Book Title: Jainism by Vividus
Author(s): Ramnik V Shah
Publisher: Ramnik V Shah Canada

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Page 104
________________ previous, "A Devotee's Immortal Song' and as stated earlier, is also originally in Sanskrit language. Digambaras mostly use this song while observing 'samayika.' Shwetambaras, however have their own composition and prefer to go by their ancient original one in 'Magadhi' language. XV SUMMARY In JAINISM so far I have briefly outlined some of its features which are refreshingly different from other systems in their speculative philosophical content. Here are a few of them : l. There are TWO REALITIES in the Universe, Life, and Non-life; the former becoming God on total emancipation from the latter ; and, not only ONE Life, of which everything else is either a creation or a manifestation striving towards union with the ONE as the ultimate objective for its existence. 2. GOD is neither the Creator nor the Destroyer of the Universe, which is eternal and self-created as a result only of the interplay of these two realities. Every individual is responsible for the creation of his body and the like. Godhood is latent in every individual who becomes GOD on emancipation after destroying all Karmas (non-life), and it is this GOD who becomes the subject of worship by common people. This GOD is different from GOD who is eternally free and was never in bondage. 3. Life: all souls are intrinsically equal, having innate qualities of perfect consciousness, knowledge, perception, power, and bliss. It is from this equality that the concept of nonviolence is born, All souls are separate individuals, never merging into one another. 4. Karma is not a mere abstract concept involving action and reaction, but is subtle matter (non-life), ever flowing either sticking on or falling away from the embodied soul, thus causing material aggregates to form as the basis for building up all next embodied life until final emancipation. 104

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