Question

What are the main beliefs of Jainism?

Answer 1

Jainism does not reject the existence of God completely, yet it advocates atheism. It denies the role of God in the daily affairs of people. It places God at a lower level than Jina. They also believe that every animate and inanimate thing possesses a soul. Jainism believes that it is only through purification of the soul that one can achieve freedom from rebirth and attain nirvana. Purification is possible through meditation, fasting, punishment of the body and thereby destruction of the body. The process is known as Sallekhana. The concept of Karma is a very important aspect of Jainism.