The word JAIN originally comes from the word “JIN”, which
means winner of all his
enemies like lust and anger etc. Possessing a state of ultimate calm, bliss, compassion, and
knowledge (the only knowledge) within. That state is known as Vitrag State or Jina State. It
is also known by different names as well like Arihant, Jinendra, Vitaraag, Arhant, Aruhant,
and Jineshwar. For instance, the soul becomes interdependent and represent the pinnacle of
the human body.
Who will believe in such Jinendra or Arihanta or follow their path? No matter what religion
a person believes in but he wants to achieve ultimate peace, ultimate bliss or ultimate
knowledge (kewal), or you can say it, he who has to overcome within himself, the negative
energy that always leads to destruction, anger, violence.
If someone who is suffering from anger, lust and vices has a desire to turn it into positive
energy and a desire to walk on the path of peace, joy, compassion and non-violence, then this
door is open for all of them. So now the question will arise that how can one follow the Jain
path? What is called Jain? The one who knows and believes in the path of Jineshwar and
Arihant Parmatma and has to follow it in his life is called Jain. Where does this path begin?
The path begins from the elements. In the words of Arihant prabhu, we get the path of peace
through the elements.
Before delving into the intricacies of Jainism, it’s
imperative to grasp that Jainism transcends
the label of religion. Instead, it epitomizes an ethos of living, harnessing the inherent positive
energy within each individual. It serves as one of numerous pathways towards attaining
supreme happiness or realizing the transformation from human to divine. Jainism holds no
animosity towards any faith tradition, making it accessible to all without necessitating
conversion. Its essence lies not in superficial external changes but in fostering inner
transformation.
Regardless of one’s location, religious affiliation, or spiritual mentorship, Jainism
accommodates all seekers, emphasizing the significance of internal metamorphosis. This
principle extends beyond Jainism to encompass all global religions, as the fundamental
objective of each is self-improvement. The Jain path advocates for the conversion of negative
energies fueling violence, deceit, theft, agitation, and anger into positive energies rooted in
love, compassion, nonviolence, and peace.
Consequently, Jainism harmonizes with other spiritual paths, encouraging individuals to
embrace truth in varying degrees and forms. It serves as a beacon, reminding individuals of
their innate potential to transcend human limitations and align with the divine.
Jainism adopts an inclusive perspective, welcoming individuals from all walks of life, irrespective of their current beliefs or affiliations. The core principle revolves around inner change rather than external conversion. Regardless of one’s current location, religious background, or guru preference, Jainism encourages individuals to embark on a journey of self-transformation. It asserts that changing from within aligns with the essence of Jain teachings, as well as with the fundamental principles of various global religions. The journey in Jainism aims at elevating human beings to their highest potential, transcending the boundaries of sects, gurus, or religious affiliations.
The monastic order plays a very important part in Jain forming the Chaturvidh ded into four groups forming the Chaturvidh Sangha, laymen, lay women, monks and nuns, the lay life is seen as a lower stage, in a way preparatory for the monastic life. Whilst the laity have religious aduties enjoined upon them, and the pious layman or woman will, at best, lead a life of devotion and religious observance, it is only when the interests and distractions of the world are set aside that the individual can pursue his or her spiritual development to the fullest extent. The monastic life is hard, demanding the utmost dedication from those who follow it. Whilst, indeed, the ideal of monastic renunciation is found in many religions, most notably in Christianity and Buddhism there is probably no harder religious discipline than that of the Jainmonksornuns Hence monks and nuns are accorded a very high degree of respect by the Jain laity. A layman or woman will greet members of the religious order with the very greatest deference, and ministering to their deeds is regarded as highly meritorious. The five greatly respected Beings, Panch Para- mesthin, saluted in the most widely-used religious invocation, the Namaskara Mantra, include after the enlightened and the liberated souls (arihant and siddha), the monastic leaders (acharya), the monastic teachers (upadhyaya), and fifthly all monks of the.