JAINISM, ORIGINALLY CALLED NIRGRANTH DHARMA IS SOURCED FROM AAGAMS (SUTRAS), BASED ON DESHNA OF BHAGWAN MAHAVIR. IT IS ROOTED IN SPIRITUALISM. THE EMPHASIS IS ON INCORPOREAL AND UPLIFTMENT OF AN INDIVIDUAL’S SOUL.

FREEDOM FROM BONDAGE IS THE ESSENCE- NIRVANA.

LITERAL WORDS OFTEN MENTIONED IN THE SUTRAS ARE:

• ANTHYIE DHAMMO- ADHYATMIK DHARMA
• ANJU DHAMMO- PRECISE/ EXACT/ STRAIGHT DHARMA
• AKHAATH DHAMMO- HOLISTIC DHARMA

NON-VIOLENCE AND NON-ABSOLUTISM (ANEKANTH) IS THE PROCESS BY WHICH THE EGO IS EXTINGUISHED (APPANAM VOSIRAMI).

BY PERCEIVING THE VIRTUAL (DELUSIVE-MITHYATVA), AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE REAL (SAMYAKTVA), ONE DISCOVERS THE ACTUAL (SOUL).

CESSATION OF ACTIVITY OF MIND, SPEECH AND BODY REMOVES THE CAUSE OF BONDAGE- IS ITS QUINTESSENCE.

BEING EKALVIHARI AND SALEKHANA SANTHARA (AS MANORATH) IS THE PRESCRIBED ULTIMATE GOALS WHICH IS INTRINSICALLY SPIRITUAL IN NATURE.

“ANNAAE MAMAGAM DHAMAM”- ORDER WITHIN ONESELF IS DHARMA WHICH IS THE BEGINNING OF THE SPIRITUAL PATH.

JAINISM AND SPIRITUALISM ARE INSEPARABLE!!

-SRIKUMAR MENON