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THE WORLD OF JAINISM
His teaching and ministry lasted for three historic decades. Extreme liberalism of thought and the profoundest emphasis on right conduct characterise his plain teachings Truth is multifaceted and evcr eludes complete perception by finite minds, he taught through the doctrine of Anekantavada All our knowledge is partial and judgments necessarily relative As the parable of the seven blind men and the elephant illustrates the universe is both eternal and non-eternal As a collection of entities it is eternal As parts it is non-eternal Assertion of certainty on abstract issues is therefore false The Syadvada 'perhaps' method, is therefore the wisest course to adopt It affirins alternative possibilities and shows utmost respect for others' views
Consciousness is Soul
Consciousness is the essence of Soul which forms the predominant ingredient of the universe The limitations of Time and Space bind it. And the fetters of Karmas born of attachments and passions infiict sorrow and misery on Soul and dim its innate attributes of infinite power, infinite knowledge, infinite perception, infinite bliss and divinity Soul and matter are interpenetrative and Soul inheres in everything animate or inanimate Passions chase the Soul everywhere and tie it to the chains of rebirths determined by the subtle nature of the Karmas Neither repentence, nor blind faith nor vicarious sacrifices can liberate the Soul from its iniseries Every Soul is the sole architect of its sorrow or happiness Its emancipation lies in Right Faith, Right Knowledge and Right Conduct And the quintessence of Jainism consists of Lord Mahavira's enunciation of the five tenets of Right Conduct Ahimsa (non-violence), Truth, Non-stealing, Chastity and Non-possession by the unswerving pursuit of which the Soul steadily progresses and ultimately enters the Celestial City, in Jain terminology, Nirvana, And in its lone pilgrimage toward perfection the Soul has no external refuge than Truth and the exemplary life of the noble Tirthankaras who by personal examples have shown the way
Ahimsa-The Eternal Message
Ahimsa or non-injury to every form of life is the core of Lord Mahavira's doctrine which he carried farther than any other religious teacher in human history. All beings have souls and are therefore capable of feeling pain And life is dear to all Every being endowed with consciousness in varying degrees desires to live happily its span of life So commit no violence to any being Ahimsa is the highest religion, the greatest charity and the greatest happiness “The laying down of the com
lanament', writes Dr Albret Schweitzer, “not to kill and not to damage is one of the greatest events in the spiritual
