Basic Religious Attitudes in Jainism

The article examines the foundational religious attitudes within Jainism, focusing on its core metaphysical and ethical framework. The author argues that Jainism is fundamentally a religion of individual spiritual liberation, where human activity is directed toward the attainment of *dharma* (virtue) and *moksha* (liberation). This liberation is achieved through the cultivation of right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct, which together constitute the path to freedom. The text emphasizes that Jain ethics are rooted in a strict principle of non-violence (*ahimsa*), which is practiced differently by monks and laypeople, with monks observing the five major vows and householders the twelve minor vows. The article also discusses the Jain conception of the universe as a system of eternal, independent realities (*dravyas*), comprising living substances (*jiva*) and non-living substances (*ajiva*). It highlights the Jain rejection of a creator God, asserting instead that the soul is the object of worship and that liberation is achieved solely through self-exertion. The author notes the influence of broader Indian religious currents, such as *bhakti*, on Jain practices, while maintaining that the core Jain attitude remains one of self-reliance and asceticism. The text references various Jain texts and figures, including Acarya Hemacandra and Devacandra, to support these observations on Jain metaphysics and worship.

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