________________
(2)
optimism, self-reliance, self-discipline and self-purification to develop inherent and infinite potentialities of human beings. It widens one's angle of vision. This provides a dynamic impulse of reformation of individuals and society to rectify distortions and create an ever-vibrant strain of thought leading to its livingnoss. Despite its different names (Shramana, Arhat, Nigranth etc.) in different ages, the current name 'Jaina' is in vogue since early ninth century, it has the same spiritual concepts and practices. Principles of Jainism
Jainism defines religion both-subjectively and objectively. It is that way of life that leads to ultimate and spiritual happiness. It improves the individual and betters the society. The way passes through the gem-trio of right faith, knowledge and conduct. It starts with the following statements of pluralistic realism;
1. The cosmos is eternal and consists of conglomeration of all that exists. It functions on natural laws without any external agency. It is non-theo-centric, so to say.
2.
Physically, it consists of six reals under two heads- (i) the living and (ii) the non living, co-existing in (iii) space (iv-v) moving and stopping through the inert mediums of motion and rest with respect to (vi) time. It thus, postulates a 4-dimensional existence. A real is defined as substratum of attributes and modes-a dynamic unit with constancy.
3. Spiritually, the path of happiness is led through 9-11 canonical reals condensed later to seven:
(a-b) The living and non-living combine together to lead to (c-d) the worldly existence through influx or fusion and bonding of karmic molecules with the living, through psychic and physical actions. The living is always contaminated with the non-living. However, it has a longing for decontamination.
(e-f-g-) Happiness, H results in proportion to looseness or shredding of bondage through physical or psychical process or abstensions and austerities. The ultimate happiness is the last stage of human exaltations or religiosity, R. In other words.
HaR
4.
The happiness is achieved by rationalistic and faithful knowlede of above reals, the cause of unhappy worldly existence and practices for removing the pains. This is a co-ordinated 3-stage path (devotional, philosophical and conductal) in comparision to 1- or 2-way path in other systems.
5. The human world abounds in physical or pschical desires, ambitions, attachments, aversions, attainments- collectively called passions, P. These may be good or bad, limited or unlimited in numbers.
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