The fundamental and philosophic truth common to all religions which were given birth to in India, including Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism), Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism is the doctrine of moksha, or nirvana, or liberation from the cycle of births and deaths for the individual soul or jiva, by realizing its oneness with the Source, which is known as Brahman in Sanatana Dharma.
Jains pay particular importance to the law of Karma, and are especially careful to avoid violence to all living creatures, and so adopt very strict diets, to the extent of avoiding even roots of plants, since they are considered to be the life of the plant. Jainism was founded by the Tirthankaras, or succession of enlightened Masters, who laid down the tenets as they realized them to be the foundation of a lifestyle to be adopted so as to enable all humans to realize the nature of Reality.
Meditation is a common element to Sanatana Dharma, Buddhism and Jainism. Transcending the mind and its fluctuations is a recommended means of realizing the pure truth which is never born and never dies.
|