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Jainism: Global Perspective
-Dr. Neelam Jain
Jainism seeks to bring true happiness to its votaries because Jainism does not deny the existence of God. by elevating them morally and enabling them to attain the highest spiritual perfection they are capable of. Jain teachers have preached a way of living. The Jains have contributed and are still contributing their bit towards the preservation of their literary and cultural heritage, the growth of new literature and the propagation of education in general.
Its main contributions are based on................... Ahimsa:
Although countless saints of various faith have also eulogized the doctrine of Ahimsa, but they all got the Original inspiration from Jainism, which greatly influenced their customs and traditions as well. Mahatma Gandhi is truly regarded the greatest apostle of Ahimsa, but in the words of Gandhiji himself, "Lord Mahaveera is the 'Avatar' of Ahimsa. "Whoever desires paradise should sacrifice & slaughter Animals," was the common preaching in ancient India. Jainism raised a revolt against this way of thinking, and established a way of thinking that all lives are sacred.
Practical Religion:
Jainism is mainly divided into 'Muni-dharma' & House-holders' dharma,' which are again subdivided into various stages, so that even a layman with limited capacity of every caste and state may adopt it conveniently and consistently with due regard to temporal advancement; thus Jainism is pre-eminently a Practical Religion for all, not just scholars and Munis.
Theism:
Jainism believes that the Universe is immortal, eternal and uncreated. Pralay is not a total annihilation but merely a sudden change. It requires no judge for punishment. Law of Karma is in itself complete, unerring and self-acting. For this scientific belief, those, who believe in a creator some times look at Jainism as an atheistic, but it can not be so called,
Anekanta:
Anekanta is a scientific out-look to accommodate different view-points in the domain of thoughts as well as in action by its constitution of Reality, therefore Jainism only has tolerance of highest degree to remove misunderstandings of different aspects and to understand controversy friendly.
Karmavada:
Almost all religions admit that gain or loss and pleasure or pain is the result of Karmas, but
Jainism has scientifically indicated how and why Karmic matter is attracted and bounded with soul? How Karmas can be stopped & destroyed? So Jainism is most essential for those, who want to destroy the Karmic enemies and to attain unabated all-bliss?
All-equality:
The real nature of all souls, whether of Brahamins, Chandals, men, women, animals or beasts is alike. They are high & low merely on account of their own karmas, which all living beings are capable to destroy, Caste, creed or state is no bar to become the highest soul, hence Jainism roots out all distinctions of caste or state, high or low; & as such recognizes all living beings of the earth equal.
Godhood:
Omniscience and God-like everlasting true happiness is the natural attitude of every soul, which is hidden under karmic dust on account of passions and when it is removed 'Atma' (Soul) attains Sobhavic quality (Man-Passions-God, while God+Passions=Man) of self-supreme blessing
Parmatma-God, as such in the words of Dr. M.H. Syed, Jainism raises man to Godhood"
Independence:
Betterment of soul does not depend upon others. By Jainism: The Global Impact
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