=================== JAIN DATA BASE ================== JAIN BBS BULLETIN 21, June 1995 Subject: Comparision btwn Indian/Western Religion June, 1995 JAIN BBS and E-MAIL BULLETIN #21 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- A Computer-Based Jain Education and Information Service Federation of JAINA and Jain Study Center of North Carolina (Raleigh) 401 Farmstead Dr. Cary, NC 27511-5631 General Editor : Pravin Shah 919-469-0956 Jain E-mail Bulletins and Jain Database on Internet : Mahesh Varia at varia@sunsite.unc.edu Jainism questions, email to : Pravin Shah at enhb34a@prodigy.com Jain BBS direct modem connection : 919-469-0207 (free membership/access) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Compiled by Pravin K. Shah Jain Study Center of NC (Raleigh) email: enhb34a@prodigy.com Comparision Between Indian (I) and Western (W) Religions Creation of the Universe (I): The universe exists in endless cycles of creation, preservation, and destruction. There is no absolute end to the world, neither is there a duality of God and world, but a unity. (W): The world was created by God at some point in time. In future it will be forever destroyed by Him. He is distinct from it, and rules it from above. Stresses a dualistic nature of the world. The True God (I): There is but one true and absolute Self or God. All souls are destined to receive Liberation or God's grace through experience on many paths according to their understanding, temperament, and maturity, God is pure love and consciousness. (W): There is but one true God and one true religion. Those who accept it will enjoy God's grace. All others, unless they repent and come to God, will suffer eternally in Hell. God is loving as well as wrathful. Proof of God (I): Proof of God's love and His existence lies in direct communion with Him, and indirectly through the enlightened Guru (teacher) and the revealed scriptures. (W): Proof of God's love and promise for man is in the Prophets and in His unchanging and unique revealed scripture. Knowing God (I): Personal, inner, and often mystical experience of God is the crux of religion. Man can and ultimately must know God during earthly life. Knowledge of God is individually oriented and introspective. (W): It is essential for man to seek personal knowledge of God. The linchpin of religion is not experience but belief and faith, coupled with a virtuous life. It is socially oriented and extroverted. Paths to God (I): Man is free to choose his form of worship, for all paths lead ultimately to God. Sin is only of the mind, not of the soul, which is pure. There is no Judgment Day for God does not judge or punish. (W): Only one path leads to God, others are false and futile. Everyone must convert to the one true religion. If this is not done, the soul, laden with sin, will be damned on Judgment Day. Man's Plight (I): Man's suffering is due to his soul's ignorance. He is ever on a progressive path which leads from ignorance to knowledge, from death to immortality. (W): Man's plight is due to disobedience to God's will, to nonbelief and non accepting of His law. Hell (I): God is Love and is inextricably one with the soul, guiding it through karma into the religion (Dharma) and finally to liberation. Hell is a lower astral realm, it is not eternal. It exists as a period of Karmic intensity or suffering, a state of mind in life or between lives. (W): On Judgment Day the physical body of every soul that ever lived is brought to life. God consigns pure souls to heaven and sinners to Hell, a physical place where the body burns without being consumed and one suffers the anguish of knowing he will never be with God. Evil (I): There is no intrinsic evil, all is good and all is God. No force in the world or in man opposes God, though the veiling instinctive intellectual mind keeps us from knowledge of Him. (W): There is indeed genuine evil in the world, a living force which opposes God's will. This evil is embodied in Satan and his demons, and partially in man as one of his tendencies. Salvation (I): Salvation is through self realization or strict obedience to God's will and the descent of His grace through the enlightened spiritual preceptor. (W): Salvation is through strict obedience to God's will, usually through a messiah, prophet, or priest. Conduct (I): Moral living is essential to spiritual progress. Unrighteous thoughts, words, and deeds keep one from liberation. (W): Religion must be based on ethical and moral conduct, for the opposite leads one away from God. Virtue (I): Virtuous conduct and right belief are the foundation of religious life, the first step toward higher mystical communion. Liberation requires knowledge and personal attainment, not mere belief. (W): If one obeys God's commands for a moral and ethical life and believes in Him and in His Prophets, for example, Moses, Jesus, Mohammad, or Zoroaster, salvation is assured. Destiny (I): The purpose of life is to evolve, through experience, into higher spiritual destiny. Things of the world are not the purpose of the world. (W): Man's destiny lies beyond this world, which is but an opportunity for earning eternal joy or suffering. Religion Origin (I): Religion is cosmic, eternal, transcending human history, which is cyclical. Stress is placed on revelation of God's presence in the here and now. (W): Religion is historical, beginning with a prophet or event. Stress is on the past and on future rewards or punishments. History is linear, never to be repeated. Reality (I): There is more to reality than we experience with the five senses. The soul is immortal, deathless, eternal, and ultimately liberated from rebirth. (W): There is more to reality than the things of this world. The soul is immortal, deathless, eternal, and living forever in God's presence or separated from Him in Hell. Doctrine (I): Doctrines tend to be subtle, complex, and even paradoxical. Freedom to worship and to believe in a variety of ways is predominant. Other paths are accepted as God's divine will at work. It is universal and tolerant. (W): Doctrines tend to be simple, clear, and rational. Worship and belief are formalized, exacting, and required. Other paths are endured, but not honored. It is exclusivist and dogmatic. Enlightenment (I): The goals of enlightenment and liberation are to be found in this life, within the context of time and within man himself. Beliefs may be dual or nondual. (W): Salvation comes at the end of the world, at the end of time, and has nothing to do with enlightenment. It is strictly dualistic. Minor mystical sects, provide exceptions. Sainthoods (I): The path to saintliness is through self discipline, purification, concentration and contemplation. Value is placed on ascetic ideals, individual religious practice (Sadhana), yoga, and super conscious awakening. (W): Path to saintliness is through self-sacrifice, submission to God and concern for others. Value is placed on good works, social concerns, and scriptural study, with little emphasis on yoga and meditation. Worships (I): Worship is individual, highly ritualistic, and meditative. It centers around the temple and home shrine all days of the week. (W): Worship is congregational, simple in its rituals, centering around the church, synagogue, or mosque, mostly on a Sabbath day. The following Articles were send to our E-mail readers. If you are a new member and would like to receive any of the articles, please send E-mail to Dr. Mahesh Varia No Date E-Mail Article 01 03/22/94 Mahavir Jayanti and Jain Prayer 02 04/06/94 Concept of God in Jainism 03 04/26/94 Acharya Sushil Muni's Life and Mission 04 04/26/94 Excerpts from Acharya Sushil Muni's speeches 05 05/16/94 Jainism (Comparative Religion) 06 05/31/94 Buddhism (Comparative Religion) 07 06/13/94 Virchand R. Gandhi (Life and Mission) 08 07/11/94 Christianity (Comparative Religion) 09 08/02/94 Taoism (Comparative Religion) 10 08/24/94 Hinduism (Comparative Religion) 11 09/27/94 Confucianism (Comparative Religion) 12 10/23/94 Five Great Vows of Jainism 13 11/10/94 Jain Path of Liberation 14 12/01/94 Jain Agam Literature - Part I 15 12/14/94 Jain Agam Literature - Part II 16 01/12/95 Jain Agam Literature - Part III 17 01/28/95 Judaism (Comparative Religion) 18 02/18/95 Islam (Comparative Religion) 19 03/09/95 Yoga ... an overview 20 04/12/95 Dr. John Cort's Publications on Jainism 21 06/14/95 Comparision between Indian and Western Religions BULLETIN END. ==================================================================== Jain Database is located at the University of North Carolina at Chapel HIll and is expanding its database on information related to Jainism. The database has free access via Internet using telnet, gopher, swais, and lynx(WWW) connections. 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