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JAINISM AND WORLD PROBLEMS
the nature of the soul, and naturally failed to find any sanctity even in man's life. Their hearts are set on acquisition and fashion more than on the attainment of the religious ideal. They are swayed by powerful emotions of pride and hatred even in connection with Religion.
In Jainism there is no question of the forgiveness of sin. Its doctrine may be summed up in one sentence : destiny is not made for man ; mau makes it for himself ; every one is the maker of his own destiny ;-as you sow, so shall you reap ; no one can absolve you from the consequences of your actions !
The Jaina Religion aims at opening the understanding. It is not dogmatic. It invites men to understand and intellectually realize the truth of the matter of faith in the first instance. For faith purifies the will and controls the action through it. Where religion is not able to purify the heart, that is to say the will, no control will be exercised by it on action.
Purification of the will is possible only through knowledge, that is Reason. No change is possible in the constitution or disposition of the will except through experience or the process of reflexion on experience, that is to say, through instinctive or intellectual ratiocination. Even facts accepted in the way of blind faith are accepted merely because they seem to be for one's good in some way. Intelligent understanding, however, builds its house on a rock, while the power of dogmatic faith is constantly challenged by actual experience and the contact with reality.
The reason why religion in general failed to sway the hearts of men in the past is to be found in the conflict between dogma and reason. Reason is constantly undermining the foundation of dogma by bringing it in conflict with reality. Even suspicion will prevent the matter of faith from influencing conduct. Man must build his faith On Reason if he wi
for World Peace!
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