According to Jainism, the whole universe overflows with life, and any injury caused, even accidentally, to a living creature has disastrous effects on world order.(1) This is the fundamental idea for which Jainism is based on. Great care is taken in order to preserve all living things and avoiding death and destruction.
Jainism is considered atheistic in nature but is still a religion in a sense that it represents an attempt by man to find the First Principle or Ultimate Truth about himself and the world. Jains believe that the universe is eternal and that each soul must work out its own salvation, therefore the concept of God as creator and protector is rejected as it is considered to be irrelevant and unnecessary.
The goal of a Jain is to reach Moksha, which is the equivalent of Nirvana. To achieve this goal, one must practice right thought and right action. In connection with this, all Jains must take five vows:
1. to practice ahisma
2. to be absolutely truthful
3. not to steal
4. to practice continence (chastity for a monk, fidelity for others)
5. to renounce pleasure in material things.
The best lifestyle , according to the Jains, is that of and ascetic. An ascetic embraces poverty and masters his physical appetites. The ideal death is even death by starvation. These virtues build a good karma which enhances the chance of a better life in the next existence.(2)
(1 )Georgia Makhlouf and Michael Welply, The Rise of Major Religions (New York: Silver Burdett Press Inc., 1988)
(2) Allan S. Evans, Riley E. Moynes and Larry Martinello, What Man Believes (Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited, 1973) pp. 111-112