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faiths and thus can possess deference to them. Intense attachment unfailingly generates blind faith in religious leaders, dogmas, doctrines and rituals and consequently religious intolerance and fanaticism come into existence. The religions which lay more emphasis on faith than reason are narrower and fundamentalist. While the religions according to due importance to reason also are more conciliatory and harmonious. It is the reason or critical outlook which acts as check-post in religious faiths and rituals.
Jainism holds that the uncritical outlook and even pious attachment, towards the prophet, the path and the scripture is also a hindrance to a seeker of truth and aspirant of perfection. Attachment results in blind faith and superstition and repulsion consequences into intolerant conduct. The real bondage, as Jainas confirm, is the bondage due to attachment. A person who is in the grip of attachment cannot get rid of imperfection.
Gautam, a chief disciple of Bhagwan Mahāvīra, failed to attain omniscience in the life time of Mahāvīra on account of his pious attachment towards Mahāvīra. Same was the case with Ananda, the chief disciple of Lord Buddha, who could not attain Arhathood in the lifetime of his “Sasta”. Once, Gautam asked Mahāvīra, "Why am I not able to attain the perfect knowledge, while my pupils have reached the goal.” Bhagwan answered: “Oh Gautam, it is your pious attachment towards me which obstructs you in getting perfect knowledge and emancipation”. The Jainas therefore laid stress on the elimination of attachment, the root cause of bias and intolerance.
THE CHECK-POST OF BLIND FAITH
In Jainism, right faith, one of its three Jewels' plays an important role in emancipation of the soul. On the contrary the
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