________________
(252) : Nandanavana
A. General Conceptions about Jainism:
1. Barring few books, most books still point out Jainism (and Buddhism too) as a reformed form of Hinduism. They have been developed as a revolt against Vedic tradition. Jainism is a minority section of Hinduism. (Thrower, Hopfe, Munroe, Kaufman etc.).
2. Jaina Sect is a strange one and it is understood difficultly.
3. Jainism does not seem to be as attractive as Buddhism because the Jaina texts are tasteless and difficult. They are not understood by all.
4. According to Toynbee, Jainism is highly self-centered. The self-centeredness is an intellectual and moral error. It creates egoism. That is why; it could not undergo expansion.
5. According to Basham and Schweitzer, Jainism is basically selfish and negative. Its concepts of Arhat and Tīrthankara are based on selfishness. They are not all-welfarist as the concept of Bodhisattva. (Despite this, Thrower agrees that the negative tendency has two positive effects: (1) Satisfaction of curiosity about the knowledge of the fine entities and (2) Knowledge of external and internal world. These are also important achievements.]
6. The Jaina thoughts and practices are extremist. The concepts of theism, devotionalism, austerities and non-violence are forms of extremism. In fact, the western world feels strange to think atheistic system as a form of religion. It questions about this point. This type of system is the most difficult path for the progress of life and beliefs.
7. Prof. Munroe opines that the western religious systems are more organized than the Eastern ones.
8. Prof. Hutchinson opines that the Jaina tenets are unworldly. This is not a religion for the world. However, it requires thinking why it is a living religion even today. The hedonist west gets a shock by Jaina tenets.
9. Some authors have assumed it to be the religion of salvation and austerities. The naked sainthood is essential for infinite bliss. B. Origin of Jainism and Biography of Mahāvira.
Many books published up to 1995 have stated Mahāvīra as the founder of Jainism. Some authors, however, refer to the tradition of ford makers. Some books have stated Mahāvira as the historical founder of Jainism and they keep silence on its earlier history. Some
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
