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womenda Contribution of Jainism to Philosophy, History and Progress the Karmas that are just ripe to manifest themselves soon after death.
It will be seen from the foregoing remarks that the ideal of the Jaina philosophy is the physical, mental, moral, and spiritual perfection and after death or rebirths if necessary) attainment of perfect spiritual individuality, which does not disappear, is not dissolved, is not merged into a supreme being, is not a state of unconsciousness, but persists for ever and consists of perfected consciousness and highest rectitude. This being the goal of every living being, life in every form is highly respected by the Jainas. The universe is not for man alone, but is a theatre of evolution for all living beings. Lire and let live is their guiding principle. Ahimsa paramo dharmah – Non-injury is the highest religion. Their ceremonial, worship, institutions, manners and customs (purely Jaina) all rest on this grand fulcrum of Ahimsa. Man, in his desire to continue his life forces, so that he may do the highest good while living here, is obliged to destroy life; but the less and lower form of life he destroys, the less harmful Karmas he generates. This is the basis of the strict vegetarianism of the Jainas. Acting on that idea, they have built homes for maimed or old animals in many cities and towns of India, where they are fed and taken care of until they die a the Jaina view. Matter has various qualities relationships which the former do not possess. Time is also called a substance in a figurative sense, a generalization of the moving activities of things and beings.
Every living being, from the minutes to the highest embodied one, is the centre of innumerable potential and actual energies, which are called Karmas in the Jaina Philosophy. The word "Karma" has an interesting history. In the Vedas it means the performance of sacrifices, offering of oblations to nature-gods and manes of deceased ancestors. Karma-marga – the path of works - is nothing but ritualistic Brahmanism. In the words of Sir Monier Williams: "Not even Jewish literature contains so many
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