Religion and Philosophy of the Jainas

Author(s): Virchand R Gandhi
Publisher: Jain International Ahmedabad

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CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT which makes him actually appear forty years old for the moment. We are influenced in that way every day. If we call all people sinful they will feel always that they are considered so, and if they are not sinful they will commit sins and be sinful to some degree from this suggestion. But if we say that man is divine, that we are a part of God, as Jesus said, then we rise higher and higher toward our ideal. Then another rule comes in, that the faults of other people ought not to be discussed or mentioned even, and this rule is practically put into force in India. One of the teachings given to us is that every person ought to cultivate four kinds of thoughts; one is friendliness, to consider all living beings as our friends and not our enemies at all. If any person injures us, we must only think in this way, that he is injuring himself, and why should we injure him again in return. When I injure another person I have injured my spiritual nature, and if that person injures me in return he injures my body, therefore that system is condemned by our religion and philosophy. The second kind of thought to be kept present in the mind is gladness. That is, to be glad at the happiness or prosperity of other people, that is, never to be jealous. If a person becomes rich, simply be glad of that. The third thought is compassion. If we see a person or any being in a miserable condition let us have some pity for him, have compassion for him, sympathise with him, but never think he ought to suffer, because it is a just punishment. Of course, it is just that he should suffer, but we ought not to send any vibrations except those of sympathy, for that would make our own nature hard and cruel. The fourth thought is indifference. That is a very dubious word. Of course, we ought not to be indifferent in a certain way, but we should be indifferent to the faults of other people. Our business ought not to be to find fault with any other person; with regard to that fault we should only say that he has that fault and it would be well if he should improve his fault; but never try to make that fault greater and greater. Be charitable with regard to this, as Jesus was in the case of the woman who was taken in adultery. When we think