Jain Religion is Not to Follow

By Mr. Jeevan Prakash

There is a common misunderstanding about Jain Religion that it is too rigorous to be acceptable to all. The average man is attracted more towards a religion, which can be easily practiced. Therefore, how can a religion in which harsh penance etc, are obligatory become a world religion? It can be only for a few individuals.

It is important to dispel the above misunderstanding. Nowhere does the Jain Religion lay down harsh penance as a compulsory practice. One who goes on practicing spirituality according to his own capacity and competence keeps marching ahead and scales greater and greater heights of spiritual practice. Statement like 'self-mortification is religion' or 'starving is religion' does not belong to the Jain Religion.

There are four constituents of the path to liberation (1) right knowledge (2) right faith. (3) Right conduct and (4) right penance. A spiritual practitioner can attain liberation by an integrated practice of the above four. He can steadily march forward according to his own competence by sincere self-effort. No one is bound by it. The possibility of gradation and amalgamation of self-restraint and penance is so vast that the above-dedicated practice can be under-taken in the simplest form possible. Faith is concerned with the mental attitude, which is free from the distinction between the simple and the difficult. Right knowledge consists of their basic understanding of the ultimate principle. No more knowledge is required.

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Mail to : Ahimsa Foundation
www.jainsamaj.org
R100309