While visiting Sarnath, the original place of where the Buddha began teaching, there are a series of temples from various Buddhist sects and denominations and permutations, including a Jain one.
Though not Buddhist, the Jains are often compared to them, or wholesale lumped together with them as they share the most affinities of any of the religions on the surface. The Jains are a breed apart and are on the fringe of the Indian-based religions, though quite prominent in some sectors of society.
The Jains have a principal mantra of “Ahimsa parama Dharmah,” which means, “Non-violence is the supreme Duty.” A true Jain does not have much time left if he or she really lived up to the extremes of the religion for they believe that even breathing, eating, and drinking endangers other living creatures. But, for the most part, this is taken theoretically. However, it is a good mantra to have.
The Jains also stress something akin to the Buddhist doctrine of life. Your life is your responsibility, not God’s and not someone else’s. There is neither room for blame, nor praise, but rather action and consequence.
Living on the edge of religion, the Jains are not evangelical, nor do they have a large base, it is a choice, and the choice is yours. And, only a Soul that has vanquished its own demons can be considered liberated. Nobody can save your Soul, but by your own effort.
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