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98 : Śramaņa, Vol 62, No. 4, Oct.-Dec. 2011
among the Jaina community.
Humanity: the Essence of Religion: Jaina religion also identifies that to be a human in its real sense is essential. To act according to the true nature of a thing is religion, that is what is preached by Jaina texts propounding vatthusahāvo dhammo.22 Prabhācandra also remarked religion as, “ Jīvādivastunoyathāvasthitasvabhāvo vā.” This implies that if we fail to behave like a human being, we have no right to call ourselves a religious being or even a human being. Thus, humanity is our first and the foremost religion. But who is mānava (human)? According to Amitagati24 one endowed with the eyes in form of knowledge, originated through mind and knowing heya and upādeya. Human has been divided into two mleccha and ārya.
Humanity is characterized by self-awareness, reasonableness and self-control. These three essential qualities of humanity are comprehended by three jewels, i.e. Right faith (samyagdarśana), Right knowledge (samyagjñāna) and Right conduct (samyakcāritra). The presence of these three makes a being a perfect human being. Equanimity: For Jainas, a true religion is based on the practice of equanimity, Acārangasūtra,25 (c. 51h-4th cent. BC) also defines religion in these words, “Equanimity is the essence of religion, while the observance of non- violence is its external exposition or a social aspect of religion.” According to Bhagavatīsūtra? also nature and ultimate end of the self is equanimity. Jaina Ācāryas have defined equanimity also. According to Dhavalał absence of attachment and aversion towards enemy and friend, jewel and stone, gold and soil is equanimity. According to Ach. Hemacandra2 equanimity is the neutrality towards the causes of attachment and aversion. This attachment and aversion has always been at the root of dissension among communities. Against this the spirit of equanimity has been the guiding spirit of Jaina religion. It has been tolerant and respectful towards other faiths and religious ideologies right through its inceptions. Jambūcarita' also regards equanimity as the
