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CHAPTER - 16
CONCLUSION : SONG OF THE SOUL
I have endeavored to present in the four sections of this book a comprehensive portrait of Jain religion with interlinked information and analysis of Jain philosophy, doctrines, rituals, practices and beliefs. The presentation has been made keeping in view the growing universal relevance particularly in contemporary times of the fundamental tenets of Jain religion, namely Ahimsa, Aparigraha and Anekant. Together they have come to define the Jain concept of translating spirituality into day-to-day art of ethical living In its core essence, Jain religion, is a Song of the Soul” that inspires you, guides you, persuades you to pursue spirituality both in thought and practice. It provides a recipe for an ethically and morally satisfying life in the present human incarnation. At the same time, it is a preparation for eventual emancipation from the eternal cycle of birth and death, pain and pleasure. This has come to be reflected very vividly, and in an enchantingly compact manner in 'MERI BHAVNA' a widely popular and frequently recited poem-prayer written in Hindi language in the early part of the twentieth century by Pandit Jugal Kishore “Yug Veer”. The 11 stanzas express the yearnings of the soul to rise higher in the spiritual and ethical realms. This Song of the Soul, therefore, depicts succinctly the portrait of Jain religion presented by me in this book. Hence, I have translated it into English and the same is being presented as the Conclusion of this book together with its original version in Hindi.
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A Portrait of Jain Religion
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