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Vol. XLII
JAIN JOURNAL
No. 1 July
ON THE LIFE-CENTRED ETHICS OF ZOROASTRIANISM
AND JAINISM
--A STUDY OF INDO-IRANIAN RELIGIONS-
2007
Dr. Kanoko Tanaka
Every religion of the world has its own creed, ritual and social system, etc., and seems to agree with 'the respect for life,' telling how everyone's lifetime between birth and death is equally irreplaceable though the contents of one's life may vary depending on whether he can see what is good and happy both to himself and to all otheres in the society.
"The respect for one's own life" must originally be a good reaction of a living being. but it is the religion that also teaches "the respect for others' life". The human beings may be the first creature that has acquired a valuable time to think about the significance of 'life' itself in the midst of the world where the stronger must live a life by preying upon the weaker. Obviously the realms of religion go beyond 'the law of the jungle'.
Then, how does the religion usually teach the way of respecting life? There are some examples of the religious life-ethics as follows, which shows at least two types of life-ethics -- (1) & (2); Indo-Iranian and (3) Semitic thoughts.
(1) Jaina' Life-centred ethics of 'ahimsa' as the natural and the absolute Law for the discovery of one's immortal and pure Soul (jiva).
Jain Education International
1. The word 'Jaina' means "Jina's disciple." 'Jain' is not perfect to describe what is means.
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