Jainism a Glimpse

Author(s): Punyadarshanvijay
Publisher: Sanmarg Prakashan

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Ahimsā-Samyama & Tapa :
The Three divine qualities, Ahimsā (Non Injury) Samyama (Renunciation) and Tapa (Penance) from raising a mortal to an immortal one, elaborately explained in the "Jaina Scriptures" together with various systems for giving them practical shape in our life. To put it in a nutshell, Ahimsā has eight, Samyama has seventeen and Tapa has twelve types of observations.
T: AHIMSA : Harmlessness
Ahimsā Paramo Dharma
(Non-violence the supreme religion) Ahimsā-non injury - not to hurt anybody is the negative side of non-violence, but reverence for life is the positive side of non-violence. To love the whole cosmos with motherly tenderness is the positive side of non-violence, for Jainas its scope and nature are very wide and deep, covering every form of life.
Jainism expects every Jaina, to venerate the sanctity of life, whether that life be a clod of earth, a drop of water or a burning charcoal or a branch of a tree. He fully respects every form of life whatever it is or whenever it is. A Jaina regards every soul as equal to his own. He has reverence for life whether it is in the lowest form or the highest.
11 - SAMYAMA To observe the maximum possible reverence for life, is possible only if Samyama (Complete renunciation) is accepted, to become a Jaina monk or nun (Śramana).
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