Portrait of Jain Religion

Author(s): Narendra Jain
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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World history has been witness to a wide variety of religions coming up and asserting their identity ranging from tribal faiths to organized religions in varying historical conditioning and environment. Each religion is inspired by its own vision of the divine and has a distinct cultural ethos. At the same time, each religion perceives the divine power as the source of unity and peace. Religions have provided to the confused humanity the eventual purpose and the right technique of living. They have reduced stress and strain of modern living, and trained one to think for oneself to analyse, investigate, realize the essence of life and true nature of soul-uplifting happiness.
Religions have formed the foundations of cultural identity and have decisively shaped world civilizations based on differing but not exclusive views of ultimate value : non-violence as supreme religion in Jainism, compassion and benevolence in Buddhism, devotion and mystical unity of Divine self in Hinduism, love for the creator and one's fellow beings in Christianity, submission to the will of Allah in Islam, morality and ethics in Confucianism, and obedience and perseverance in Judaism.
Religions have responded to the stirrings of the soul, and have focused on soul energy and power to seek liberation and eventual salvation from overpowering and intoxicating material illusions (maya) that keep the souls entrapped in the never-ending cycle of birth and death. Religions have inbuilt in them an ethical and moral code of conduct to ensure right relationship with the creative force of the universe. Spiritual beliefs have been echoed from early times in the visions and sermons of prophets and saints, thoughts of thinkers and philosophers, and songs and folklore of dreamers and poets in all parts of the world.
Religion has been widely interpreted as 'victory of good over evil' This is underlying the common belief that good deeds and virtuous conduct will take you to heaven, while bad deeds and sinful conduct will take you to hell. Religions have been votaries of ascendancy of love over hatred, amity over hostility,
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A Portrait of Jain Religion