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40 Jaina Religion: Its Historical journey of evolution
The spiritual interpretation of rituals like bathing etc.
Jaina thinkers have given a new vision to thoughts related to external rituals. Outer cleanliness and bathing etc. which were considered the main form of dharma and prayer or worship, was also given a new spiritual outlook. Uttarādhyayana says: Dharma is river, Brahmacarya is the bank of the river or a tirtha and bathing in it purifies the Atman and makes it serene and tranquil. Similarly, in Buddhist philosophy true bath means attainment of true virtues of mind, body and speech. Not only in the Jaina and Buddhist traditions but also in the Vedic tradition this outlook became prominent that real purity lies in the development of spiritual values. These concepts of Sramaņas influenced Vedic or Hindu tradition also.
Similarly, donations (dakşiņā) given to Brahmins were given a new meaning and it was said that self-control (samyama) is better than dāna or donation. It is said in Uttarādhyayana that a person who observes self-control and does not give donations is better than the one who donates thousands of cows every month but does not practice self-control. Dhammapada also says that a
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