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

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Page 134
________________ the principles. To non-followers it is little known because Jainism is extremely indifferent to criticism and seldom pushes itself into publicity mainly on account of its inherent tolerant philosophy. Only the present enlarged consciousness of the new age has to-day created sufficient interest in it and this I am sure, will compel Jainism to come out of its closed doors. The process has already begun. I am not a Jainism revivalist. I only study Jainism as a part of human history while of course practising as much as I can. Living in the present times I am convinced that any attempt to revive any of the religions in their original totality is futile, not even necessary and worthwhile. Religion is both subjective and objective. In its subjective aspect, it is a pure, creedless, sincere motivation towards the One-ness of all that is illuminating and sanctifying the Self and in its objective aspect, this motivation, this spiritual afflatus is being translated into rites, rituals and dogmas and poems and ceremonies. The former does not change with time except for new and elevating spiritual experiences, the latter always changes or get added to according to place, the form, the essence and also time. And this certainly is not a simple affair. It is highly complex, so complex in fact that there are as many differences as there are human beings. When Einstein referred to religion, he perhaps meant religion in the first sense, not in the sense of dogmas practices, rites and rituals. He said, "Religion without Science is blind and Science without Religion is lame". Science and Religion in the subjective 'sense in their essence never change. They only change as newer and newer knowledge is revealed to mankind on the horizons. We must always remember: everything changes. The only permanent thing is the 'change' itself. All religions are based on the spiritual experiences brought down to a level comprehensible to humanity. God is the essential inexpressible experience. He can be lived, not seen. Let us deeply ponder over the words of The Mother, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry, India: "More and more my experience is that revelation does come, may be universally 18

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