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Chapter Thirteen
PARA-PSYCHOLOGY AND JAINISM
(1) Introductory
Jainism is an important ideological phenomenon in the religious history of mankind. It is a well known non-Brahmanical religio-philosophical system which represents a missionary spirit of an evangelist culture with an important heterodoxical departure from the accepted Vedic traditions of India. The entire edifice of Jainism rests on one principle 'Life is dear to all'. This attitude of respect for life is called non-violence (Ahimsa ) or positive love. That is Jesus. That is Gandhi. Love is the basis of life and religion This is manifested in the 'work of relieving misery' and 'securing welfare'2 of man. In other words, personality is the ultimate truth. Therefore the entire emphasis of Jainism is upon the worth and dignity of man and an 'alloyed holiness's of his personality which alone can 'raise mankind to the supreme status of Godhead'. Any form of subjection is a standing negation of the worth of personality and antithetical to the spirit of self-realisation. So the spirit of Jainism is a foe to all kinds of force and fanaticism-either in word, deed and thought. Any form of absolutism or imperialism in thought is repugnant to the spirit of Jainism. Yasovijaya, a great Jaina logician (18th Century A.D.) describing the Jaina view says that the Jainas have a sympathetic attitude towards all other religions just like a mother 1. Warren, H.: Jainism, Central Jaina Publishing House, Arrah, 1916.
2. Prasad, B. World Problems and Jaina Ethics, Jaina Cultural Research Society, Banaras, 1951.
3. Jaina, C. R. The Key of Knowledge,
Publishing House, Arrah, 1915.
4. Ibid; Shastri, K. C. Jaina Dharma, Bharatiya Digambar Jaina Sangha, Banaras, 2475 (Jaina Era ).
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