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Human Solidarity and Jainism
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desire for others that which thou desire not for thyself, thou shall not desire for others also. This is the essence of teachings of the Jina."
They further say just as suffering is not agreeable to you, it is so with other beings; endowed with regard and equanimity, be compassionate and co-operative to all beings as you are towards yourself.
This Jaina concept of potential equality of all sentient beings is the core of Jaina-theory of non-violence and can serve as the basis for human solidarity and integration. Non-violence is nothing but to give an equal treatment to all sentient beings, of course, prominently to human beings. Non-violence is a regard for life, which is an essential condition for co-existence. (b) Human race is one
Jainism does not discriminate between man and man on the basis of their caste, creed and colour. According to it, all barriers of caste, creed and colour are superficial. They vehemently declare the human race is one. In later period indeed the concepts of caste and varņa are also crept into Jainism, but it was obviously the influence of Hinduism. Jainism, what we may say, neither proposes nor supports the concept of superiority or inferiority on the basis of caste and colour. In Uttaradhyayana it is clearly mentioned that a man is neither high nor low, because he is born some particular caste or lineage or due to his social, political or economic status, but it is the moral conduct that makes a man high or low. In its 12th and 25' chapters there are contemptuous criticism of varņa system hierarchy and assumed superiority of Brahmins. It is clearly asserted that a real Brahmin is not one who is born in a particular lineage, but one who is completely unattached, talented and of good-conduct. It is not the lineage but the character, which is the determining factor of one's superiority." (c) The natural law of co-operation:
The second but not the least motto of Jainism is the law of co-operation. For Jaina thinkers co-operation is the essential nature Jain Education International For Private & Personal Use Only
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