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The Doctrines of the Jainas
the Upanishads have achieved by recognizing the identity of the individual with the universe and Buddhism has accomplished by nonrecognition of the individuality itself, Jainism has sought to achieve by stressing this inviolability. This is the fundamental basis of disagreement between these three systems of thought.
The moral principles of Jainism are evolved in the light of the religious experience. The inviolable autonomy of the individual rules out subordination to another individual and, moreover, implies the principle of Nonviolence as the natural determinant of social relationship. Thus society, according to Jainism, is a co-ordinated aggregate of autonomous units and depends for its own well-being upon that of every individual. No individual being subordinate to any other, and each being entitled to independent self-expression, Jainism rejects the patronizing of one individual or class by another. The gradation of society into classes, therefore, is not in keeping with the spirit of Jainism. It is even regarded theoretically as impossible for one individual to torture another, though this undeniably sometimes happens. It is, on the contrary, recognized that encroachinent upon the autonomy of another individual means ultimately an encroachment upon one's own. The scripture thus declares: “Thou art he whom thou intendest to kill! Thou art he whom thou intendest to tyrannize over.”l An individual accordingly is required for his own sake to refrain from violence.
This moral principle of non-violence presupposes several others for its realization. Of these, truthfulness,
1.
Acharanga, 1.5.5.
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