From a young writer's pen:
by Nidhi Jain(1)
Jainism is a religion that was revived and reformed by TEERTHANKAR Mahaveer in the sixth century B.C. It teaches liberation of soul through rational perception, rational knowledge and rational conduct. My religion is Jainism. So what does that mean to me? How does it affect my life and what I do? Jainism is a very big part of my life. It influences everything from what I eat, how I act, what I say, to how I think. Jainism teaches me rational perception, rational knowledge, and conduct based on rational knowledge.
Jainism teaches the principle of AHIMSA, or nonviolence. That is why Jains are vegetarians, and that's why they don't eat any meat. But the principle of nonviolence is not confined to just physical violence. It also applies to mental violence. Being angry with oneself or with others can be defined as mental violence. That's why I try not to be angry with other people, and I try to mind what I say so I don't make others angry with me.
Another teaching of Jainism that I follow is APARIGRAH, or non-possessiveness. I try to limit my possessions and I don't attach myself to material things, because that would make me greedy. The teaching of SATYA, or truth, requires that I should not lie. I should be honest, truthful, and straightforward.
The teaching of non-stealing (ACHAURYA) has taught me not to take things that are not mine. It steers me to take only my fair share or what I deserve. The last teaching, BRAHMACHARYA, means that we should have purity of word, deed and mind.
Relativism (SYAADAVAAD) and multiplicity of viewpoints (ANEKAANTAVAAD) are also two ideas I try to follow. The idea of SYAADAVAAD says that all knowledge is relative. ANEKAANTAVAAD states that the truth is many-sided. The classic story of the different views five blind men had of an elephant proves this to be true.(2) They all discerned the elephant to look one certain way. In the end, they realized that they could only get to the truth by putting all their views together to form one picture. Knowing that the truth is many-sided helps me keep an open mind and reminds me that one person or idea may not be all right or all wrong.
As you can see, Jainism affects me in many ways. The principles of Jainism have helped shape my character and my actions. What does Jainism mean to me? For me, it is a way of life.
Footnotes:
1. Daughter of Prabhas & Sarla Jain, Woodbridge NJ.
2. For details, please see Studies In Jainism: Reader 1, published by Jain Study Circle, 1990, pages 33-34.