Jain Religion is not to follow
There is a common misunderstanding about Jain Religion that it
is too rigorous to be acceptable to all. The average man is
attracted more towards a religion, which can be easily
practiced. Therefore, how can a religion in which harsh penance
etc, are obligatory become a world religion? It can be only for
a few individuals.
It is important to dispel the above misunderstanding. Nowhere
does the Jain Religion lay down harsh penance as a compulsory
practice. One who goes on practicing spirituality according to
his own capacity and competence keeps marching ahead and scales
greater and greater heights of spiritual practice. Statement
like 'self-mortification is religion' or 'starving is religion'
does not belong to the Jain Religion.
There are four constituents of the path to liberation (1) right
knowledge (2) right faith. (3) Right conduct and (4) right
penance. A spiritual practitioner can attain liberation by an
integrated practice of the above four. He can steadily march
forward according to his own competence by sincere self-effort.
No one is bound by it. The possibility of gradation and
amalgamation of self-restraint and penance is so vast that the
above-dedicated practice can be under-taken in the simplest form
possible. Faith is concerned with the mental attitude, which is
free from the distinction between the simple and the difficult.
Right knowledge consists of their basic understanding of the
ultimate principle. No more knowledge is required.