Jain System in Nutshell

Author(s): N L Jain
Publisher: Nij Gyan Sagar Shiksha Kosh Santa MP

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(24) This must be inculcated among all to soften internal rigidity and practice to glorify the true religious spirit to encourage indifference towards sectarianism. Religious tolerance is an important part of non-violent training
It seems just unfortunate that the patriarchal system has always been non-genuine towards women folk in general despite some better litanic and biographical references. Per chance, men have a notion that they might have suffered under matriarchal days and they must reverse the process rather than rectify it. However, their motherly instinct does not morally support this attitude. Mahaviran age had the traditional society where women were taken as even a marketable commodity. Mahavira revolted against this and promoted equality of sexes. Jain history depicts that numeral and alphabetical learnings were promoted by Brahmi and Sundari-daughters of the first Jina-Rishabhdev. Laxmi, Sarasvati and Durga are other goddesses. Mahavira was liberal enough to form seperate cadres of nuns and votaresses in his order whose numerical strength was nealy double the men due perchance to the inner undesirablity of polygamy, widowhood and marketablity. It is observed that the Jaina nuns are the most important factor in maintaining and preserving Jain practices and culture. Jain votaresses also stand better position despite some timal effects. Mahavira emphasises the equality and potency of women folk which is also the need of the day,
The Jainas have promoted regulated marriage and moral and procreational sex. They presume sex as highly potent creative energy. It should be preserved for better creative utilisation. In contrast with the west, they have made sex as the important criteria of morality. That is why nuns and ascetics have to be always celibate. It is also because of this that there is comparatively less population increase among Jainas and there are virtually no sexual offences. This inbred concept of morality requires global propagation for alleviating major problems of women society. The use of contraception technics have not been successful in checking moral degradation as expected. However, self-control is a more powerful instrument for better result. This will reduce sexual offences, womenal crimes and population in general. This will be a heavy deterrant to AIDS. The propagation of regulation of sex has become the need of the day. The population control agencies thought to this religious tenet as an additional but more effective tool in their efforts.
(6) Politics and War
Despite individual bias, many leaders have realised the high dormant capacity of non-violence. They could utilise it for social equality and national independance. Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, De