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Jainism
austerities. Thus the fate of the sacrifices in which Hinsi or injury was involved became sealed.
Theory of Karma
The revered Mahāvira spatched away from God and gods the fate of man, and put it in the hands of man himself. By worshipping gods or by pleasing them with the offering of animals, if happiness could be attained, people were wrong. Mahavira issued a stern warning that Hinsā or injury begets Hinsā of greater intensity, that it aggravates mutual enmity and that the hope of happiness is turned into misery. If happiness is the aim or end, form friendship with all, forge bonds of love and be compassionate. One can obtain genuine happiness in this way only. But take it for certain that God or gods will never be able to give you any happiness worth the name. You are happy or otherwise on account of your Karmas. You will get good result if your Karmas are good and bad if they are bad.
Soul itself is God
You yourself are God or god. You have got infinite power, infinite knowledge and infinite bliss. You can become God, by fully bringing them out. Then there is no fundamental difference to be found between one's soul and God. We all are, as a matter of fact, God. If you want to adore or worship God, adore or worship your soul. There can be no worship more powerful than that which is shown when you are able to strip yourself of love and hatred, infatuation and deceit, craving and fear. This stripping by itself is worship. The Brāhmins whom you make your intermediaries and invoke gods' help through them are no more than those who merely recite the Vedas without knowing the inherent meaning. I show you what the real Brahmin is.
Real Brahmin
He is a real Brahmin who is not attached to wealth, is not laden with grief when he loses what is dear to him, is as pure as heated gold, is devoid of attachment, aversion and fear, is devoted to penance and charities, is equanimous to all beings, does not inflict any injury to any living being, does not tell a lie out of anger, avarice, fun or fear, does not steal, keeps mind, speech and body under restraint, observes celibacy and has no possessions or belongings. Keeping company with a Brahmin of this description, realize yourself, your soul meditating, contemplating and pondering on it. This is worship; this is adoration; this is eulogy.
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