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Jainism: The Cosmic Vision annihilate the very idea of violence and fanaticism to reach the ideal of religious fellowship. Truth, detachment, nonpossessiveness are the fundamentals of universal religion preached by Mahavira.
Another important feature of Jain religion is that it has thought about food or diet and its effect on man's thinking. 'As you eat, so shall you think', it says. It lays greater emphasis on fasting, on abstemious habits as does Ayurveda. According to Carrington "Fasting rests the heart and it gains in strength. It also helps in the process of purification of blood." Not only that it helps one to get rid of unwanted desires. Similarly, Jain religion emphasises the importance of vegetarianism. In the present age when diseases such as heart-attack, blood pressure etc. have become rampant, vegetarianism is the answer to these ailments. The modern mind accepts nothing that is not scientifically proved. Fortunately all that our scriptures said centuries ago has been proved scientifically. American doctors advise the patients to finish eating before sunset and that is what the ancient texts advocated. Meditation and Yoga have been successful in easing tensions and stress and even in removing physical and mental disorders. There is pachhakhan to develop mind, kausagga for meditation, pratikraman to know one's faults, paryushan for the purification of mind, and forgiveness as an attribute of the brave - these will only help in the remaking of man. Jain religion's panacea is - character, charity, penance and love. These alone can reawaken the dormant humanity.
Martin Luther King, who fought against apartheid, had a dream about a world where a person's identity is known not by the colour of the skin, but by the content of his character.'
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Timeless Message of Bhagwan Mahavita Jain religion is opposed to discrimination based on caste, colour or creed. "Bow not to a person, but to the virtues he/she has," it says. Take refuge in religion, asserted Mahavira and it will lead you to liberation.
The universe today is in vice-like grip of pollution. Trees are mercilessly razed to the ground and the disastrous consequences in the form of famine or floods, soil erosion etc are there for all to see. We are not sure whether the inhabitants in 21st century will get natural rain or man-made acid rain ! Many living organisms have been annihilated leading to imbalance in the eco-system. The message of Jainism rings true - non-violence to one and all. Secondly, it prohibits eating of vegerables on certain day, which reflects its concern for enviornmental protection.
"Truth' is another pillar of Jainism. It postulates : "I will not practise falsehood, will not force others to practise it and will not support it." Truth is God, it says in Acharang Sutra. Truth springs in the human heart and cannot be forced. One must take care to see that one avoids falsehoods or telling lies, consciously or unconsciously. About nirgranth, Mahavira says : He will think twice before he speaks for if he speaks without thinking, he may have to resort to lies. He will never get angry for an angry man may tell lies. He will not be tempted for temptation, which may compel him to indulge in falsehood. He will overcome fear, for fear may lead him to telling lies. He will not indulge in making fun of others, for he may inadvertently tell lies, Jain philosophy, thus, emphasises the importance of truth. It says: 'Never say I am right, for others can be right, too.' for truth is relative. This liberal view is called anekant. It means tolerance, synthesis, coexistence. Try to find an element
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