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The Doctrines of the Jainas
61
The world of today does not need orders of monks and nuns; people are not willing to abandon the ties of home for those of heaven; they want to rise in their minds and hearts heavenward and live in the world to permeate it with the immortal influence. Therefore it is necessary for Jaina men and women to transform their homes into Havelis where the Power and the Learning and the Compassion of Mahavira and His illustrious predecessors can shine.
Next to the central doctrine of Ahimsa, Jainism facilitates a life of self-exertion because it rejects logically the pernicious belief in an anthropomorphic personal God. Believers in an extra-cosmic personal God naturally fall into the sin of dependance on such a God, pray to Him, try to propitiate Him and seek favours from Him, thus debasing their moral propensities and their will. power. No blind believer in a personal God can say as the Ratna-Karadda-Shravakachara asserts “A dog becomes a Deva by virtue. A Deva becomes a dog by vice. From Dharma a living being attains prosperity and even such grandeur as beggars description."
If Jainism rejects the false doctrine of the personal God, it holds aloft the mighty and majestic truth of men becoming Perfect and Immortal God-Men, Tirthankarasthose who have crossed over the ford. Not god and gods and godlings teach and help mortals, but Jinas, those who have conquered their mortality by destroying ignorance and passion. What Tirthankaras have done, men can do today.
My Jaina brothers, you need to activate your inherent faith that Mahavira and the other 23 Jinas are alive and
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