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Jainism: The Cosmic Vision cause of the boundless miseries of the present world is man's uncontrolled tendency to possess. Man believes that possession brings happiness. But, in fact, possession is the cause of miseries and bondage. Possession enslaves man to external things. As the bee sucks honey from the flower without destroying it, so the welfare seeking man should do the least possible harm to another in his worldy life. Thus, expounding the five great vows Bhagwan Mahavira says, "As the wind blows across flaming fire, so ideal people observing these vows will pass through the Samsara (transmigratory existence) and attain eternal joy." Lord Mahavira has said that wants and desires have no end and only the sky is the limit for them.
Attachment to wordly objects results in the ever-lasting cycle of birth and death. Therefore, one who aspires spiritual liberation should withdraw from all attachment to pleasures which arises because of the indiscriminate uses of the five senses.
The Value and Heritage of Jain Religion Thus, he led shoodras out of the darkness of slavery and lifted them up from beastliness to godliness. He said that a man or woman irrespective of his or her caste could practise religion. In fact, he said that a Monk should not have any self conscionsness regarding his apperance, knowledge, penance or celibacy. This was Bhagwan Mahavira's profoundly revolutionary social vision. He changed the whole situation. This true insight given from the depth of his soul made a permanent impact on the society. Bhagwan Mahavira expressed his thoughts fearlessly and firmly and liberated people from the bondage of a certain class of people, from the practices of violence and mental slavery. He led the society out of the bondage of the caste system. It is really regrettable that even in some civilised countries, prejudice due to colour, race, or nationality still persists and keeps the people divided anongst themselves. Experience teaches us that colour or racial arrogance cannot continue to exist for long. Humanity has to be reminded again and again that the entire human race is, but one family, irrespective of differences of colour, race or nationality. "All humanity is one", is one of the fundamental teachings that Jainism offers.
There are three distinct contributions of Jainism to Indian Culture viz. Equality (Sama), Self-control (Shama) and Dignity of labour (Shrama).
The three jewles of Jainism, namely Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct depend upon the principle of equality. In the Bhagwad Gita the same principle is enshrined as the inner poise or the evenness of mind (Samatvam) or equal mindedness (Sama Chittatvam or Samata) and the man who attains this is called the one who sees with an equal eye
Jainism believes in the potential divinity of man. Given freedom for development, every individual can attain supreme spiritual progress. Hence, any interference with an individual's development would lead to spiritual degeneration. Violence is nothing, but such an interference with individual freedom, hence, it must be shunned in thought, word and deed.
Bhagwan Mahavira discarded the false importance of gender and caste and established the importance of good conduct.
कम्मुणा बंभणो होड़, कम्मुणा होइ खत्तिओ ।
बड़सो कम्मुणा होड़, सुबो होइ कम्मुणा ।। [One is a Brahmin, a Kshatriya, a Vaishya or a Shoodra according to one's Karma.]
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