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Jainism: The Cosmic Vision one hand it gives rest to the heart and on the other it purifies the blood without any medicines." Further, fasting also reduces the extent of evil designs, desires and inclinations.
Jain religion also glorifies the cult of vegetarianism. These days vegetarianism is spreading fast in the West and it has been adopted by many artists, actors and the likes on a large scale. Vegetarianism is the corner stone of the Jain religion.
Today when heart diseases, blood pressure and such other dreaded things are fast spreading, vegetarianism can be of great help. It is necessary to examine dietetics afresh from the scientific point of view. In the ancient times, it was based on spiritual thinking, now it is based on experiments as is the case with all natural sciences.
Experiments can be repeated and adopted by each other, while experiences cannot be. Today in the US, the doctors advise taking food before sunset. This has been mentioned in our ancient scriptures. The movement of the atom, the origin of language, communication through the oral media - all were considered then. The system and practice of meditation and contemplation of the ancient times could cure physical and mental diseases of man. The experiments based on Prekshadhyan are the best examples of it.
For peace to the mind Pachhakhan, for high level meditation Kausagga, for introspection Pratikramana, for inner purification Paryushan, for bravery and gallantry the feeling of forbearance - it is only when these are practiced in the world that we can get a vibrant man of tomorrow. When Henry Thoreau, the American thinker, held a man by his hand, the latter started crying. Because the touch of the hand was felt by the other as a piece of dead wood, lifeless.
Towards A Truby Global Society The Jain religion prescribes four things to attain superior status of being and to be full of vitality - charity, chastity, penance and love.
Ayer yer 1" An ancient rule says, 'Oh man ! How difficult it is to be human !' Man is not born, he is to be awakened from within. After the birth of a child, the next birth is that of man.
The anti-apartheid American leader Martin Luther King dreamt of the day when man is known not by the colour of his skin, but by the strength of his character. To quote him verbatim, 'Not by the colour of the skin, but by the content of his character. The Jain religion gives no cognisance to the colour or the creed of man.
"न वि मुंडिएण समणो न ऑकरेण बभणो ।
न मुणि रणवासेणं, कुसरीयेण ण तायसो ।।" Man is known not by the accident of his birth, but by his actions and character. A man does not become a Brahmin merely by recitation of Omkar, nor does he become a saint by merely residing in the forest. One does not become a Jain sadhu merely by shaving one's head clean. The Jain religion says, one can become a brahmin by the observance of celibacy, one can become a saint by the dint of his knowledge and a Jain Sadhu by practising equality with all. In its Namaskarmantra, it does not salute an individual, but it salutes the Tirthankars - those who have the qualities of a teacher, a Guru.
Bhagwan Mahavira says, 'You will get salvation not by taking refuge or shelter under me, but by taking refuge under the religion. Today the world is full of pollution. The destruction of trees on a massive scale has led the world to
