Glimpses Of World Religions

SR No.: 032397
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Gunvant Barvalia
Publisher: Navbharat Sahitya Mandir
Publication Year: 2003
Total Pages: 228
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 26 MB

Page 48

Jainism
or karmas. The Jain religion does not believe in the differences of caste, community, colour, or sex. This religion is not giving prominence to caste, but bows down to virtues. A person must always aim at reaching the peak of the holiest position by discarding his faults by self-effort, cultivating the virtues and by nullifying the eight Karmas.
From the point of view of the soul the Jain Dharma believes in the equal status of all beings; the souls of an ant and an elephant have the same importance. Nobody has a right to hurt or kill any living being of the world. Forgiveness and fellow-feeling (maitree) are two invaluable gifts to the world from the Jain religion.
A woman has as much right to liberation of the soul (Moksha) as a male person has. So, Bhagwan Mahavir introduced Deeksha to be given to women and in the establishment of four fold (Chaturwidh) congregation of Monks (Sangh) all the four categories i.e. Sadhu-Sadhvi, Shravak and Shravika, have been considered important and supporting pillars. By maintaining that even a female sex can aspire and secure Tirthankarhood, Bhagwan Mahavir has made a supreme contribution in the religious history of the world. It is quite proper even to assert that by glorifying the woman-folk, he has made a spiritual revolution.
Jainism is realism and is rational. Every worshipper or mendicant has to achieve equanimity of vision and true knowledge. The power of the soul is infinite and that is to be developed by himself. If every soul itself attains perfection, it . can achieve the status of 'Param Pad'. The soul itself is God or Parmatma. The soul itself is the doer of deeds, is also an enjoyer and it has, itself, to get Liberation. There is no place to Determinism in the Jain religion and this religion puts special emphasis on personal spiritual progress.