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Jain Theism generated from thoughts and sppech, Ahinsă does not mean only not to kill; one should not even think of injury or speak something that would hurt, nor even allow some one to do so, nor encourage others to do so. In the words of Dr. J. P. Jain "In almost every civilized religion sanctity of human life has been recognised, but few go beyond it. Jainism, however, recognises the sanctity of all life, including beasts, birds, fish, fowl and the smaller creatures down to the lowliest of the lowly. With it, life is sacred in whatever form it is found to exist."28 Thus "the chief feature of Jainism is Ahimsā. "29
"The value of five great vows (Pañch Mahāvrata) is recognized by the Upanişadic thinkers as well as the Buddhas (who teach the Pañch-sila). The principles of most of these are recognised also in the commandments of the Bible. But the Jains try to practice these with a regour scarcely found elesehwere."30
Jain ethics explains the concept of "Punya' and Pāpa. “Punya' or merit is an action that brings peace to the mind e.g. giving food to the deserving, water to a thirsty, clothes to poor etc. Sin or Pāpa is inflicting injury or suffering or Hinsā; even untruthfulness, dishonesty, unchastity are also sins.
"The ethical system of Jains is more rigorous than that of the Buddhists."31 It looks upon patience as the highest good and pleasure as a source of sin."32
What is expected from a householder is that he becomes indifferent to both pleasure and pain. "The Jiva, which through desire for outer things experiences pleasurable or painful states, loses his hold on self and gets bewildered, and led by outer things. He becomes determined by the other "33 "That Jiva, which being free from relations to others and from alien thoughts through its own intrinsic nature of perception and understanding perceives and knows its own eternal nature to be such, is said to have conduct that is absolutely self determined."34
28. Dr. J. P. Jain, Religion and Culture of Jains, (1977) p. 101 29. Dr. Radhakrishnan, Indian Philosophy Vol. 1 (1977) p. 327 30. Prof. Chatterjee & Dutta, An Int. to Indian Philosophy (1968) p. 106 31. Dr. S. Radhakrisbanan, Indian Philosophy Vol. 1 (1977) p. 326 32. A.S., Sacred Book of East, xxii p. 48
3. Pa chāstikāyasamāysära, 163 34. Ibid 165
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