Book Title: JAINA Convention 2017 07 Edison NJ
Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

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Page 116
________________ JAINA CONVENTION 2017 The monk should not have any belonging as their own except carry a whisk with which to gently brush insects out of the way so as to not tread on them while walking. The householders should decide about length and width of the area beyond which they will not travel for their business, so that their greed will be controlled. The four passions discarded by Jainism are greed, anger, pride, and deceit which bring inequality in society. MINDFULNESS, AN IMPORTANT VIRTUE: An important virtue in Jainism is doctrine of mindfulness. In Jainism, it is said one should remain fully aware while lifting thing or putting them, while sitting, walking etc. Only such person can observe the vow of non-violence. One should be aware of even thoughts. Michael Tobias author of "Life Force" declares the Jain ethics of non-violence to be 'Spiritual Ecology' and Biological Ethics'. Thus, it indicates that Jains have not only thought of human beings alone, but for all species of the universe. Jain ethics teaches 'Give and Take' balance for the benefit of not only humans but also of all living beings. Mindfulness in practicing all the three principles point to awareness of the person which is a scientific attitude. All steps of scientist are counted with caution. Even for using destructive weapons like throwing an atom-bomb, he has to consider the place and time, otherwise unlikely incident may occur. The whole scientific experiment is carried out with care and caution. Same care and caution are expected in observing Jain Principles. Self-control is given more importance than charity. It is said in Uttaradhyana Sutra that instead of giving thousands of cows in charity every month, it is better to keep self-control.11 One must carry out all activities with utmost care. It is necessary to be careful in every activity in order to observe the five great or small vows. KARMA THEORY: Law of Karma says cause and effect are simultaneous because every action generates a force of energy that returns to us in like kind. If we want to create happiness in our lives, we must learn to sow the seeds of happiness. From material point of view, Law of Karma is merely the Law of Causation, the balance of cause and effect, the fact known in every Science laboratory that action and reaction are equal and opposite. From the Spiritual point of view, Karma is the Law of moral retribution, whereby not only does every cause have an effect, but he who puts the cause in action suffers the effect, Prof. Radhakrishnan has called it: "the Law of the conservation of Moral energy". According to Jains, doing harm to other is like harming one's own self. This is based on the theory of Karma (material particles which defies the soul). Jainas have proclaimed that if one

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