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The Ideals of Jainism.
In the Jain Shastras it is stated that there is only one and indivisible force or spirit which pervades not only the human kingdom but also the animal kingdom, and which can be grasped or realized by effort and perseverance An instance is given of a deer which by reason of its inner vision could bring about the union becween a mendicant and a liberal-hearted wood-cutter. Likewise, an elevated soul in the body of a frog voluntarily got itself crushed while running to have darshan of Shri Mahavir ji and attained liberation. When even a deer or a frog can attain self-realization, there cannot be any limitation to the effort of a human being. From this point of view. the Jain philosophy can be favourably compared with the universal philosophy. It asserts in no dubious terms that all created beings can attain the state of perfection. It states that though the earthen vessels have varying shapes and names, they in reality are the same earth.
