakash'