Jainism Some Essays

Author(s): A S Gopani
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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Jainism
(2) God is every where in the world :
Whatever may be the metaphysical speculations, all the religious people do have a faith, strengthened by the Gitā that whatever there is in this universe is created and permeated by omnipresent and all-pervading God. This removed the cause for the faithful to be affected by such conflicting emotions as love and hatred and made it possible for them to attend to their programme of cultivating equipoise or equanimity. A saint is even-minded to a dog and pariah-both and has no scope for a contempt. The idea of touchability or untouchability is existent, as a gift of the religion based on the Smštis, in the Hindu society specially there where there is a greater impact of the Brāhmins and it is small in intensity where the impact is small. The long and short of it all is that the principle of even mindedness as adumbrated in the Gitā has become the principal concern or characteristic of the Hindu religion. This even may not be so visible in the so-called religious people as it is surely seen in the genuine saints such as Rāma Kșina Paramahamsa. (3) Enthronement of the Concept of Devotion
Grapting that there is controversy amongst the scholars regarding the preponderance of the theory of knowledge, action or devotion in the Gitā, there is no doubt about the fact that it is the life's attitude of devotion preached by the Gitā that has become a closed matter in the Hindu religion. It is a devotional way of life that has been eulogized and elevated to day as a religious practice in the Hindu religion, the theory of knowledge and action being only subservient to it or merged in it. This principle of devotional way of life has spread its infection to all the religions of Bhāratavarşa.
They were only the Brāhmins who adopted knowledge as way of life. The untouchable has no right even to betake to action as a way of life. But devotion was the only remaining means open to all. There all had equal rights without any distinction of male or female or any other thing. Due to this, it was possible that it caught the fancy more of the whole society. (4) The welfare of the society at large :
The good of the whole society is the message of the Gitā. In Jainism and Buddhism, it was necessary to abondon the domestic life, having abstained from all activities as a prerequisite of complete renunciation. But in the Gitā, it is specifically laid down that one can get freedom only if one observes the religion he has inherited. (Fau fata sa: TEHT HT19E:) | All should do the actions prescribed for them and should strive for emancipation. All should do their duties prescribed for them. There is no way out. The reason of the bondage is not the Karina but the attachment. Therefore, giving up attachment and without expectation of any reward, to do the duty which is assigned to one is freedom or redemption or release itself. This